Popcorn Seasoning Recipe: Salted Caramel (2024)

By: Jodi/Published on November 27, 2017 Updated on October 9, 2023/5 Comments

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Caramel Popcorn Seasoning is a sweet popcorn seasoning that is easy to make and adds a delicious flavor to your homemade popcorn.

Learning how to make flavored popcorn is super simple. Plus, it allows you to turn staple ingredients into some of the best popcorn toppings like this salted caramel popcorn. Make popcorn at home today!

Looking for more popcorn seasoning recipes? Check out my Ranch Popcorn Seasoning, a delicious savory popcorn blend.

Popcorn Seasoning Recipe: Salted Caramel (1)

This kettle corn popcorn seasoning is so easy, you’ll wonder why you didn’t make it sooner. Make a single batch or in bulk to have on hand.

It is a family-friendly recipe that transforms popcorn into the perfect mid-afternoon or evening treat. The sweetness of the sugar combined with the saltiness of the salt is what makes this caramel popcorn recipe to die for!

Enjoy at home or gift for friends, coworkers and teachers any time of the year. Pairing a shaker bottle of the seasoning with homemade popcorn or bags of popcorn makes the cutest gift idea.

For more fun gifts, check out our Pumpkin Spice Popcorn, No Bake Peanut Butter Bars, Saltine Toffee and Old Fashioned Fudge.

Let’s get started. Gather the equipment and ingredients then follow the written instructions or printable recipe card. Enjoy!

Popcorn Seasoning Recipe: Salted Caramel (2)

Table of Contents

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2tablespoonspowdered sugar
  • 3tablespoonsturbinado sugar
  • 2 1/2tablespoonsbrown sugar
  • 1teaspoonsalt

Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.

How To Make Healthy Popcorn Seasoning

Making your own gourmet popcorn seasoning at home is really easy, makes enough for many uses, and can also make a great gift idea too.

To prepare this flavorful seasoning blend, start by combining the following ingredients: 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons of turbinado sugar, 2 1/2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt. These ingredients come together to create a balanced combination of sweetness and saltiness that will enhance the taste of your popcorn.

Once you have your ingredients ready, add them all to either a blender or a spice grinder. This will ensure that the sugars and salt are evenly mixed, creating a smooth blend. Blend the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined, resulting in a fine-textured seasoning mixture.

Now, the seasoning blend is ready to be enjoyed. To serve, simply pour the mixture into a seasoning shaker, which will make it easy to evenly distribute the flavors over your freshly popped popcorn. The sweet and savory notes from the sugars and salt will add a delightful twist to your popcorn-eating experience.

For storage, keep the seasoning blend in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place. This will help maintain its freshness and prevent clumping. Whenever you’re in the mood for a tasty popcorn treat, reach for your seasoning shaker and enjoy the delicious blend you’ve created.

I made this recipe on a local cooking show. You can watch the video HERE.

Popcorn Seasoning Recipe: Salted Caramel (5)

How to Make Homemade Microwave Popcorn in a Paper Bag

It is cheap, healthy, and super easy, here’s how:

  1. Place 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels into a brown paper lunch bag.
  2. Fold the top over.
  3. Microwave for 2-3 minutes or until popping slows down.
  4. Carefully remove it from the microwave.

Related: Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Tips and Tricks

  • Ingredient Quality: Opt for high-quality ingredients, especially when it comes to sugars and salt. The better the quality of your ingredients, the better the final flavor of your seasoning blend.
  • Adjust to Taste: Feel free to adjust the quantities of sugar and salt to suit your personal preferences. If you like your seasoning on the sweeter side, you can increase the amount of powdered and turbinado sugar. Similarly, if you prefer a saltier flavor, you can add a bit more salt.
  • Grinding Consistency: When blending the ingredients, ensure that they are ground to a consistent texture. You don’t want any clumps of sugar or salt in the final blend, as it can result in uneven seasoning distribution.
  • Storage Container: Choose an airtight container to store your seasoning blend. This will help preserve its flavor and prevent moisture from affecting its texture.
  • Shaker Selection: Use a shaker with a fine mesh or small holes to evenly distribute the seasoning over your popcorn. This will prevent large clumps from landing on the popcorn.
  • Mixing Variations: Consider experimenting with additional flavorings to customize the blend. You could add a pinch of cinnamon, a touch of cocoa powder for a chocolatey twist, or even a hint of chili powder for a spicy kick.
  • Popcorn Preparation: For the best results, use freshly popped popcorn. The warm popcorn will help the seasoning adhere better, enhancing the overall taste experience.
  • Pairing Ideas: While the seasoning is designed for popcorn, don’t hesitate to try it on other snacks like roasted nuts, chips, or even sweet treats like caramel corn.
  • Labeling: If you plan to make different seasoning blends, consider labeling your storage containers to easily identify each blend.
  • Freshness Check: Over time, the blend might lose its potency. Give it a quick taste before using it on your popcorn to make sure the flavors are still vibrant.

Remember, cooking and seasoning are about experimenting and discovering what works best for your palate, so don’t be afraid to get creative and make adjustments based on your preferences!

Popcorn Seasoning Recipe: Salted Caramel (6)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can you keep seasoning?

This homemade popcorn seasoning can be kept for up to 6 months.

Where to store?

Store the seasoning shaker at room temperature such as in a cabinet, pantry or on the counter. Keep away from moisture.

Would you suggest any mix-ins?

If you and your family enjoy mixing various ingredients into popcorn, we would suggest peanuts, pecans, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, butterscotch chips or cocoa nibs to pair with this caramel seasoning.

Kids In The Kitchen

Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.

  1. Make sure the lid is secure on the blender or spice grinder before turning on for safety.
  2. A small Mason jar or a Ziploc bag could also be used if you don’t have a seasoning shaker at home.
  3. Level off the measuring spoons before pouring the spices into the blender.

More Gluten-Free Snack Recipes

  • Gluten Free Banana Muffins
  • Yogurt Fruit Dip
  • Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins
  • Homemade Protein Bars
  • Gluten-Free Granola Bars
  • Creamy Fruit Popsicle
  • Air Fryer Banana Chips
  • Gluten-Free Cheese Crackers
  • Mango Slushie
  • Blueberry Spinach Smoothie

CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

Popcorn Seasoning Recipe: Salted Caramel (7)

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Caramel Popcorn Seasoning

Caramel Popcorn Seasoning is a sweet popcorn seasoning that is easy to make and adds a delicious flavor to your homemade popcorn.

Pin RecipePrint Recipe

4.07 from 47 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Servings 25

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons turbinado sugar
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • ⭐️Combine the ingredients. Add all of the ingredients to a blender or spice grinder. Blend until mixed well.

    2 tablespoons powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons turbinado sugar, 2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon salt

  • Serve and store. Pour into seasoning shaker and enjoy on freshly popped popcorn!

Notes

  • Store for up to 6 months at room temperature, keeping away from moisture.
  • Mix in peanuts, pecans, mini chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, butterscotch chips or cocoa nibs to pair with this caramel seasoning if desired.
  • Use store-bought popcorn or easily make Homemade Microwave Popcorn.
  • Enjoy at home or gift to friends, family, coworkers or teachers.

CCK Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.

The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.

Nutrition

Calories: 13kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.002g | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 2mg | Sugar: 3g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.01mg

If you enjoyed these recipes make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below!

Then follow us on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. We love seeing what you come up with!

Popcorn Seasoning Recipe: Salted Caramel (2024)

FAQs

How to get powdered seasoning to stick to popcorn? ›

Simply place your popped popcorn and desired seasonings into a large paper bag, drizzle in a little melted butter or ghee, fold the top over to seal it, and then shake vigorously to distribute the seasonings evenly. This technique ensures thorough coverage and allows you to control the amount of seasoning applied.

Why put an egg in pan when making caramel popcorn? ›

While some people said that she added the egg to absorb extra heat, others had different views. "Whole eggs absorb excess heat so it's an easy way to regulate the temperature balance of the other ingredients," a user wrote.

Can you add seasoning before popping popcorn? ›

Don't add seasonings or salt until after the popcorn is popped. Spices and seasonings burn quickly in hot oil. This results in burned seasonings on the popcorn, which can ruin the entire batch. Heat the oil before adding all kernels.

What are the best spices for popcorn? ›

SPICES: Spices are one of the easiest and healthiest ways to create popcorn seasonings. Chili powder, garlic powder, dried herbs, cumin, cayenne powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and paprika all taste great in a variety of combinations.

Why is caramel popcorn unhealthy? ›

While caramel-coated popcorn may be a tempting snack, its simple carbs and high sugar content can lead to spikes in blood glucose levels, increasing the risk of hyperglycemia and other health problems.

Why is my caramel popcorn not crunchy? ›

The longer you cook the syrup (the mixture of sugar and water the forms the base of the caramel sauce), the crunchier your popcorn will be. For very crunchy popcorn (my favorite!), stop cooking when you see the first wisps of smoke coming from the sugar mixture.

What seasoning do movie theaters use for popcorn? ›

2045 Flavacol popcorn salt.

What is flavacol? ›

FLAVACOL is a very fine seasoned salt that sticks to the popcorn, whereas a ground salt will tend to fall off. Adding it to the oil as you pop improves the coverage without any fear of burning. This is the tried - and - true original popcorn salt! FLAVACOL is the worlds most popular seasoning salt.

How do you season popcorn without making it soggy? ›

Ghee is excellent for seasoning your popcorn without making it soggy since it retains its wonderful nutty, buttery flavor while having a very low moisture level.

What is the healthiest popcorn to eat? ›

The 10 Best Healthy Popcorn Brands of 2022, According to...
  • How We Chose.
  • Skinny Pop Original.
  • Lesser Evil Himalayan Pink Salt.
  • Quinn Aged Parmesan and Rosemary.
  • Boom Chicka Pop Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn.
  • Bjorn Qorn.
  • Pipcorn Truffle Mini Popcorn.
  • Newman's Own Organic Touch of Butter.
Sep 27, 2022

Can dogs eat popcorn? ›

Dogs can eat popcorn as long as it's plain and air-popped popcorn, and only eaten in moderation. However, any added seasonings we love to slather on top which can be bad for dogs, and you shouldn't feed them this type of popcorn.

How to get flavor powder to stick to popcorn? ›

You need some kind of oil to keep powders to stick to popcorn. I tend to use clarified butter (also known as ghee) as it gives that buttery taste. If you have a large bowl or bucket for your popcorn, just toss it with some kind of oil (butter, olive oil, vegetable oil, etc.) and then add your seasoning.

How do you get spices to stick to popcorn without oil? ›

You just need to mist your popped popcorn with a little bit of liquid so your seasonings can stick. You can fill a small spray bottle with water or one of the flavor ideas below to make misting easier.

How do you make seasoning stick better? ›

Saute your food on the stove with 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 mL) of water, vegetable broth, cooking vinegar, or wine to help your seasoning stick without oil. Spritz your food with water or cooking vinegar before seasoning it, then place it in the oven to roast. Or, dry roast your veggies and season them afterward.

How do you keep popcorn seasoning from clumping? ›

Keep Your Popcorn Powders Fresh

Moisture is the enemy and causes the powder to clump. You can store the popcorn flavor powders in zip-lock plastic bags, or add something like dried rice or beans to absorb the moisture.

How do you make seasoning stick to homemade chips? ›

There is no such additive, and no need for it. For both types of chips, all you need to do is transfer them from the deep fryer directly to the tossing station. Everything (salt, spice powders, etc.) will adhere on its own.

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