Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (2024)

Shaina · · 9 Comments

This recipe for maple caramel corn with a shot of whiskey, plenty of pecans, and a sprinkling of salt is just what your movie night ordered.
Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (1)

Every morning over breakfast Magnus asks me if it’s a school day. His sweet voice calls to me from the kitchen table even as I move to pack lunch boxes.

“Mom, is there school today?” Magnus’s inquisitive voice calls to me from the kitchen table. Some days I wonder if he lacks the power of observation, as I stand across the counter from him with lunchboxes spread across the counter, packing thermoses and slicing produce.

“Yes, there’s school today, but it’s Friday.” Friday. Friday. Friday. I couldn’t be more excited to tell him that the weekend has arrived.
Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (3)
We aren’t a television-watching family. We have a handful of shows that we tune into (we meaning Ole and me more than the kids), but more and more often, our TV is just a pretty black box housed in a large wood cabinet during the week. Weekdays are reserved for reading together on the couch, for homework at the dining room table, for doing activities as a family. As Friday comes around, though, my kids are eagerly anticipating their Friday movie night selections to be enjoyed with a big bowl of stovetop popcorn and the adults are eagerly anticipating theirs’ as well.

I like to make my caramel corn with half sugar and half maple syrup for a deeper, more complex flavor. This particular batch had a bit of whiskey stirred in at the end, in addition to a generous helping of lightly toasted pecans. It’s sweet and salty with a bit of kick and plenty of crunch, the perfect prelude to the weekend.
Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (4)

Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (5)

Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn

Yield: 18 cups

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 16 cups popped popcorn (1/2 cup popcorn kernels, popped)
  • 1 cup lightly toasted pecans
  • 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon whiskey
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 250ºF. Place the popcorn and pecans in a large bowl, and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add in the brown sugar and maple syrup and cook until the mixture starts to boil.
  • Continue to boil, stirring frequently, for 12-14 minutes, until the mixture starts to thicken significantly. If using a candy thermometer, you want to reach 250ºF.
  • Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the whiskey and salt.
  • Pour the caramel sauce over the popcorn and pecans. Using a spatula, fold until evenly coated. Spread the popcorn and pecans onto the cookie sheet and bake, stirring twice, for 25-30 minutes.
  • Allow the popcorn to cool slightly before serving.

  • Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (6)
    This whiskey caramel corn is dedicated to one of my favorite Netflix shows, Peaky Blinders. Heading into its third season this fall, I’m really not sure what to tell you if you haven’t been hooked by this already. Stop wasting your time. Everyone agrees.

    Peaky Blinders has a bit of a Boardwalk Empire feel to it, I suppose, with the crime family themes, following the Shelby family gang in Birmingham post WWI. Except it’s made better by the soundtrack, accents, crooked cops, the IRA, and Thomas Shelby asking every bartender in Birmingham for “Whiskey. Irish.”

    p.s. The haircut grows on you.

    Disclosure: I am a part of the Netflix Stream Team, which doesn’t mean a whole lot. They didn’t ask me to write this post, and my love for Peaky Blinders is genuine and real. I do get free Netflix, but I didn’t take advantage because I already paid for it. Cheers.
    Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (7)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (9)Gwen @SimplyHealthyFamily says

      I’ve never heard of that show! We’re like you & only watch t.v. on the weekends. We don’t have cable just Netflix so are usually late to watch new series. This is hands down THE most droolworthy popcorn I’ve ever seen!

      Reply

    2. Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (10)Charlotte Plumber says

      This looks like a great snack. I gotta try this one.

      Reply

    3. Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (11)Jennifer Farley says

      Pssst, check the temp 🙂

      Reply

    4. Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (12)Laura Dembowski says

      I’m obsessed with caramel corn and this version sounds amazing! I used to dread going to school which is a really awful way to feel every day. TV was one of my best escapes. I have probably watched too much my entire life, but I learned a lot from it and it is an awesome stress reliever.

      Reply

    5. Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (13)Deletebinghistory says

      It is looking so crunchy and spicy, i am definitely make this corn in today. bing history cleaning is the difficult work then we are providing this helping platform for every bing operator.

      Reply

    6. Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (14)?? ??? says

      atched too much my entire life, but I learned a lot from it and it is an awesome stress reliev

      Reply

    7. Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (15)xzx says

      etflix so are usually late to watch new series. This is hands down THE most droolworth

      Reply

    8. Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (16)cde says

      accents, crooked cops, the IRA, and Thomas Shelby asking every bartender in Birmingham for “Whiskey

      Reply

    Leave a Reply

    Salted Maple Whiskey Caramel Corn Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    How to make salted caramel popcorn Gordon Ramsay? ›

    1. 1/4c Popcorn – I saw.
    2. 2.0Tbsp Vegetable oil – if pan frying.
    3. 1.0 Paper bag – if microwaving.
    4. For the caramel glaze:
    5. 1/4c Sugar – Gordon didn't specify but I saw.
    6. 2.0Tbsp Water – I added, he didn't.
    7. 1/4tsp Salt – he said half tsp (too salty)
    8. 2.0Tbsp Butter – I kept rewinding to get exact quantity.

    Why is my caramel corn not shiny? ›

    A granule of sugar, over-mixing, or uncooperative clumps of sea salt can turn caramel from a glossy, shiny confection into a dull grainy heap of chewy, brown sugar crystals. Candy making, or in this case caramel popcorn making, involves a significant amount of chemistry.

    How to make caramel popcorn Martha Stewart? ›

    In a small saucepan, bring butter, sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil, stirring constantly. Working quickly, drizzle popcorn with sugar syrup, and toss. Spread popcorn evenly on prepared baking sheet. Bake, tossing occasionally, until golden and shiny, about 40 minutes.

    Why is my homemade caramel corn soggy? ›

    Baking the caramel-coated popcorn helps to set the caramel sauce. By skipping this step, the caramel corn will become soggy.

    Why is my caramel corn not crunchy? ›

    If you prefer chewy caramel corn, let it sit until the caramel has hardened. If you prefer crunchy caramel corn, Preheat oven to 250 F. and bake for 30-40 minutes, tossing occasionally. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, break the larger clumps into smaller pieces if desired.

    Why put a whole egg in 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.

    How do you keep caramel popcorn from getting soggy? ›

    How Do I Get My Popcorn Crunchy and Not Soggy? 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.

    Why do you put an egg in caramel popcorn? ›

    Even if you want to add candy or sauces, it doesn't require an egg. Still, some say the egg keeps the kernels from sticking together, while others say it's to keep wannabe chefs from adding too many kernels to the pan.

    Why is my caramel corn too sticky? ›

    This can be caused by extended cooking times (especially under acidic conditions) and the use of the enzyme invertase. Increasing reducing sugars will add to the flavor and color of caramel – but too much can cause excessive stickiness.

    Why is my caramel corn bitter? ›

    Be very careful as you heat your caramel. Follow the recipe carefully, and never melt your caramel on your stove's highest setting—it will cause the caramel to scorch and taste burnt. Once it gets a burnt or bitter flavor, it can't be saved. Luckily, sugar is inexpensive, so you can always start over!

    Why is my sugar clumping when making caramel? ›

    Graininess occurs when the sugar in caramel sauce hasn't completely dissolved before adding in butter and heavy cream or if the caramel is cooled too quickly. Luckily, you can bring grainy caramel sauce back to a smooth, creamy consistency with an easy fix. Simply reheat it on the stovetop and add more liquid.

    Is caramel corn the same as caramel popcorn? ›

    Caramel corn or caramel popcorn (toffee popcorn in the UK) is a confection made of popcorn coated with a sugar or molasses based caramel candy shell that is normally less than 1mm thick. Typically a sugar solution or syrup is made and heated until it browns and becomes thick, producing a caramelized candy syrup.

    Is white or yellow popcorn better for caramel popcorn? ›

    Yellow popcorn has a slightly stronger flavor than white popcorn and can hold up well to a variety of toppings, such as butter, cheese, and caramel. It is also a good source of fiber and vitamin A.

    What can I use instead of baking soda in caramel? ›

    Baking Soda Substitutes
    1. The Best Baking Soda Substitute: Baking Powder.
    2. Baking Soda Substitute: Self-Rising Flour.
    3. Baking Soda Substitute: Egg Whites.
    Nov 2, 2023

    Why did my caramel corn come out chewy? ›

    Generally, the caramel will have a higher 'water activity' than the popcorn. As a result, if you leave the popcorn for a while, moisture from the caramel will migrate into the corn. This causes the popcorn to lose its 'crunch' and become soft and chewy.

    What makes caramel corn grainy? ›

    Why is my Caramel Corn Grainy? Grainy caramel (or crystalized caramel) happens when the sugar crystals in the caramel seize up or cling together.

    What gives Carmel its flavor? ›

    What Is Caramel? Caramel is white granulated sugar that's been heated slowly to 340 degrees Fahrenheit. This gradual heating process breaks down the sugar's molecules and creates a deep golden brown color and rich flavor.

    References

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