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A Healthy Caramel Popcorn Recipe, can you believe it?! Made with real maple syrup and coconut oil, this healthier snack won’t last long.
Caramel Popcorn
I don’t know about you, but Caramel Popcorn (also known as Caramel Corn) and I are BFF’s.
I don’t usually snack on anything late into the night these days, but sometimes I make exceptions and today is that day.
When my friends Christie and Claudia told me about their Clean Eating Caramel Popcorn Recipe, I couldn’t believe how good it was. Not only is this recipe super simple, but it is also:
gluten-free
vegan
unprocessed
contains no sugar
Sound a little too good to be true? Well, believe it friends! Give it a try and you be the judge!
Coconut Oil –There are a ton of articles out there saying that coconut oil may or may not be healthy for you. All I know is that it is way better than plain ol’ butter and that this is what this recipe calls for. You be the judge of this and make this recipe with coconut oil or an oil of your choosing. It’s your body people, you decide what goes in it.
Popcorn Kernels – You can’t make popcorn without those kernels. Freshly popped popcorn just cannot be beaten. No matter how convenient the microwave kinds are.
Vanilla –What good, sweet treat recipe doesn’t have vanilla in it. It adds tons of flavor and the aroma of it just kills me every time.
Maple Syrup –Ok I know maple syrup has sugar in it. By healthy, I mean that this recipe is healthier than the traditional recipe because I don’t use processed sugars in it. Do yourself a favor and buy REAL maple syrup. It is SO good. And that is not just the Canadian speaking in me.
Sea Salt –What is more perfect that sea salt to top off this tasty recipe. It is the perfect compliment to all the sweet.
Looking for more delectable snacks to munch on? Check out these recipes:Deviled Eggs,Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars,Smoothie Bowl Recipe for Kids, andCream Cheese Fruit Dip Recipe.
How to Make Caramel Popcorn
Start with 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels.
Place them into a hot pan with some melted coconut oil and…
…pop the top on! Every 20-30 seconds shake the pan back and forth to make sure the kernels heat evenly so they pop evenly.
After about 5 minutes, all your popcorn should be perfectly popped 🙂 Set this aside.
Now onto the caramel! In a small saucepan, measure out some REAL maple syrup and more coconut oil. I also added in my sea salt to this mixture too, but feel free to save it for the end.
Lightly boil the mixture for 2 minutes until it thickens. Then add in some vanilla and pour over the popcorn.
Stir to coat and then eat immediately, or spread it out onto a baking sheet to set a little more.
Believe it or not, this doesn’t taste too coconutty or maply. The splash of vanilla that you throw in at the end makes such a huge difference! It’s seriously what makes this taste like caramel corn…so don’t forget to add it in 🙂
We scarfed this stuff down in no time and think your families will too. Plus it is practically guilt-free! Holla!
Print the recipe using the button below! Enjoy!
Even More healthy snacks you might like:
Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids
Homemade Protein Snack Boxes
Peanut Butter Energy Balls
No Bake Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
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4.71 from 34 votes
Healthy Caramel Popcorn Recipe
A Healthy Caramel Popcorn Recipe, can you believe it?! Made with real maple syrup and coconut oil, this healthier snack won't last long.
Place 1 tablespoon coconut oil into a deep pot or pan with a tight-fitting lid and melt over medium-high heat. Add in popcorn kernels and cover. Shake the pan back and forth every 20 seconds or so to heat kernels evenly. After about 2 minutes, kernels should start to pop. Once popping slows, remove popcorn from heat and pour into a large bowl.
In a small saucepan, place remaining coconut oil with maple syrup and salt. Boil 2 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Drizzle over popcorn and toss to coat evenly. Spread out onto some parchment paper to cool 30 minutes or so. Serve.
When it comes to snacking, caramel-coated popcorn may be a popular choice, but it's essential to know that it may lead to a low food score due to its high simple carb content in the form of corn. The sugar in the caramel can also cause spikes in blood glucose levels, leading to hyperglycemia.
Maple Syrup: Adds a unique, rich flavor to the caramel different from traditional recipes. It gives a subtle maple undertone that pairs well with the buttery caramel.
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.
Even though popcorn is healthy, it is possible to eat too much of it. Both dietitians say that eating an excessive amount of popcorn can lead to bloating, gas and constipation because of its high-fiber content—especially for people who aren't used to eating a lot of fiber.
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.
Do I have to bake the caramel corn? Yes. Baking the caramel-coated popcorn helps to set the caramel sauce. By skipping this step, the caramel corn will become soggy.
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.
The best corn syrup substitutes for baking are brown rice syrup, maple syrup, agave, tapioca syrup, honey, golden syrup, and black treacle. Whether you're avoiding using corn syrup, are allergic to corn, or don't have it on hand, there are a ton of substitutes for corn syrup to try instead.
It has the same light color and sweet flavors, and is also an invert sugar, making it a good candidate for candies. Try it as a 1:1 substitute for corn syrup the next time you want to make peanut brittle or soft and chewy caramel candies.
You can also freeze caramel corn! Freeze in an airtight container for several months. If popcorn has softened, you can reheat it in a 250F oven; cook for ten minutes at a time until no longer soft.
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.
In general, caramel corn is a snack item that is heavy in calories, sugar, and carbs but poor in important elements like vitamins and minerals. It can offer some energy in the form of carbs, but because to its high sugar content and poor nutritional value, it is not regarded as a nutritious food.
The egg stays in the whole time till the popcorn pops. After the popcorn is plated, the burnt egg is removed. Some Twitter users said that the egg was added as a way to regulate temperatures, while others said that it was just put in to get people wondering what the hell it was doing there.
Each bag contains 2.5 servings, and the popcorn is made using palm oil. Since portion size is a relative concept, with many of us polishing off a full bag in one sitting, that saturated fat and sodium can quickly add up.
Yes, popcorn is fun, but it's also healthy. Popcorn is a whole grain and a good source of fiber. And 3 cups of plain, air-popped popcorn weighs in at only about 95 calories. For the healthiest results, pop your corn in an air popper or in the microwave.
It is made by heating sugar and sometimes butter or corn syrup until it caramelizes, creating a rich, golden-brown coating. This process gives caramel popcorn its signature sweet and crunchy texture, making it a popular treat enjoyed by people of all ages.
In addition to being high in fiber, popcorn also contains phenolic acids, a type of antioxidant. In addition, popcorn is a whole grain, an important food group that may reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension in humans. Whole grains are known to offer many health benefits to humans.
Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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