Bourbon Salted Caramel Popcorn

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Bourbon Salted Caramel Popcorn: the cozy adult upgrade your movie nights need! 

We love taking something simple and turning it into a moment, and this recipe does exactly that. This rich, buttery popcorn snack feels indulgent, but it really doesn’t take that much to liven up a bag of microwavable popcorn. 

This recipe starts with a couple bags of microwavable popcorn and gets tossed in a homemade boozy salted caramel sauce that’s glossy, buttery, and a perfectly balanced salty-sweet treat. A little dash of bourbon goes a long way to enhance those deep, nutty flavors of the caramel. 

As the caramel coats each piece of buttery popcorn, it transforms into a crunchy, golden treat that is equal parts snack and dessert. It’s rich but not too heavy and sweet, because the right hint of flaky salt helps to balance the flavors. Perfect for your next girls’ night or movie night!

Why You’ll Love This Bourbon Salted Caramel Popcorn

• Perfect movie night snack! If you’re looking to elevate a bag of microwave popcorn for your next movie night, this salty, sweet caramel popcorn will be a cozy and indulgent twist.
• Super easy to make! Making caramel candy can sometimes be intimidating to make because you have to be very precise, but this caramel popcorn is surprisingly easy to make. And we help give some important tips to make this recipe fuss-free.
• Nutty, Salty & Sweet! One of the coziest flavor combinations is nutty mixed with salty-sweet. And this bourbon caramel popcorn hits all the marks. The bourbon enhances the nuttiness of the caramel, and the flaky sea salt balances the sweetness of the caramel in the most delicious way.

How to Make Bourbon Salted Caramel Popcorn, Step by Step

Step 1. Pop popcorn and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

Start by popping two bags of popcorn (about 10 cups) of popcorn. We are using microwave popcorn for this recipe but you can air pop your popcorn if you prefer to do it that way. 

Pour the popped kernels into a large mixing bowl. You want to make sure the bowl you are using is big enough to hold the popcorn AND toss the popcorn without falling out. So make sure there is enough room at the top of the bowl to allow for stirring without spilling later on.

Next, line a baking sheet with some parchment or wax paper and set it aside to use later.

Step 2. Make bourbon caramel sauce.

Start by melting butter in a thick-bottomed saucepan over medium-low heat. If the heat is too high, the caramel can burn. Carefully watch and adjust the heat if you see or smell the caramel burning. 

Next, stir in brown sugar and salt until smooth. Let the butter and sugar simmer and bubble for about 10-15 minutes. It will start to thicken a bit. 

Once the caramel reaches a temperature of 300ºF, add in vanilla, bourbon, and baking soda. It will become really frothy-looking at this point. Stir continuously for 1 minute before removing from the pan.

Step 3. Toss popcorn in caramel sauce, spread on a baking sheet, and top with flaky salt. 

This is where you want to start working quickly because the caramel will thicken quickly once you remove it from the heat. 

Pour the caramel directly into the popcorn bowl and quickly toss until the caramel is evenly coated. 

Spread the caramel popcorn onto the wax-paper-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. 

Step 4. Let caramel corn set for 15 minutes and serve.

It will be hard not to jump in and start eating at this point. But the caramel will still be super sticky and gooey. 

Let the popcorn rest for about 15 minutes before serving. This will give the caramel time to set and harden. When you’re ready to serve, break up any large chunks of popcorn, pour into a bowl to eat or store in an airtight container 

Tips for making Bourbon Salted Caramel Popcorn

• Keep a close eye on the caramel. Make sure you don’t leave the caramel unattended. The last thing you want is for your caramel to burn.
• Use a candy thermometer. A candy thermometer is going to be the easiest way to track the temperature of your candy. You want to shoot for a hard-crack candy temperature range. This is anywhere between 290-300ºF.
• Add baking soda to the caramel for an airy feel. Before you take the caramel off the heat, stir in some baking soda. It will react with the caramel to create air bubbles and give the caramel a light and airy texture. 
• Heat over medium-low heat until it reaches 300ºF. You don’t want to burn the caramel sauce, so heating at a lower temperature will help to control the heat. You want to shoot for a temperature of 300ºF so that the caramel has a hard crunch to it.

Can I make this Bourbon Caramel Popcorn without the alcohol?

Definitely! This popcorn will taste just as delicious and caramel-y without the bourbon. 

How to store caramel popcorn…

Once the caramel popcorn is completely set and cooled, store in an airtight container or sealable plastic bag for 2-3 days.

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