Covered in chocolate and caramel and loaded with crunchy peanuts, this addicting caramel popcorn is definitely the ultimate holiday snack!
Uh-huh. I so did this, guys.
I’m gonna state it right here and now: If you are on ANY kind of diet, I would suggest closing this window RIGHT now. Before the caramel popcorn-yum sucks you in.
Oh, you’re still here? It must be too late for you. OR you know good stuff when you see it. By all means keep reading.
Don’t mind me. I’m just face-shoveling over here in my corner. closet.
Although, I think any minute now someone is gonna find me. Caramel popcorn isn’t the stealthiest thing I could choose to be eating right now.
Crunch, crunch, CRUNCH.
Okay, scratch all of what was said above. I do NOT steal all the caramel popcorn and then hide in closets to stuff my face.
That would be….just selfish and sneaky of me. And y’all know that I am super-generous in the sweets-department.
*cricket cricket*
Ooookay…awkward. Movin’ on here…
P.S. I’m baaaack from 3 glorious days of vacation at an (indoor!!) waterpark resort in the Wisconsin Dells with family.
And back to reality. *sob*
Seriously though, my family is the best and I had the BEST time with them! Yes, including my 7 nieces and nephews that have Aunt Sarah pretty much completely wrapped around their little fingers. 😉
I took along a few bags of this popcorn (plus a double-batch of these dangerous cookies) to the Dells with us, and seriously, the way people stuffed their faces, you’d have thought they’d been raised by wolves. My grandpa, who is a BIG caramel-popcorn fan (I must get that from him) even told me that I could have his dinner one night, because he was perfectly content to just have this popcorn.
I like the way he thinks. It just….makes such perfect sense. 😀
So I think it’s safe to say that I am a total snack-addict. Even more so in the caramel popcorn department.
Maybe a few months ago I would have been perfectly content with just my caramel-covered popcorn. But now? No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. My caramel has to be covered with chocolate. A double-layer of happiness all over my popcorn, if you will.
I mean, caramel popcorn is amazing on it’s own and all, but let’s be honest: It’s kinda ho-hum and Plain Jane. Let’s shake up otherwise boring caramel popcorn shall we? In the butt-kickin’ chocolate-y direction.
Oh, and peanuts too. Because we all know that: Peanuts + Chocolate + Caramel = The best kinda heaven.
Enter, Chocolate-Covered Peanut Caramel Popcorn.
And never leave my life. Or my hands which keep reaching back into that bowl for “just one more handful.”
Isn’t it strange how “oh, I’ll just have a handful” turns into 2 million handfuls?
I’ll be completely honest here: This caramel popcorn is definitely NOT diet food. It’s got a wholeeee ‘lotta butter in it, and it’s drizzled with all the chocolate…. but c’mon guys, we gotta live a little sometime!
This is really just your basic caramel popcorn recipe that nearly EVERYONE I know has. Caramel sauce goes on top of popcorn, peanuts get thrown into the mix (I used salted) it’s baked up, stirring occasionally until perfectly golden.
And then…..(here comes my twist) THE GAME-CHANGER.
Melted semisweet chocolate is drizzle to perfect-o over that lovely golden caramel popcorn.
And somehow your face ends up in the pan immediately following…
I know, I know it’s so hard to wait. But puh-LEAZE wait at least an hour before digging into this popcorn. As it cools the popcorn will harden up and become perfectly-perfect crunchy and crispy.
THEN you can go nuts with the faceplanting.
I seriously have ZE-RO self-control around this popcorn. I swear, as I was putting it in plastic bags it was whispering to me: Eat me, eat me, EAT ME!
I wish I was one of those people who could say no, but sadly I’m not.
Right, that’s sad.
If you can bear to part with this caramel popcorn, it seriously makes the BEST gift, but I would advise attaching the recipe along with it.
Otherwise, well….you’re probably gonna end up physically forced to make it again.
P.S. I sincerely apologize for the insane amount of photos in this post. Clearly, I could not get enough of this popcorn. 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Peanut Caramel Popcorn
Ingredients
- 1 cup popcorn kernels popped with an air popper
- 2 cups unsalted peanuts
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup honey
- 1/4 cup whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine popped popcorn and peanuts. Set aside. Preheat oven to 325F and line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Bring butter and honey to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir until caramel is thickened and golden. Remove from heat and whisk in cream, salt and vanilla.
- Pour warm caramel sauce over popcorn-peanut mixture and stir until evenly coated. Divide popcorn mixture between prepared baking sheets. Bake caramel popcorn at 325F 20-25 minutes until golden, stirring once.
- In a double-boiler, melt chocolate chips and oil until smooth. Drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn. Allow popcorn to harden and cool completely at room temperature. Once cooled, break popcorn apart and store.
Notes
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Caramel corn is my ultimate weakness…I eat entirely too much of it in one sitting! But that’s ok, because calories don’t count around the holidays, right? 🙂 I love this chocolate covered version, Sarah! This definitely takes caramel corn to a whole new level. Sounds so perfect to munch on!
Sarah says
Haha! Same deal with me, Gayle! And YES those calories totally don’t count! At least I hope so…:D
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says
Glad you got to enjoy yourself some at the indoor water park. Sounds like a blast! This caramel popcorn would be gone in less than 5 minutes around me. I already love sweets and popcorn. Put the two together and I loose all control. I’ll sit in the closet with you and devour the entire batch! 😉
Sarah says
It was definitely warmer in there than outside! LOL. It was fun to pretend for a little bit that it wasn’t winter. haha!
And you are more than welcome to join me in the closet with this popcorn, Jen! No promises that I won’t eat it all though. LOL
marcie says
I love popcorn, and when it’s all jazzed up with chocolate, caramel, and peanuts, there would be no getting it away from me! This looks insanely good, Sarah! 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks so much, Marcie! I’m not sure I can ever go back to “normal” caramel popcorn again! 😉
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Glad you had fun on your mini vacation! An indoor water park sounds too fun. Your neices and nephews are the cutest, loved seeing pictures of them on instagram. THIS POPCORN!? Amazing! All my favorite flavors. How great would this be to give out as a holiday treat goody bag?
Sarah says
Thanks Natalie! We had an awesome time and I miss those little stinkers already! 😉
And yes! This popcorn is pretty much the ultimate holiday gift! One I definitely wouldn’t mind receiving. 🙂
Manali @ CookWithManali says
Yum! These look insane Sarah. I love caramel, this is drool-worthy stuff! Pinned.
Sarah says
Thanks for pinning, Manali! 🙂
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
An indoor waterpark sounds like fun! Is it bad that I want to snack on this popcorn all afternoon?
Sarah says
It was definitely fun to escape winter for a little while! LOL.
And no judging here! I pretty much almost did the same thing a few days ago. 😉
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
So glad you had a great time! Sounds like so much fun! This popcorn looks dangerously addictive and amazing! The combination of chocolate, peanuts and caramel over popcorn is a match made in heaven! I would not be able to stop until every single last piece is gone!
Sarah says
Thanks Kelly! Oh my gosh, this popcorn is seriously SOO addicting—like eat-the-whole-batch-in-one-sitting kinda addicting. 😀
Danielle says
Diets do not exist in my life during the holidays, especially when caramel popcorn is involved. Holy yum! I am so making this for New Year’s or Christmas or whatever excuse I can find to make it! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah says
This time of the year is definitely not diet season! We’ll save all of that for January. LOL. 😉 LMK if you try this popcorn and how you like it Danielle!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
This popcorn looks incredible! Popcorn is totally a whole grain, right? I mean, we could be eating worse things! Lol.
Sarah says
The way you said that just makes perfect sense, Ashley!! So I rest my case that this popcorn is health food. 😀
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
Perfect combo for popcorn! I definitely want some.
Pinned.
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Sarah says
Thanks for pinning, Melanie! xxxx
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
I’m a sucker for salty/sweet, and anything peanut and chocolate is my weakness. So much yum!
Sarah says
This popcorn sounds right up your alley, Medha! 🙂
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
Woohoo! I see an upcoming movie night. This popcorn looks amazing! And I like your grandpa’s reasoning. I think I’ll skip dinner so I can eat more of it. 🙂
Sarah says
This popcorn will MAKE movie night for sure! 😀 Thanks Christin!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Definitely can see myself waffling down a massive bowl of this chocolate covered caramel corn, it looks incredibly delicious Sarah. Pinned!
Sarah says
I kinda ended up doing just that. LOL. Thanks for pinning, girly! 😀
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
This looks so yummy! I’ve been eating a holiday store-bought version of this like it’s going out of style lately… I need to make my own!!
Sarah says
Thanks Jess! Let me know if you try this popcorn. Happy weekend, girl! 🙂
Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says
OH WOW! Drooling over here! Love the salty-sweet combo!
Sarah says
Aww thank you, girly!
Isadora says
Haha, I’m with your grandpa! I could totally eat popcorn as a meal! I make so much homemade popcorn because it is so easy and good for you, but I need to mix mine up and add some yummy chocolate and caramel next time! I think I will make this and sneak it into the movie theater next time we go because it looks so much better than the stuff they serve 🙂
Sarah says
Right?! Popcorn totally qualifies as a meal in this house too! You definitely need THIS popcorn in ‘yo life, Izzy! You’ll never want to stop making it! 🙂