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Dig into my irresistible vegan caramel popcorn that can maintain you coming again for extra! With the proper stability of candy and salty taste, this crunchy popcorn makes for the perfect dessert or indulgent snack. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and solely requires quarter-hour of prep time!
We’re a popcorn-loving household! Okay, possibly it’s a bit greater than loving… I make popcorn recipes mainly each week. So once I created this caramel model and left it on the counter, let’s simply say it didn’t final quite a lot of minutes!
Ethereal popcorn coated in caramel sauce?! What extra might you ask for? Oh, you need it plant primarily based? Accomplished!
Positive, caramel popcorn isn’t precisely a wholesome meals as a result of increased quantity of fats and energy. Nevertheless, consuming what makes you content is a crucial a part of psychological well being, simply ensure that your weight loss program consists of extra than simply caramel popcorn. (As interesting as that could be!)
Should you love caramel treats as a lot as I do, be sure you take a look at my salted caramel cheesecake and my caramel good cream that are each scrumptious simple desserts full of caramel taste!
Whereas this caramel popcorn recipe with out butter might sound formidable to make at house, it’s surprisingly simple! I actually wished this to be a enjoyable dessert that anybody might make, no matter their baking expertise. Even my youngsters be part of within the enjoyable – they love breaking up the caramel corn after it cools!
I additionally admire that this recipe makes use of a minimal ingredient checklist, making it extra simple and reasonably priced. I may even make further caramel sauce to make use of on different treats all through the week (like my wholesome apple nachos)!
I actually love different popcorn recipes like my jalapeño popcorn and my colourful unicorn popcorn, however to be trustworthy this may be my favourite! The saltiness of the popcorn combines with the candy coating of caramel for the tastiest chew each single time.
And, I’ve to say, the feel is like nothing else. You get that traditional gentle and ethereal texture of the popcorn, taken to the following degree with a crunchy caramel glaze. It’s a straightforward snack for any time of day, and in addition works nice for film evening, however I personally munch on this wealthy popcorn as a light-weight dessert usually!
🥘 Substances
I maintain my vegan caramel popcorn recipe tremendous easy, utilizing just a few elements. Right here’s what you want for probably the most superb taste:
Popcorn: Your favourite popcorn will work for my vegan caramel corn recipe, however I do suggest selecting a salted popcorn for the perfect taste. And, be sure you choose a vegan one if wanted. You possibly can pop your popcorn in an air fryer, in an air popper, use vegan microwaved popcorn, and even make my Instantaneous Pot popcorn to make use of on this recipe. Should you’re making the popcorn from scratch, you’ll want 1/2 cup popcorn kernels.
Vegan Caramel: Ooey gooey caramel is the star of the present right here! You can also make your individual vegan caramel sauce or use retailer purchased – both works. I exploit this recipe which requires dates, coconut sugar, vanilla extract, coconut cream and arrowroot starch.
Baking Soda: Baking soda reacts with the elements within the caramel to create little bubbles (suppose baking soda and vinegar response however with a decrease depth). These bubbles create a extra ethereal consistency, making it simpler for me to unfold the sauce over the popcorn.
Nuts: Whilst you can go away the nuts out if most popular, I actually love the extra texture and taste they create to this dairy free caramel popcorn.
👩🏽🍳 How To Make Vegan Caramel Popcorn
The toughest half about making my vegan candy popcorn recipe is resisting the urge to eat all of it all through the method! To turn into a grasp of constructing selfmade caramel popcorn, observe my step-by-step directions beneath. Right here is how one can make caramel popcorn with out butter:
Preheat Oven: First, I preheat my oven to 250 levels Fahrenheit / 120 levels Celsius.
Make The Caramel: Now, I make a vegan caramel sauce on the range high in response to the recipe, and I stir it to thicken for almost 5 minutes over medium warmth. As soon as thickened, I take away the sauce from warmth and add within the baking soda with vanilla and salt.
Coat Popcorn: As soon as the caramel is prepared, I add my popcorn to a big bowl and pour the caramel and nuts (if utilizing) over the popcorn. I combine round to coat every bit!
Bake Caramel Corn: Then, I unfold my popcorn combination out on a parchment lined sheet pan and bake for an hour. I combine it round each quarter-hour.
Cool: As soon as accomplished, I take away the caramel popcorn from the oven and permit it to chill.
Serve: After it cools, I break it aside into popcorn items and serve!
My #1 Secret Tip for this recipe is to bake the popcorn instantly after coating with caramel to keep away from a soggy texture.
I at all times bake the popcorn as quickly because the popcorn is blended with the sauce. If the popcorn sits with the recent caramel coated on it for too lengthy, the moisture will seep into the items and make it mushy.
To keep away from it from getting too delicate and soggy, I shortly coat every thing by mixing properly after which unfold out onto my parchment paper lined baking sheet. I place it within the oven straight away so the popcorn will get a pleasant crisp coating whereas staying crunchy!
Different Suggestions To Preserve In Thoughts:
- Do Not Overcook Caramel: I solely cook dinner the caramel on the shorter aspect, for about 5 minutes, in order that it doesn’t turn into too thick.
- Unfold Evenly: I unfold it as evenly as potential on the baking sheet in order that I don’t find yourself with clumps too large to interrupt aside.
- Keep away from Sticking: Don’t overlook the parchment paper! I exploit this to maintain every thing from sticking.
- Don’t Overlook To Combine: In the course of the baking course of, I rigorously combine every thing round each quarter-hour in order that it cooks evenly and will get that good crunch.
- Give It Time To Cool: I recommend that you just let the popcorn cool earlier than breaking apart. In any other case it can simply stick collectively and be tremendous messy.
📖 Variations
I make my caramel popcorn with no butter or dairy to accommodate extra dietary wants, and there are many add-ins and variations that maintain it completely vegan-friendly:
Different Combine Ins: I really like including further taste and texture to this recipe. Get artistic and take a look at one thing every time, like pecans, walnuts, peanuts, vegan chocolate chips, dried fruit, and crushed pretzels.
Extra Flavors: After I need a straightforward technique to change issues up I simply add in an extra taste with spices like cinnamon or pumpkin spice seasoning.
Chocolate Drizzle: As soon as the popcorn has cooked and cooled fully, I really like including a drizzle of melted chocolate or white chocolate over high! I let the chocolate cool and harden earlier than breaking up the caramel corn.
🍽 Serving Solutions
Vegan caramel popcorn with out butter is ideal for snacking on by itself, however I like to serve it alongside different candy treats or refreshing fruit recipes to stability the sweetness. Listed here are my high pairings:
With Fruit: Since this recipe is already fairly candy, I like to take pleasure in it with a aspect of recent fruit like sliced strawberries and even my breakfast fruit salad.
With Different Sweets: I typically use this vegan caramel popcorn as a topping on candy treats like my vegan matcha ice cream or chocolate tofu ice cream.
🫙 Storage Directions
Room Temperature: I seal leftover popcorn in an hermetic container and retailer at room temperature for as much as every week. Take pleasure in it shortly, because the popcorn will begin to get a bit stale over time.
❓Recipe FAQs
If the caramel has not cooked sufficient it is not going to harden correctly which may end up in soggy popcorn. Additionally, as I discussed earlier, strive baking the popcorn as quickly as it’s blended with the sauce for the crispiest texture.
My secret for getting the easiest texture is baking the caramel coated popcorn at a low temperature after which letting it cool fully. This may end in completely crispy popcorn.
I do know it may be tempting to drag that tray out of the oven and instantly begin breaking up the items! Nevertheless, I discover it finest to let the popcorn settle down first to offer the caramel sufficient time to completely harden. Because it cools, the caramel coating will dry and turn into much less sticky to the contact. It is possible for you to to simply break it aside into particular person popcorn items at this level!
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📋 Recipe Card
Simple Vegan Caramel Popcorn (Candy And Salty!)
Dig into my irresistible vegan caramel popcorn that can maintain you coming again for extra! With the proper stability of candy and salty taste, this crunchy popcorn makes for the perfect dessert or indulgent snack. Plus, it’s naturally gluten-free and solely requires quarter-hour of prep time!
Servings: 4
Energy: 1258kcal
- The baking soda helps the caramel be easy and simple to unfold over the popcorn.
- Diet information don’t embody nuts.
- Serving measurement is 2 cups.
Energy: 1258kcal | Carbohydrates: 247g | Protein: 36g | Fats: 15g | Saturated Fats: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 8g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Sodium: 178mg | Potassium: 899mg | Fiber: 42g | Sugar: 6g