This Easy Microwave Caramel Corn Recipe in a Paper Bag is a yummy recipe for kids that you've got to try! The microwave makes it fast, the bag makes it easy to clean up, and the sweet sauce makes it extra delicious.
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- Tasty Recipe Alert: Paper Bag Caramel Corn
- Supplies for Microwave Caramel Corn in a Paper Bag
- Equipment
- Steps to Make Caramel Corn in the Microwave
- Extra Recipe Tips
- Recipe Variations
- FAQ about Microwave Caramel Corn
- More Fun Recipes for Kids
- Come join the fun at WTN!
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- Easy Microwave Caramel Corn Recipe in a Paper Bag
Tasty Recipe Alert: Paper Bag Caramel Corn
I’m a caramel corn lover through and through. This recipe has been in my recipe box for years and it is a go to at Christmas time (or any time). I can’t make it too far ahead or I’ll eat it all!
You must try making caramel corn in the microwave with the kids for Christmas, a movie night, or a party. You get to shake it in the bag, and it pours out looking like golden magic.
It’s hard to wait for it to cool off in order to eat it. I hope that you like it too!!
Supplies for Microwave Caramel Corn in a Paper Bag
Here are a few quick notes about the supplies you will need to make this recipe for microwave caramel corn!
- Recipe ingredients- This recipe takes popcorn kernels, butter, brown sugar, salt, and light corn syrup.
- Brown paper grocery bag- You’ll need a large brown paper bag like you get groceries in from the market.
Equipment
- Popcorn popper- We like using an air popper to make our popcorn. Use what you have.
- Microwave- This recipe is made with a larger capacity microwave. It needs to fit a rolled up brown paper bag with the popcorn mixture inside.
Steps to Make Caramel Corn in the Microwave
Pop 4 quarts of popcorn in your popcorn popper. Place the popped popcorn in a brown paper grocery bag.
Place the butter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave until butter is melted. Add and stir in the brown sugar, salt, and white syrup.
Microwave on high until the mixture boils. Carefully remove the caramel sauce from the microwave and place on countertop. Add the baking soda and stir until the mixture is foamy.
Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn in the bag and stir to coat the popcorn.Roll up the top of the bag and place it in the microwave for 1 ½ minutes.
Shake the bag and contents well. Place the bag in the microwave for another 1 ½ minutes. Shake the bag again.
Pour the homemade caramel corn onto a cookie sheet to cool. Break apart the larger chunks of caramel corn. Place in an airtight container to store.
Extra Recipe Tips
- White popcorn kernels- Papa thinks that white popcorn kernels make a fluffier popcorn (and I agree).
- Quarts of popcorn- A quart is four cups, so 4 quarts is 16 cups of popped popcorn. (You're welcome!)
- Long handled spoon- Use a long-handled spoon to stir the sauce onto the popcorn so you don’t get the hot caramel sauce on your hand.
- Foamy mixture- After you add the baking soda to the boiled mixture, it takes a bit of stirring before it looks foamy. I think it looks like peanut brittle.
- Hot caramel corn- Don’t let the kids stick their hands in the caramel corn right after it is poured out on the cookie sheet. It will be hot at first of course.
Recipe Variations
Here are a few variations you’re welcome to try with this caramel corn recipe in the microwave:
- Microwave popcorn- You could use microwave popcorn instead of needing a popcorn popper. Leave out the salt in the recipe and use a type with less butter if possible.
- Bagged popcorn- It would work to use purchased popcorn in a bag instead of popping it. Purchase a type with less salt and butter, like Skinnypop.
- Gift idea- People love a bag of caramel corn as a gift!
FAQ about Microwave Caramel Corn
The recipe in this post gives great directions for Microwave Caramel Corn. Pop the popcorn and place it in a brown paper bag. Microwave the sauce according to the recipe and pour over the popcorn. Stir the popcorn and sauce together. Microwave the popcorn in the bag and shake according to the recipe. Pour out on a cookie sheet to cool.
Purchase microwave popcorn with as little salt and butter as possible. Microwave the popcorn and measure out 4 quarts (this will take several bags of microwave popcorn). Then continue making the recipe as written except leave out the salt in the recipe.
More Fun Recipes for Kids
Love this Microwave Caramel Corn Recipe in a Paper Bag? Looking for more easy recipes to try? Here are a few of our favorites:
- Simple Homemade Hot Chocolate
- Make Your Own Peppermint Marshmallows
- Christmas Wreath Cookies
- 10 Breakfasts the Kids Can Help Make
- Simmering Stovetop Potpourri
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Easy Microwave Caramel Corn Recipe in a Paper Bag
Equipment
- Popcorn popper we use an air popper
- Microwave larger capacity microwave
Ingredients
- large brown paper grocery bag
- 4 quarts of popped corn
- ½ cup butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Pop 4 quarts of popcorn in your popcorn popper. Place the popped popcorn in a brown paper grocery bag.
- Place the butter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave until butter is melted.Add and stir in the brown sugar, salt, and white syrup. Microwave on high until the mixture boils. Carefully remove the caramel sauce from the microwave and place on countertop.Add the baking soda and stir until the mixture is foamy.
- Pour the caramel mixture over the popcorn in the bag and stir to coat the popcorn.
- Roll up the top of the bag and place it in the microwave for 1 ½ minutes.Shake the bag and contents well.Place the bag in the microwave for another 1 ½ minutes. Shake the bag again.
- Pour the homemade caramel corn onto a cookie sheet to cool. Break apart the larger chunks of caramel corn. Place in an airtight container to store.
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