Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (2024)

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Butter Toffee Popcorn is a family snack favorite and a personal love of mine. You can use microwavable buttery popcorn for that extra buttery flavor and coat in a simple toffee caramel sauce to give the popcorn that sweet and salty flavor combination.

Hey Sugar Babies! I love this Butter Toffee Popcorn recipe! I hope you got everything you wanted for Christmas this year. Lord knows I did. The two biggest things I wanted were a camcorder and an Amazon Kindle Fire. I got them both. YAY ME!

I was going to post one last recipe for you before Christmas if you wanted to make something to share with your friends and family, but I got the stomach flu. I had it for two days. That thing is not fun to have, ya know? Now I am back and feeling better and ready to get back into sharing some awesome recipes and pictures of how my Christmas went. What did I do? My fiancée just lounged around, watched basketball, and cooked dinner. Yea, we stayed in our PJs all day. It was pretty darn awesome.

Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (2)

How I made this Butter Toffee Popcorn

Now, about this popcorn recipe. It is pretty easy to make! I will say that I made this version of the caramel popcorn recipe twice and tried two different ways to make the popcorn. The first way I made the popcorn was the stovetop way. This wasn’t too bad, but I burnt some of the popcorn, so that didn’t work out. Also, there were too many hard kernels in the mix, and it became a serious pain. So, I decided to use a bag of plain microwavable popcorn, and it was much easier to discard the kernels that way. Not only that, it didn’t take that long either. I recommend that method if you’re uncertain. Of course, there is the toffee sauce part, which is just amazing! I will say to be careful and line your baking tray with wax or parchment paper.

Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (3)

This Butter Toffee Popcorn has a special place in my heart. It does. It is the perfect partner for a couch potato like myself sometimes. Not only that, it is an awesome gift idea to give to people for the holidays. Yea, I know I’m kind of late with the gift ideas, but we have Valentine’s Day coming up, and this will serve just as good as a V-Day gift as a Christmas Day gift.

Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (4)

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, you know I went to the grocery store the day after Christmas, and they were already putting up stuff for V-Day?! How absurd! I mean, the Thanksgiving turkey gets no love at all, and there is all this hype about Christmas from September to December, and as soon as it is over, they dump it like a bad habit. I’m sorry. I’m always a little sad when Christmas is over. Not as sad as I was when eating this popcorn was over. So…enjoy!

Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (5)

Recipe partially adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I add additional toppings to this toffee popcorn recipe?

Yes! I have added a few times toffee bits, a little drizzle of chocolate by melting some semi-sweet chocolate chips, and/or a sprinkle of sea salt for a sweet and salty combination.

Do I need a candy thermometer for this recipe?

I’m sure a candy thermometer wouldn’t hurt to make this recipe, but I have been fine without using one.

Similar Recipes

If you like recipes like this toffee popcorn recipe, you will like some of the other snack recipes below:

  • Peanut Toffee Nut Clusters
  • Cashew Clusters
  • Salted Dark Chocolate Clusters
  • Brownie Crisps

Print

Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (6)

Butter Toffee Popcorn

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 8 reviews

  • Author: Cupcake from Brown Sugar
  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 mins
  • Yield: 18 cups 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Try Butter Toffee Popcorn as an awesome snack and to give away for gifts. This is the perfect sweet and salty combination for popcorn. Try this Butter Toffee Popcorn today!

  • 43 oz. bags microwave popcorn (lightly salted)
  • 2 sticks butter
  • 2 1/4 cups light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup dark corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 23 cups roasted, salted peanuts

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250 Degrees and butter a large rimmed baking sheet and set aside. Pop the popcorn in the microwave.
  2. Sift the bag of popcorn and remove as many unpopped kernels as possible and place the popped popcorn in a large bowl along with the peanuts. Set the popcorn and peanuts to the side to the side.
  3. Melt the 2 sticks of butter in a medium saucepan on medium heat, add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt and constantly stir as it begins to slightly boil. Allow boiling while constantly stirring for 3 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and add the vanilla extract and baking soda. The baking soda will cause the caramel mixture to bubble up a little bit but keep stirring until it completely dissolves. Pour the toffee mixture over the popcorn and the peanuts using a rubber spatula, toss carefully until the popcorn mixture is covered.
  5. Place popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet or silpat silicon sheet and spread out evenly and bake for 1 hour.
  6. Once finished baking, allow to cool for 25 minutes, break apart, and store in an airtight container or serve!

Notes

If you have a hot popcorn popper, you can pop 3/4 c. uncooked popcorn kernels instead of the original recipe. I just thought this may be a little easier.

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 75 mins
  • Category: Snacks
  • Method: Bake
  • Cuisine: American

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Comments

  1. Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (8)Amanda says

    Oh, wow! Have to try this!

    Reply

    • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (9)Nicole Nared-Washington says

      Let me know when you do!

      Reply

  2. Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (10)Yuliya says

    Hi, Nicole. Love this recipe and made it a few times already but it’s been ages. Now I’m a bit puzzled. The temp in the oven is 250 degrees Fahrenheit right? Not Celsius. Thanks

    Reply

    • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (11)Nicole Nared-Washington says

      Yes.

      Reply

  3. Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (12)Tammi says

    This is the first time I’ve made butter toffee popcorn and OH EM GEE! Phenomenal, stupendous, fantastic, PERFECTION!

    Reply

    • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (13)Nicole Nared-Washington says

      YAAAAAY!!!!

      Reply

  4. Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (14)ChristopherD says

    Ingredients and proportions make delicious popcorn. I like to add a tablespoon of local honey, or orange blossom honey at the end, right before adding the vanilla and baking soda. Also, once mixture begins to boil, I stop stirring. I’ve found that constantly stirring causes crystallization, producing a grainy coating in the end…like, every time. Of course, I stir in the final ingredients, but only then. Also, during the oven phase (as it were), I pull the sheet pans out every 20 minutes and fold everything over and together, replace, and repeat until the hour is up. Furthermore, I flick out a popcorn pop/kernel/whatever to let cool on my counter while awaiting the next 20 minutes, just to test “doneness”. =]

    Reply

    • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (15)Nicole Nared-Washington says

      Awesome!

      Reply

  5. Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (16)Neda says

    This is amazing! I popped the popcorn kernels in a microwave safe bowl covered with a microwave safe plate. Followed the advice of one reviewer and didn’t stir while it was boiling. I ended up with the most delicious caramel mixture.

    Reply

    • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (17)Nicole Nared-Washington says

      Yay!

      Reply

  6. Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (18)Janice says

    I wonder if this same method will work for peanuts and nuts? I need a recipe for toffee crunch nut mix.

    Reply

    • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (19)Nicole Nared-Washington says

      Hmmm. I don’t see why not. I would try it and let me know how it comes out!

      Reply

  7. Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (20)Annie says

    I’ve made this at home several times with no issues and it’s fabulous! I try to make it at work and it almost burnt part of it during the baking process. I’m going to guess it was because these ovens are older than the hills. I want to try again at work so they get a better representation of the heaven that is this popcorn. I want to try in our convection oven. What is your recommendation for time and temp in a convection oven?

    Reply

    • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (21)Nicole Nared-Washington says

      This is great Annie! I am so glad you have a great experience with this recipe!

      Reply

  8. Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (22)Susan says

    My first time ever making Carmel popcorn and this recipe was very easy to follow and very DELICIOUS!!!! Thank Yiu for sharing!

    Reply

    • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (23)Nicole Nared-Washington says

      No problem! Thanks for trying!

      Reply

      • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (24)Jennifer says

        Can this be rolled into popcorn balls?

        Reply

        • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (25)Nicole Nared-Washington says

          I don’t think it will stick together and the caramel may burn your hands.

          Reply

  9. Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (26)Lynn says

    I’m excited to try this. One question. How much is 2 sticks of butter in cups? Our sticks here in Canada come in different sizes.

    Reply

    • Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (27)Nicole Nared-Washington says

      2 sticks is one cup, 16 tablespoons.

      Reply

Butter Toffee Popcorn Recipe - Brown Sugar Food Blog (2024)

FAQs

Is caramel popcorn the same as toffee popcorn? ›

Caramel corn or caramel popcorn (toffee popcorn in the UK) is a confection made of popcorn coated with a sugar or molasses based caramel candy shell that is normally less than 1mm thick. Typically a sugar solution or syrup is made and heated until it browns and becomes thick, producing a caramelized candy syrup.

How much butter should I put in popcorn? ›

How to make
  1. Heat 2 tablespoons clarified butter in 7- to 9-quart stockpot over medium-high heat.
  2. Add a few popcorn kernels to melted clarified butter and let pop. Once popped, add remaining kernels; swirl to coat in butter. ...
  3. Pour remaining 4 tablespoons butter over popcorn; toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt.

Is toffee popcorn a sweet? ›

Using our secret recipe, our generously covered Toffee popcorn is a taste sensation, a perfect sweet treat to share. Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Popped Maize, Salted Butter (MILK), Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Cane Molasses, Partially Inverted Sugar Syrup, Single Cream (MILK), Emulsifier: Lecithins.

How does popcorn get buttery? ›

Clarified butter or ghee: Clarified butter or ghee gives the popcorn a clean, rich, buttery flavor.

Can diabetics eat toffee popcorn? ›

Popcorn has few calories and is high in fiber, which can make it a suitable snack for people with diabetes. However, adding butter, sugar, and other toppings may mean it is no longer a healthy choice.

Is toffee just burnt caramel? ›

Toffee vs Caramel

The difference between toffee and caramel is that caramel is made with white granulated sugar and cooked to 340 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas toffee is made with butter and brown sugar and cooked to 295 - 309 degrees Fahrenheit.

What do movie theaters use for popcorn butter? ›

Directions. Movie theaters use butter-flavored oil, which has a lower water content than butter so it makes popcorn less soggy. Real clarified butter has the same effect. To make it, melt 2 sticks butter in a glass measuring cup in the microwave.

Why is movie theater popcorn so good? ›

Even the bagged “movie theater butter” microwave popcorn can't get it right. So, what's the secret? The flavor all comes down to one ingredient: Flavacol. You've likely never heard of Flavacol because, really, only movie theaters use it.

Can you just add melted butter to popcorn? ›

Technically you can, but butter burns faster than coconut oil so I don't really recommend it. Can you just melt butter and put it on popcorn? Yes absolutely – it makes the best buttered popcorn if you do it this way. Be sure to shake it so the butter is evenly distributed throughout the kernels.

Is toffee popcorn healthy? ›

Nutritional Analysis: Caramel popcorn usually contains high amounts of sugar and fats but also offers some fiber. Health Effects: Regular consumption can lead to weight gain and increased risk of chronic diseases. Occasional Treat: Moderation is key; enjoying caramel popcorn occasionally can be part of a balanced diet.

How much sugar is in butterkist toffee popcorn? ›

Table of Nutritional Information
Per 100gPer 30g Serving
of which Sugars49g15g
Fibre3.9g1.2g
Protein2.9g0.9g
Salt1.3g0.39g
6 more rows

How do you store toffee popcorn? ›

Remove from the oven and cool: I like to have a second sheet pan ready for this part so that the pieces of popcorn can be separated out so they aren't clumpy. Store: Super important to keep caramel corn in an airtight container!

What butter won't make popcorn soggy? ›

Yes, water is what is making your popcorn soggy! So if you're wondering how to keep popcorn from going soggy, the secret is to use clarified butter instead of normal butter. Clarified butter is just butter with the water evaporated out!

Can dogs eat popcorn? ›

Yes and no. Plain, air-popped popcorn is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. Buttered popcorn or popcorn with other toppings is not safe for your dog on a regular basis, although eating a few dropped pieces here and there probably won't hurt them.

Is caramel and toffee nut the same thing? ›

Toffee is different from caramel. They both have sugar and butter, but toffee doesn't have the added cream. The effect is a distinct sweetness.

Is toffee just crunchy caramel? ›

Toffee is usually cooked to around 300 degrees Fahrenheit, reaching the hard-crack stage, while caramel is cooked to about 230 degrees Fahrenheit, achieving the softball stage.

What's the difference between caramel popcorn and regular popcorn? ›

Kettle corn popcorn is the perfect balance of sweet and salty. It's more subtle than caramel corn sweetness-wise and allows the natural saltiness of popcorn to shine through. With caramel popcorn, your taste buds will detect a bolder, richer sweetness. You might also notice some buttery hints from the caramel sauce.

What is the difference between Crunch n Munch buttery toffee and caramel? ›

Caramel corn is darker brown which means it has deeper caramel flavor. Toffee is much lighter in color; flavor. They are equally good to me but fulfill different cravings or taste. Of Crunch n Munches many varieties I prefer the toffee one.

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