Salted Peanut Butter Caramel Corn with Bacon Recipe

This Salted Peanut Butter Caramel Corn with Bacon is a crispy and crunchy recipe, which is made with a rich homemade peanut butter caramel and savory bacon. It’s the ultimate party snack, perfect for game day or a movie night.

Jump to Recipe

Salted Peanut Butter Caramel Corn with Bacon Ingredients

The ultimate sweet, salty, and savory combination.

For the Popcorn:

• 1/2 cup Unpopped Popcorn Kernels (to make about 15 cups popped)
• 1/4 cup Coconut Oil Or Vegetable Oil
• 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt

For the Salted Peanut Butter Caramel:

• 1/2 cup Coconut Oil Or Vegetable Oil
• 2/3 cup Corn Syrup
• 1 cup Peanut Butter
• 2 cups Sugar
• 1 tsp. Kosher Salt
• 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
• 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

For the Mix-ins:

• 1 cup Honey Roasted Peanuts
• 4 slices Cooked Bacon, Chopped Into Small Pieces

How To Make Salted Peanut Butter Caramel Corn with Bacon

A step-by-step guide to this wonderfully crunchy and addictive treat.

1. Pop the Corn & Prep Oven: Preheat your oven to a low 250°F (120°C). Line a large roasting pan with parchment paper. In a large pot over medium-high heat, pop the popcorn kernels in the oil with the salt. Place the popped popcorn in a very large bowl. Toast the pecans in a dry skillet until fragrant, then add them to the popcorn.
2. Make the Peanut Butter Caramel: In a medium saucepan, combine the oil, corn syrup, peanut butter, sugar, and kosher salt. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to combine. Let it simmer for 6-7 minutes.
3. Coat the Popcorn: In a tiny bowl, mix the baking soda and vanilla. Remove the caramel from the heat and stir in the vanilla mixture; it will foam up. Immediately pour the hot caramel over the popcorn and pecans. Use two large spatulas to quickly toss and coat everything evenly.
4. Bake Until Crispy: Spread the coated popcorn in the prepared roasting pan and sprinkle generously with more salt. Bake for 1 hour, removing the pan from the oven to stir the mixture every 15 minutes.
5. Add Bacon and Serve: Let the caramel corn cool completely in the pan; it will become very crispy as it cools. Once cool, break up any large clumps and mix in the chopped bacon and honey-roasted peanuts.

Recipe Tips

For the crispiest, most delicious caramel corn every time.

• How to get the crispiest caramel corn? The secret is the low and slow bake. Baking the coated popcorn for a full hour at a very low temperature is what dries out the caramel, transforming it from a sticky sauce into a thin, crispy, candy-like shell.
• Why add baking soda to the caramel? The baking soda reacts with the acidic components in the caramel, creating tiny air bubbles. This makes the final caramel coating a bit softer and easier to bite through, rather than a hard, tooth-breaking candy.
• How to prevent a sticky mess? Work quickly! As soon as you pour the hot caramel over the popcorn, use two large spoons or spatulas to toss and fold everything together continuously until you don’t see any more white popcorn.
• Can I use microwave popcorn? Yes, but you’ll need a large, plain, lightly salted variety. You’ll need about 15 cups of popped corn, which is usually two standard-sized bags.

What To Serve With Peanut Butter Caramel Corn

This sweet and salty treat is perfect on its own.

This addictive caramel corn is the star of any snack table. It’s perfect for:

• Movie nights at home
• Packaging in festive bags for holiday gifts
• Serving in a large bowl at parties and get-togethers
• A crunchy topping for a bowl of vanilla or chocolate ice cream

How To Store Peanut Butter Caramel Corn

Keeping your snack perfectly crisp.

• Room Temperature: Once completely cooled, store the caramel corn in a well-sealed, airtight container or a zip-top bag at room temperature. It will stay fresh and crispy for up to a week.

Salted Peanut Butter Caramel Corn with Bacon Nutrition Facts

An estimated guide per serving.

• Calories: 450 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Protein: 8 g
• Fat: 28 g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Salted Caramel Cupcakes Recipe
• Slow Cooker Caramelized Onions Recipe
• Caramelized Onion & Prosciutto Pizza Recipe