Name: Easy Caramel Corn Mix
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 48 min
Total time: 58 min
Ingredients: 1 (2.69 ounce) bag microwave popcorn, about 12 cups popped (preferably no butter or lightly buttered); 1 cup mini pretzel twists; 1/2 cup roasted almonds; 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter; 3/4 cup light brown sugar; 1/4 cup light corn syrup; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Bake up this Easy Caramel Corn Mix made with caramel-coated popcorn, pretzels and nuts. A crunchy, sweet-and-salty snack everyone will love.

A bowl of caramel corn mixx in a small white bowl on a white marble counter.

A Girl’s Night Snack

You can thank my weekly girls’ night for this Caramel Corn Mix recipe. I look forward to it as much as I look forward to the weekends. It all started after I had the twins. My dear friend, Robin, would bring me an extra-thick chocolate almond milkshake (nursing & survival fuel) and help me with the twins while we watched The Bachelor.

Even after the twins were on a good schedule and I no longer needed that extra help and those big thick milkshakes, Robin continues to come over and watch The Bachelor with me along with our other dear friend, Meredith.

On Monday nights, we laugh a lot, cry a little, support each other in this crazy stage of motherhood, craft occasionally, do our nails, analyze and make fun of every dramatic event on The Bachelor/Bachelorette/Bachelor in Paradise, and indulge ourselves in something sweet. It’s the absolute perfect way to start the week!

Robin still brings milkshakes every once in a while, but I’ve started using Monday nights to test recipes on them.

I usually bake brownies, cookies or experiment with homemade blizzard mix-ins, but this past Monday, we had The Bachelor and The Grammys to watch. We needed something a little more snacky and my caramel corn craving was at an all-time high. My family has a couple caramel corn-like recipes that I combined to create this tasty version of such a favorite sweet treat.

A baking sheet of baked caramel corn mix.

Sweet, Salty, and Seriously Addictive

This Caramel Corn Mix is all about balance. Buttery popcorn, salty pretzels, and roasted nuts wrapped in that deep, buttery caramel glaze. The flavors hit every craving at once: sweet, salty, nutty, and crunchy in every bite. It smells like an old-fashioned candy shop while it bakes, and tastes even better. Whether you scoop it into bags for gifting, serve it in a big bowl for parties, or keep it on hand for cozy movie nights, it’s the kind of snack that disappears faster than you’d expect.

A white bowl of caramel corn mix on a white marble counter.

The Secret to That Perfect Crunch

Baking the caramel corn low and slow gives it that irresistible crispness you just can’t get from a stovetop or no-bake version. As it bakes, the caramel seeps into every piece of popcorn, pretzel, and nut, then hardens into a shiny, golden shell.

Stirring every 15 minutes keeps things from clumping so every handful comes out evenly coated and delicious. The baking soda in the sauce is the secret weapon: it aerates the caramel so the coating bakes up light and snappy instead of sticky. Once it cools, you can break it into crunchy clusters that are perfect for snacking.

A wooden spatula in a baking sheet of baked caramel corn mix.

Ingredients and Supplies

(see recipe card at the bottom of this post for measurements and details)

Ingredients:

Microwave popcorn (preferably no butter or lightly buttered) or Stovetop Popcorn
Mini pretzel twists
Roasted almonds
Dry roasted peanuts (For peanut allergies, feel free to omit or replace with chopped pecans.)
Unsalted butter
Light brown sugar
Light corn syrup
Vanilla extract
Baking soda

Supplies:

Ingredients to make caramel corn mix in small glass dishes on a white marble counter.

Watch Me Make It

Step into the kitchen with me to bake up this crazy good caramel corn.

How to Make Caramel Corn Mix

Preheat oven to 250°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Pop popcorn according to package directions.
Place in a bowl so unpopped kernels go to the bottom and transfer all popped kernels to a large mixing bowl.
Add pretzels, almonds and peanuts to the popcorn in the large mixing bowl.
In a microwave safe bowl, melt the butter, brown sugar and corn syrup for 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Remove and whisk until smooth.
Return to microwave for 30 seconds and remove and whisk again. Return to microwave for another 30 seconds until bubbling.
Remove from microwave and immediately whisk in vanilla and baking soda. Allow caramel sauce to set for about 3 minutes.
Pour caramel sauce over popcorn mixture and toss to coat evenly.

Spread mixture evenly onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Caramel corn mix with peanuts and pretzels on a sheet pan.

Bake on middle rack for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Keep The Chew

NOTE: If you prefer a softer, chewier texture to your caramel corn, baking can be skipped. After spreading the mixture evenly onto the prepared baking sheet, let set for 30 minutes. Stir mixture around and let set another 30 minutes before transferring to an airtight container or baggie. Mix can be served while still warm, if desired.

More Fair Food at Home

Fair Food Favorites you can make right at home! From standards like funnel cakes and corn dogs to new takes on classic fair flavors, this is your ticket to all the yum!

Baked Churros, funnel cake, baked corn dogs, and caramel apple cupcakes.

If you make this Easy Caramel Corn Mix, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see. If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join my Friends of The BakerMama group to connect and share all the fun and yummy recipes of mine that you make! 😍 I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the ideas I share. Enjoy!

xoxo,