Vegan Caramel Popcorn (Healthier)
Recipes | October 19, 2016
This Vegan Caramel Popcorn is healthier & made with 7 ingredients in just 25 minutes. It’s SO addictive, really easy to make and perfect for parties or gifts!
WATCH THE VIDEO TO SEE HOW IT’S MADE:
Guess what? It’s only two weeks until Halloween, which means only two weeks until the first excuse of the year to eat as much candy as your heart desires (moderation, of course!).
Guess what should be on your list of snacks as you stay at home and watch terrifying Halloween movies (WHY was Don’t Look Under The Bed a kid’s movie?!)? This Vegan Caramel Popcorn. You get all the candy sweet satisfaction that you want, with a whole lot less guilt and calories. Also, in just 25 minutes.
We’ve been making this vegan caramel popcorn (do you say popcorn or vegan caramel corn? ) for the last two years, albeit a much harder version. Fast forward to years, this version tastes even better, is done in just 25 minutes from start to finish, and is a lot healthier.
The vegan caramel sauce for this caramel popcorn is made with salt, vegan butter, almond milk, maple syrup, cane sugar and vanilla. This caramel is so addictive that I knew I had to do a separate post on a vegan caramel sauce (yes yes yes!). The key ingredient to turning this delicious caramel sauce into salted caramel popcorn is, *drumroll* baking soda. Baking soda completely changes the texture of the caramel as it’s bubbling and makes it much lighter, and much easier to coat the popcorn with. This was the missing ingredient from our first vegan caramel popcorn and let me tell you, the difference is phenomenal. All you have to do next is coat the popcorn, then bake. Done, and done.
Don’t forget to share! Seriously, this vegan caramel popcorn makes an amazing gift (HINT to any of my friends). It’s very easy to care for, easy to make, and a pretty cheap but thoughtful gift. Of course; you should make your own batch, and a batch for your friends.
P.S. Here are some of the items I used to make this recipe if you’d like to use them too:
| WHAT YOU’LL NEED // SHOP MY FAVORITE INGREDIENTS & PREP PRODUCTS |
WW SMART POINTS: 5
If you try this Vegan Caramel Popcorn please let me know in the comment section below, or tag me on instagram with the hashtag #jessicainthekitchen! For more exclusive recipes follow me on Instagram AND on Snapchat: jessinkitchen.
MORE VEGAN CARAMEL RECIPES
Vegan Caramel Popcorn (Healthy)
Ingredients
Vegan Caramel Popcorn (Healthy)
- 10 cups plain, unsalted, organic freshly popped popcorn
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons almond milk
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut sugar or raw cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
Vegan Caramel Popcorn (Healthy)
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet or two with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Place popcorn into a large metal bowl. Set aside.
- In a pot over medium high heat, add the vegan butter, half the salt, the almond milk, maple syrup, coconut sugar and vanilla and stir to combine.
- Allow to come to a boil and then add in the rest of the salt. Add the baking soda and watch closely. The mixture will change colour and is more susceptible to burning now, so reduce heat and stir frequently for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and pour over popcorn. Working quickly, toss with a spatula to evenly distribute over all the popcorn.
- Spread popcorn onto the baking sheets until evenly distributed.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow the popcorn to cool on a fresh sheet on parchment paper. They popcorn will crisp up.
- Eat immediately, or place in an airtight tupperware container to keep crispy. Enjoy!
NOTES
This popcorn is vegan and gluten free. You can store this in an airtight tupperware container in the fridge, but it tastes best and crunchy fresh!
I once used cane sugar but now use coconut sugar! Feel free to sub for this too, it won’t be as sweet but just as delicious!
by Jessica
Hocus Pocus was always my favorite Halloween movie growing up!! And probably still now… lol This popcorn looks like the perfect snack for watching it!
Oh my gosh, loved that movie!! Thanks Ashley!!
This is going to become my new favorite snack! Yum!
Thanks Pamela!!
That sounds so good.
Hi Jessica,
This is a great recipe. It looks very sweet. I will try it soon.
Thank so much!
You made me laugh with your observation about Don’t Look Under the Bed! So true.
Hahaha! It was SO scary! Thanks for commenting Jean! 🙂
pinch me I’m dreaming…. I LOVE caramel corn! There is this place by my beach house that makes it and sells it in huge buckets and I literally can eat all of it by myself with no problem! However, its full of butta and sugar and all the bad things. Love that this one is guilt-free and I can make it in a jif!
I’ve only made caramel popcorn once. I’m considering making a Halloween inspired batch this weekend 🙂 Hopefully, I can control myself and not eat the entire batch 😉
LOVE popcorn and even more caramel… HEALHY! Yayyy!
Thanks Drea!!!!!
This was amazing!!!! Thank you SO much!
Aww I’m so happy to hear that Justine!! You’re so welcome and thanks for your feedback!!
Do you have a recommendation of another ingredient I can use in place of the butter for a lower fat version? Really don’t want to use oil either. Looks so good!!
I just made this delicious popcorn ?! I did tweek the recipe a little. I left out the vegan butter and substituted the cane sugar for coconut sugar. It came out fabulous! Those looking for a no-fat recipe my want to try. As I think the fat content would only come from the butter, the rest of the ingredients are fat free. Thank you this is my new favorite snack.
Surely that’s too hot/too long? Mine burnt to a crisp 🙁
Hi Jay, We’re sorry to hear that, are you talking about the caramel sauce or the baking aspect?
I made your “Vegan Caramel Popcorn (Healthy)” and I just wanted to comment on how wonderfully delicious it was. I used the coconut sugar, as you suggested, the only thing I changed was the amount of ingredients. Since I have such a sweet tooth, I increased all the ingredients by half, except for the vegan butter (I used Earth Bound). Thank you so much Jessica for a wonderful recipe!
I thought when I went to a vegan or plant based diet, I would have to give up so much, but that’s not the case at all. Thanks to people like you who give us such delicious recipes it’s a dream come true. Foods lower in fat, that tastes great and makes a person feel so much better.
Thank You So Much,
Shirley
Hi Shirley!
Thank you so much for your absolutely sweet comment!! I’m so so happy that I’ve helped to make your plant based journey doable!! You’re so very welcome and thanks so much for your feedback!!
Just made this. No more 7-11 caramel corn
Hi Denise! We’re happy you like it!