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    Home » Recipes » Snacks and Appetizers

    Maple Popcorn

    Published: Mar 17, 2022

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    Got some maple syrup on hand and looking to make something indulgent? Look no further. This maple popcorn is the ultimate caramel corn!

    A maple leaf shaped bowl of maple popcorn, with a bottle of maple syrup behind it.

    Over the years, I’ve posted a lot of popcorn recipes, some of them kind of “out there”:

    Bananas Foster Caramel Popcorn
    Canadian Popcorn Seasonings
    Sweet Heat Salted Caramel Popcorn
    Moroccan Twist Salted Caramel Popcorn
    Apple Cinnamon Caramel Popcorn
    Maple White Cheddar Popcorn
    Hopped Popcorn - Hopcorn!
    Bacon Cheddar Popcorn
    Jello Glazed Popcorn

    ... but somehow I’ve gone this long without posting my most simple - and one of my best - popcorn recipes : Maple Syrup Popcorn!

    This recipe is your classic caramel popcorn, but with an earthy, Canadian flair.

    Unlike many commercial maple products, this caramel corn uses pure maple syrup - no granulated sugar, corn syrup, or artificial flavours.

    It’s a great snack on its own, a popular bake sale offering, and the perfect snack for movie night.

    The best thing? This original recipe is SUPER easy to make, and requires only a few basic ingredients!

    Let’s get to it!

    A maple leaf shaped bowl of maple popcorn.

    Maple Syrup Popcorn Ingredients

    This maple popcorn recipe is very simple, using only 5 ingredients.

    Popcorn

    You can pop your popcorn fresh (which is what I recommend), or use pre-popped popcorn.

    If using premade popcorn, try to use something fresh, without added butter or salt.

    I like to use popcorn kernels that makes big, puffy popcorn for this one, as I’m not as much of a fan of caramel on tiny pieces of popcorn. It’s all about the ratios!

    SO, I recommend using the "gourmet mushroom" variety of popcorn kernels. These make the more round / globe / "brain" type of popcorn, and is best for caramel popcorn in general.

    Alternatively, you can try the "Gourmet Yellow" variety of popcorn, which is commonly used for movie theatre style popcorn.

    Maple Syrup

    This is a very important ingredient, as it brings the flavour, sugar, AND caramel to the table - no corn syrup or brown sugar necessary!

    You’ll want to use pure maple syrup - the stuff that actually comes out of the trees. “Pancake syrup” - whether maple flavoured or not - will not work the same way.

    Butter

    I tend to use unsalted butter, but it really doesn’t make a huge difference either way for this recipe.

    If you’re doing the bacon version, you can swap a bit of the butter out with (strained!) bacon fat, but I wouldn’t go more than ½. Also know that the caramel won’t look as pretty, but it’ll be tasty!

    Salt

    Pretty self-explanatory. I generally use table salt, but feel free to use sea salt, smoked salt, or even Himalayan salt - note that you won’t see the pink colour, though!

    Baking Soda

    Again, pretty basic. This ingredient breaks up the structure of the caramel a bit, making it easier to eat.

    A close up view of maple caramel popcorn.

    How to Make Maple Popcorn

    This is a super easy recipe to make, just a few short steps - you don’t even need a candy thermometer!

    The full recipe follows at the end of the post, here’s an overview with additional tips and info.

    1. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

    2. Measure the popped popcorn in a large metal pot or very large bowl (metal). Set aside.

    3. In a large saucepan, combine butter, maple syrup, and salt, whisking until well combined.

    4. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Once boiling, allow to boil for 7 minutes - stirring frequently - and then remove from heat.

    A pot of boiling maple caramel.

    5. Add baking soda, stir well to combine - caramel will foam up a little.

    6. Pour caramel over fresh popcorn, CAREFULLY stir to coat evenly – Hot caramel is nasty to get burned with!

    Note: If you're adding bacon or nuts, do so now.

    7. Divide the maple caramel corn between the two cookie sheets, spreading it evenly over each prepared baking sheet - aim for a single layer of popcorn.

    Maple caramel popcorn spread out on a parchment lined baking sheet.

    8. Break up large chunks of popcorn, and allow to cool fully. Once Maple caramel corn is fully cooled, break into smaller pieces.

    Serve immediately - a large mixing bowl works great - or place popcorn in an airtight container for storage.

    Note: Caramel corn is VERY hydrophilic - it attracts water - so if you don't store it in an airtight container, it will draw water from the air and get soggy/sticky


    A maple leaf shaped bowl of maple popcorn.

    Maple Caramel Popcorn Variations

    Maple Bacon Popcorn

    Bacon and maple are such a great combo, and that goes double for when popcorn is added to the mix!

    To make maple bacon popcorn, fry up some chopped bacon - ½ to 1 lb - until crispy. Strain the bacon off the fat, transfer to paper towels to absorb the extra grease.

    Toss the bacon in with the popcorn just after stirring the maple caramel into it, before it hardens.

    Serve soon - this version doesn’t store well, on account of the meat.

    Maple Nut Popcorn

    This popcorn goes really well with nuts added to it - you can add them before or after letting the caramel harden, depending on how “stuck” you’d like them.

    I like to add them just after stirring the caramel in, so they’re incorporated into the caramel and popcorn pretty well. Also,

    You can use whatever nuts you like best - even a mix - but walnuts, pecans, and peanuts go best with this recipe, IMHO.

    Salted Maple Popcorn

    The amount of salt called for in the recipe boosts the flavour, but doesn’t make for an actually salty popcorn.

    If you’re looking to make the maple version of a salted caramel, you’ll want to add more salt - 1 ½ - 2 tsp, depending on how salty you’d like it.

    Maple Cinnamon Popcorn

    Warm spices go SO well with maple and caramel - add 1 - 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon to the caramel when you take it off the heat, stir it well before pouring it over the popcorn.

    Maple White Cheddar Popcorn

    I’ve actually got this up as a standalone recipe - Maple White Cheddar Popcorn.

    A bowl of maple syrup caramel poporn in front of a bottle of maple syrup.

    More Maple Recipes!

    Love Maple syrup as much as I do? Here are a bunch of recipes to try. And hey, let's throw in a maple leaf craft, for good measure!

    Maple Pumpkin Spice Bagels
    Maple Butter Tarts
    Buttertart Liqueur
    Maple Walnut Baklava
    Maple Dijon Glazed Wings
    Maple Walnut Ice Cream
    Maple Pumpkin Spiced Muffins
    Maple Walnut Spiced Pumpkin Buns
    Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots
    Maple Hard Apple Cider
    Maple Leaf Roses

    A close up view of maple caramel popcorn.

    Share the Love!

    Before you chow down, be sure to take some pics of your handiwork! If you Instagram it, be sure to tag me - @CelebrationGenerationCA - or post it to My Facebook Page - so I can cheer you on!

    Also, be sure to subscribe to my free monthly email newsletter, so you never miss out on any of my nonsense. Well, the published nonsense, anyway!

    Finally, if you love this recipe, please consider leaving a star review and/or a comment below!

    A maple leaf shaped bowl of maple popcorn.

    A maple leaf shaped bowl of maple popcorn.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    4.80 from 5 votes

    Maple Popcorn [Maple Syrup Caramel Popcorn]

    Got some maple syrup on hand and are looking to make something indulgent? Look no further. This maple popcorn is the ultimate caramel corn!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time9 minutes mins
    Cooling Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time32 minutes mins
    Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: Canadian
    Diet: Vegetarian
    Servings: 18 cups
    Calories: 152kcal
    Author: Marie Porter

    Equipment

    Popcorn Maker
    2 Baking Sheets
    Parchment Paper

    Ingredients

    • 18 cups Popped popcorn
    • ½ cup Butter
    • 1 ⅓ cup Maple syrup
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Baking soda
    • Crispy Bacon, crumbled optional
    • Nuts, options Walnuts, peanuts, and pecans work best, IMHO

    Instructions

    • Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
    • Measure the popped popcorn in a large metal pot. Set aside.
    • In a large saucepan, combine butter, maple syrup, and salt, whisking until well combined. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Once boiling, allow to boil for 7 minutes - stirring frequently - and then remove from heat.
    • Add baking soda, stir well to combine - caramel will foam up a little.
    • Pour caramel over popcorn, CAREFULLY stir to coat evenly – Hot caramel is nasty to get burned with!
    • If you're adding bacon or nuts, do so now.
    • Divide the maple caramel corn between the two cookie sheets, spreading it evenly. Break up large chunks of popcorn, and allow to cool fully.
    • Once Maple caramel corn is fully cooled, break into smaller pieces.
    • Serve immediately, or transfer to airtight containers for storage.
      (Note: Don't store the popcorn if you added bacon - eat it right away!)

    Notes

    Caramel corn is VERY hydrophilic - it attracts water - so if you don't store it in an airtight container, it will draw water from the air and get soggy/sticky

    Nutrition

    Calories: 152kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 143mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 179IU | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

    A close up view of maple syrup caramel popcorn.

    A close up view of maple caramel popcorn.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. DMH

      May 15, 2022 at 5:44 pm

      5 stars
      I made this today for the first time, but it won't be the last! The recipe worked perfectly, and it took almost no time to make a BIG batch. I will definitely be making this for holiday gifts!

      Reply

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