Name: Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: Western
Ingredients: 1/4 cup vegetable oil (not required if air popping with a popcorn maker); 1/3 cup popping corn (yields 10 cups popcorn for lighter caramel coverage); 2/3 cup slivered almonds; 100g / 7 tbsp unsalted butter; 1 cup packed brown sugar; 1/2 cup (170g) light corn syrup (or substitute glucose); 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 3 tsp cinnamon powder; 2 tsp ginger powder; 1/2 tsp allspice powder (or more cinnamon); 1/4 tsp ground cloves (or more cinnamon)

There’s nothing quite like that warm, spicy-sweet scent filling the kitchen to get you into the holiday spirit. This Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe transforms humble popcorn into a festive treat that’s crunchy, cozy, and just a little bit magical. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll be hooked.

A clear glass bowl filled with caramel popcorn mixed with light beige slivered almonds scattered on top. The popcorn is shiny and dark caramel colored with a slightly rough texture. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface, with red berries and green leaves softly visible in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe is one I come back to every season because it feels both indulgent and comforting—perfect for sharing with family or as a gift. The balance of spices with buttery caramel makes it a standout treat.

Perfect Holiday Flavor: The cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and allspice blend bring traditional Christmas warmth to every bite.
Crunchy, Yet Tender: Baking the caramel-coated popcorn ensures it stays crisp without being too hard—just the perfect candy-like texture.
Easy to Customize: You can adjust the spice blend or nuts to suit your taste or dietary preferences, making it very versatile.
Great For Gifting or Parties: It holds up for weeks when stored properly, making it ideal for sharing during busy holiday days.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe plays a vital role, creating layers of flavor and texture that you’ll notice in every handful. A little note on selecting quality ingredients will make a big difference.

Flat lay of a small pile of unpopped popcorn kernels, a small mound of slivered almonds, a slab of unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with packed brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl holding light corn syrup, a small white ceramic bowl containing cinnamon powder, a small white ceramic bowl with ginger powder, a small white ceramic bowl with allspice powder, a small white ceramic bowl with ground cloves, a small white ceramic bowl of salt, and a small white ceramic bowl with vanilla extract liquid, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Popcorn kernels: Fresh kernels pop the best; I like using the recommended amount to control caramel coverage and sweetness.
Vegetable oil: Helps pop the corn evenly without interfering with flavor—skip if using an air popper.
Butter: Unsalted butter lets you control the salt balance and lends rich, creamy flavor.
Brown sugar: Packed brown sugar adds deep caramel notes and moisture for a perfect coating.
Corn syrup: This keeps the caramel smooth and prevents crystallization — a must for that glossy finish. Glucose syrup works well too.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the spices.
Vanilla extract: Adds a subtle, warm aroma that rounds out the caramel’s richness.
Baking soda: Makes the caramel light and foamy, so it coats the popcorn beautifully.
Christmas spices: Cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves combine to evoke that classic holiday flavor.
Slivered almonds: A nice crunchy contrast to the popcorn and caramel. Feel free to swap for pecans or walnuts!

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best things about this Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe is how easy it is to tweak it. I usually stick to the original spice mix, but every year I try small tweaks to keep things fun.

Variation: Sometimes, I toss in dried cranberries or mini chocolate chips after baking for a festive twist. It’s an instant crowd-pleaser!
Dairy-free option: Use coconut oil and a vegan butter substitute, and make sure to use a corn syrup alternative that suits your needs.
Nut swaps: If almonds aren’t your thing, pecans or macadamia nuts add their own unique crunch and flavor.
Less sweet version: Use a bit less brown sugar or popcorn kernels to caramel ratio for a lighter glaze and balance out the sweetness.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe

The image shows three clear plastic bags filled with caramel popcorn tied with a green ribbon with red berries, placed on a white marbled surface. Scattered caramel popcorn pieces lie around the bags in the foreground. In the background, there are festive decorations including a white pot with a red poinsettia flower, a small grey pot with green leaves and red berries, and shiny gold ornaments with a soft red glow around them. The scene gives a warm and holiday feel. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Perfectly Popped Popcorn

Start by heating your vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Drop in a few kernels as a test—when they pop, you know the oil is ready. Then pour in the rest, shake the pot occasionally to keep things moving so the kernels don’t burn, and cover it. Listen closely; once the popping slows to about 3 seconds between pops, remove it from the heat immediately to avoid burnt tastes. Transfer your popcorn to a very large bowl—aim for about 10 cups popped.

Step 2: Making That Luscious Caramel

While the popcorn cools, get your oven preheated to 110°C (230°F). In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt just until combined — then leave it alone. When the mixture bubbles, let it simmer for 4 minutes without stirring to form a smooth caramel base. Off the heat, whisk in the Christmas spices, vanilla extract, and baking soda quickly. This is the moment the caramel foams and becomes delightfully airy, so don’t delay pouring it!

Step 3: Coating and Baking to Crispy Perfection

Pour the hot caramel sauce immediately over your popcorn. Toss it gently but thoroughly, then sprinkle on those slivered almonds and toss again until everything is evenly coated. Spread the mixture across two large baking trays, and bake for about 45 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes or so. This baking step is key—it crisps the caramel nicely without making it too hard. Patience is your friend here!

Top Tip

From my many holiday experiments, a few little adjustments make all the difference—these helped me master the perfect Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe.

Use a Large Bowl: When tossing caramel-coated popcorn, use the biggest bowl you own to avoid crushing the popcorn and to coat it evenly.
Don’t Skip the Baking: This transforms your popcorn from sticky to delightfully crisp without sacrificing chewiness—trust me, it’s worth the wait.
Quick Whisking: After removing the caramel from heat, whisk vigorously and pour immediately. If you wait too long, it won’t foam and coat right!
Store Properly: Keep the popcorn in an airtight container once completely cooled to keep that crunch lasting up to three weeks.

How to Serve Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe

Christmas caramel popcorn - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love sprinkling a little extra cinnamon or nutmeg on the popcorn just before serving for an extra holiday touch. Sometimes I toss in festive red and green sprinkles or drizzle melted white chocolate for a beautiful, party-ready presentation.

Side Dishes

This popcorn is fantastic alongside spiced hot cocoa or mulled cider for cozy holiday gatherings. It also pairs splendidly with cheese boards featuring sharp cheeses and dried fruits.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I packaged the popcorn in small mason jars tied with twine and rustic tags for neighbors—such a hit! You can also serve it in a festive bowl lined with holiday napkins for casual gatherings, or layer it in clear treat bags with some candy canes for gifting.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once your Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn has cooled completely, I store it in an airtight container at room temperature. This keeps it fresh and crisp for up to 2-3 weeks—perfect for snacking throughout the season.

Freezing

I’ve frozen caramel popcorn a few times by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and sealing it in freezer bags. When thawed at room temp, it’s still surprisingly good, though I usually prefer making fresh batches since it’s so quick.

Reheating

If the popcorn loses a bit of its crispness, pop it in the oven at 150°C (300°F) for 5–7 minutes to revive that crunch. Just keep an eye to avoid burning the caramel!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use air-popped popcorn for this recipe?

Absolutely! If you prefer, air-popped popcorn works great and means you can skip the vegetable oil. Just be gentle when tossing with the caramel to keep it from breaking.

What’s the best way to avoid burnt caramel?

The key is to simmer the caramel mixture for exactly 4 minutes without stirring, then remove it promptly from heat before whisking the spices and baking soda. Using medium heat and a timer helps avoid burning.

Can I substitute corn syrup with other sweeteners?

Yes, corn syrup stabilizes caramel but you can use glucose syrup as a substitute or even golden syrup, honey, or maple syrup. Just bake the popcorn an additional 15 minutes to get the right crispness.

How long does this popcorn stay fresh?

Properly stored in an airtight container, this caramel spiced popcorn stays crisp and tasty for 2 to 3 weeks, making it ideal for holiday treats that last.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Caramel Spiced Popcorn Recipe holds a special place in my heart every holiday season. It’s simple enough to make with kids yet impressive enough to share as a gift. I hope you enjoy making and sharing it as much as I do—it really encapsulates that cozy, joyful holiday feeling in every bite.