Name: Christmas Spiced Caramel 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 (produces 10 cups popcorn); 2/3 cup slivered almonds; 100g (7 tbsp) unsalted butter; 1 cup packed brown sugar; 1/2 cup (170g) light corn syrup (substitute glucose or golden syrup, honey, or maple syrup); 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 just something magical about that crunch paired with the warm, cozy spices that instantly bring holiday vibes. This Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe hits all the right notes — sweet, spicy, and perfectly sticky — making it a festive treat that’s honestly addicting.

The image shows a clear glass bowl filled with caramel popcorn mixed with slivered almonds. The popcorn is golden brown with a shiny caramel coating, creating a crispy texture, while the almond slivers add a light tan color and a crunchy contrast scattered evenly throughout the bowl. The bowl is placed on a white marbled surface, with red berries and a pine cone blurred in the background, adding a festive touch. 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 Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made plenty of caramel popcorn recipes, but adding those classic Christmas spices really takes it to another level. The aroma alone fills my kitchen with holiday cheer, and it’s become my go-to gift to share with friends and family.

Perfect Holiday Flavor: The blend of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves gives it that unmistakable festive warmth you can’t get from plain caramel popcorn.
Crunchy Yet Tender: Baking the popcorn after coating ensures a crisp texture that’s not too hard to bite into.
Easy to Customize: You can easily adjust the spice level or swap nuts to suit your taste or dietary needs.
Great for Gifting: It stores beautifully and stays fresh for weeks, making it ideal for thoughtful homemade presents.

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe balances simple staples with festive spices to build layers of flavor and texture. Each ingredient plays a crucial role, and knowing why helps you tweak with confidence.

Flat lay of a large mound of freshly popped white popcorn kernels with a slight yellow tint, a small white ceramic bowl filled with pale golden vegetable oil, a small white ceramic bowl holding slivered almonds, a neat rectangular slab of unsalted butter with a smooth surface, a small white ceramic bowl overflowing with packed dark brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl containing glossy light amber corn syrup, a small white ceramic bowl with fine cinnamon powder, a small white ceramic bowl with pale ginger powder, a small white ceramic bowl of rich dark allspice powder, a small white ceramic bowl with deep brown ground cloves, a small white ceramic bowl holding fine white baking soda, and a small white ceramic bowl with clear golden vanilla extract 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

Popping Corn: I prefer using about ⅓ cup kernels for a generous caramel coating, but you can reduce if you want lighter coverage.
Vegetable Oil: Helps pop the kernels evenly without flavor interference; skip if using an air popper.
Slivered Almonds: Their crunchy texture complements the popcorn, and they soak up just a hint of caramel and spice.
Butter: Unsalted butter melts into a rich base for the caramel, adding creaminess and depth.
Brown Sugar: Packed brown sugar creates that signature caramel color and flavor.
Corn Syrup (or Glucose): This prevents sugar crystallization, ensuring the caramel stays smooth and sticky.
Salt: Just a touch enhances sweetness and balances the spices.
Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth and rounds out the caramel flavor.
Baking Soda: Reacts to create foam, lightening the caramel and giving it that glossy coat.
Christmas Spices (Cinnamon, Ginger, Allspice, Cloves): The magic blend that transforms simple caramel popcorn into an irresistible seasonal snack.

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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

I love tweaking this Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe depending on my mood or who I’m gifting it to. Sometimes I swap almonds out for pecans or walnuts for a different nutty crunch, and adding a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking gives it a perfect sweet-salty angle.

Nut-Free Option: I’ve made this recipe without nuts when needed by just doubling the popcorn — still turned out fantastic!
Spice Level: Feel free to dial the spices up or down; if you prefer a gentler flavor, reduce the cinnamon and cloves.
Sweetness Adjustment: For a less sugary treat, use a bit less brown sugar or swap in maple syrup, but remember baking times might vary.

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

Three clear plastic bags filled with golden brown caramel popcorn are arranged on a white marbled surface. Each bag is tightly sealed with a small green ribbon tied around the top, adorned with red berry decorations. Loose pieces of the popcorn sit scattered around the base of the bags. Behind the bags, there are festive decorations including green leaves, red berries, and pine cones, along with a white pot holding a red flower. The light shines warmly, highlighting the shiny texture of the caramel on the popcorn, with a soft, blurred background enhancing the festive feel. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Pop the Corn Perfectly

Start by heating vegetable oil over medium heat in a large pot. I always toss in a few kernels first and cover them to test the temperature. Once they pop, it’s a sign the oil’s ready. Add the rest of the kernels, lift the pot off the heat and shake it gently to spread the kernels evenly—this trick helps prevent burning early. Once the popcorn starts popping vigorously, gently shake the pot once or twice. Remove from heat when the popping slows to a few seconds between pops. This results in about 10 cups of popcorn — perfect for coating.

Step 2: Whip Up Your Festive Caramel

While the popcorn is cooling slightly, preheat your oven to 110°C (230°F). Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt. Stir just enough to combine, then let it bubble and simmer for 4 minutes without stirring—this step is key to develop that smooth caramel texture. Remove from heat and quickly whisk in the Christmas spices, vanilla extract, and baking soda. Whisk vigorously for about 10 seconds until the caramel foams and grows slightly in volume. This foaming makes the coating lighter and easier to spread.

Step 3: Coat and Bake

Pour the hot caramel immediately over your popcorn, tossing to coat everything evenly. Sprinkle slivered almonds over the top and give it one more gentle toss. Spread the coated popcorn on two large baking trays in a single layer. Bake for 45 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes — the caramel will melt and recoat the popcorn, creating an even, crispy finish. If you swapped corn syrup for glucose, add an extra 15 minutes to the bake time. Once baked, let it cool completely — then break into chunky clusters.

Top Tip

After making this Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe a dozen times, I’ve learned a few tricks that make the process smoother and the outcome tastier.

Pre-Test the Oil Temperature: Waiting for a kernel to pop before adding the rest prevents under or over-heated oil, so you get perfectly popped corn without burnt bits.
Don’t Stir the Caramel While Simmering: Stirring can cause the sugar to crystallize, resulting in grainy caramel. Patience here makes a smooth, glossy sauce.
Work Quickly When Adding Caramel: The mixture foams and hardens fast — pouring it over popcorn immediately is key to coat evenly before it sets.
Use a Large Bowl for Tossing: You’ll thank yourself later; it makes mixing the popcorn and caramel much easier without spills.

How to Serve Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe

Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love sprinkling a tiny bit of flaky sea salt onto the popcorn just before baking — it creates a delightful sweet-salty contrast. Sometimes I add a dusting of extra cinnamon after baking for a warm finish. Toasted coconut flakes make a lovely garnish if you want a tropical twist, too!

Side Dishes

This Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn pairs wonderfully with a cozy cup of mulled cider or hot chocolate. For a party spread, I often serve it alongside a cheese plate with sharp cheddar and spicy sausages — surprisingly great combo!

Creative Ways to Present

For gift-giving or holiday parties, I like filling clear cellophane bags tied with twine and a sprig of fresh rosemary or cinnamon stick. It’s festive and lets the golden pops shine through. Mason jars also work beautifully and double as cute reusable containers.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once your popcorn has cooled completely, store it in an airtight container at room temperature. I never use plastic bags for this since they can cause staling. This recipe stays crisp and fresh for about 2 to 3 weeks — perfect for enjoying throughout the season.

Freezing

I’ve frozen leftover popcorn in airtight freezer bags a couple of times with good results. Just thaw it at room temperature — it retains its crunch, which surprised me! Just avoid moisture when freezing, or the caramel can soften.

Reheating

If your popcorn loses its crispness, a quick 5-minute toaster oven warm-up at low heat revives it nicely. Just keep an eye so it doesn’t burn or melt further. This tip works wonders when you want that fresh-crisp feel days later.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a popcorn maker instead of the stove?

Absolutely! If you have an air popcorn maker, you can skip the oil and just pop the kernels using that method. It gives you a lighter base for coating that’s great if you want to reduce fat content. Just make sure to measure the popped corn to get about 10 cups for this recipe.

What if I don’t have corn syrup?

Corn syrup helps prevent the caramel from crystallizing, but if you don’t have it, glucose is a great substitute, especially in Australia. You can also try golden syrup or honey, but note that you’ll need to bake the popcorn a little longer to get it crispy.

Can I make this recipe nut-free?

Yes! Simply leave out the almonds or replace them with allergy-friendly options like roasted chickpeas or seeds. The popcorn and caramel are fantastic on their own and still have plenty of flavor to enjoy.

How long does the popcorn stay fresh?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, the Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn stays crisp and fresh for up to 3 weeks. Just be sure to keep it away from humidity to prevent it from becoming sticky or soft.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe is one of those holiday treats that brings people together — the smell alone sparks memories and the crunchy, spiced sweetness keeps everyone coming back for more. Whether you’re gifting it or enjoying it curled up on the couch, it’s a cozy crowd-pleaser I always recommend. Trust me, once you make it, you’ll understand why this is my festive favorite year after year.