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A Healthy Caramel Popcorn Recipe, can you believe it?! Made with real maple syrup and coconut oil, this healthier snack won’t last long.
Caramel Popcorn
I don’t know about you, but Caramel Popcorn (also known as Caramel Corn) and I are BFF’s.
I don’t usually snack on anything late into the night these days, but sometimes I make exceptions and today is that day.
When my friends Christie and Claudia told me about their Clean Eating Caramel Popcorn Recipe, I couldn’t believe how good it was. Not only is this recipe super simple, but it is also:
gluten-free
vegan
unprocessed
contains no sugar
Sound a little too good to be true? Well, believe it friends! Give it a try and you be the judge!
Coconut Oil –There are a ton of articles out there saying that coconut oil may or may not be healthy for you. All I know is that it is way better than plain ol’ butter and that this is what this recipe calls for. You be the judge of this and make this recipe with coconut oil or an oil of your choosing. It’s your body people, you decide what goes in it.
Popcorn Kernels – You can’t make popcorn without those kernels. Freshly popped popcorn just cannot be beaten. No matter how convenient the microwave kinds are.
Vanilla –What good, sweet treat recipe doesn’t have vanilla in it. It adds tons of flavor and the aroma of it just kills me every time.
Maple Syrup –Ok I know maple syrup has sugar in it. By healthy, I mean that this recipe is healthier than the traditional recipe because I don’t use processed sugars in it. Do yourself a favor and buy REAL maple syrup. It is SO good. And that is not just the Canadian speaking in me.
Sea Salt –What is more perfect that sea salt to top off this tasty recipe. It is the perfect compliment to all the sweet.
Looking for more delectable snacks to munch on? Check out these recipes:Deviled Eggs,Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars,Smoothie Bowl Recipe for Kids, andCream Cheese Fruit Dip Recipe.
How to Make Caramel Popcorn
Start with 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels.
Place them into a hot pan with some melted coconut oil and…
…pop the top on! Every 20-30 seconds shake the pan back and forth to make sure the kernels heat evenly so they pop evenly.
After about 5 minutes, all your popcorn should be perfectly popped 🙂 Set this aside.
Now onto the caramel! In a small saucepan, measure out some REAL maple syrup and more coconut oil. I also added in my sea salt to this mixture too, but feel free to save it for the end.
Lightly boil the mixture for 2 minutes until it thickens. Then add in some vanilla and pour over the popcorn.
Stir to coat and then eat immediately, or spread it out onto a baking sheet to set a little more.
Believe it or not, this doesn’t taste too coconutty or maply. The splash of vanilla that you throw in at the end makes such a huge difference! It’s seriously what makes this taste like caramel corn…so don’t forget to add it in 🙂
We scarfed this stuff down in no time and think your families will too. Plus it is practically guilt-free! Holla!
Print the recipe using the button below! Enjoy!
Even More healthy snacks you might like:
Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids
Homemade Protein Snack Boxes
Peanut Butter Energy Balls
No Bake Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
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4.71 from 34 votes
Healthy Caramel Popcorn Recipe
A Healthy Caramel Popcorn Recipe, can you believe it?! Made with real maple syrup and coconut oil, this healthier snack won't last long.
Place 1 tablespoon coconut oil into a deep pot or pan with a tight-fitting lid and melt over medium-high heat. Add in popcorn kernels and cover. Shake the pan back and forth every 20 seconds or so to heat kernels evenly. After about 2 minutes, kernels should start to pop. Once popping slows, remove popcorn from heat and pour into a large bowl.
In a small saucepan, place remaining coconut oil with maple syrup and salt. Boil 2 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Drizzle over popcorn and toss to coat evenly. Spread out onto some parchment paper to cool 30 minutes or so. Serve.
While caramel-coated popcorn may be a tempting snack, its simple carbs and high sugar content can lead to spikes in blood glucose levels, increasing the risk of hyperglycemia and other health problems.
Add some cinnamon for a warm and cosy flavour, or try nutritional yeast for a totally cheesy taste. Get creative and experiment with different ingredients to find your perfect popcorn snack!
Some genius discovered that you can use unsweetened drink mix or Jello mix to add flavour and colour to popcorn. The bright, fruity flavours and colours make this recipe perfect for parties.
Caramel popcorn is typically high in calories, sugar, and fat, which can contribute to weight gain and increase your risk for developing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
“The healthiest way to eat popcorn is typically air-popped with no oil or butter and minimal salt added,” Walsh says. “However, there are numerous bagged popcorn products that come pretty close to matching the nutritional facts of air-popped popcorn such as SkinnyPop or BoomChickaPop.”
Air popped popcorn uses no oil, meaning it has the fewest calories. “Popping it in oil, however, is a great way to consume a healthy portion of fat to control hunger,” Jeffers says. Not only can you manage serving size, but you can also make it in under 10 minutes in most cases.
Avocado oil boasts the highest smoke point, the healthiest nutrition facts, a great buttery creamy flavor, and overall, the cleanest quality of any oil on the market.
While some people said that she added the egg to absorb extra heat, others had different views. "Whole eggs absorb excess heat so it's an easy way to regulate the temperature balance of the other ingredients," a user wrote.
The egg stays in the whole time till the popcorn pops. After the popcorn is plated, the burnt egg is removed. Some Twitter users said that the egg was added as a way to regulate temperatures, while others said that it was just put in to get people wondering what the hell it was doing there.
In a small saucepan, bring butter, sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil, stirring constantly. Working quickly, drizzle popcorn with sugar syrup, and toss. Spread popcorn evenly on prepared baking sheet. Bake, tossing occasionally, until golden and shiny, about 40 minutes.
Yellow popcorn has a slightly stronger flavor than white popcorn and can hold up well to a variety of toppings, such as butter, cheese, and caramel. It is also a good source of fiber and vitamin A.
If you want to add color to your popcorn, it's best to do it after popping. Once the popcorn is popped, you can melt some butter or coconut oil, add food coloring to it, and then drizzle it over the popped popcorn. Toss the popcorn gently to ensure the color is evenly distributed.
Opt for salted or butter popcorn if you have to feed your child healthy. Other popcorns like caramel popcorn is loaded with sugar and will raise the blood glucose levels. Is popcorn good for weight loss? Home-made air popped popcorn without any unhealthy ingredients added can be good for weight loss if planned well.
While it's important to consume caramel in moderation and as part of a balanced diet, it can provide a quick energy boost, reduce stress, enhance digestion, boost the immune system, and promote healthy skin and bone health.
Caramel popcorn is generally higher in calories than cheese popcorn. A small serving of caramel popcorn (about 3 cups) can contain around 200-250 calories, while a small serving of cheese popcorn (about 3 cups) can contain around 150-200 calories.
Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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