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    Home > Snacks

    Caramel Puff Corn

    Published: Jun 26, 2024 · Modified: Jun 26, 2024 by Valya's Taste of Home · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

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    This caramel puff corn recipe is a sweet and crunchy treat made using only three ingredients. The combination of light puffed corn and sweet caramel is just perfect.

    This caramel puff corn recipe is a sweet and crunchy treat made using only three ingredients. The combination of light puffed corn and sweet caramel is just perfect.

    This easy-to-make snack is a hit at our house and is perfect for your next family movie night or a gathering with friends. It's a great alternative to traditional caramel corn and is ready in just 20 minutes!

    If you're looking for more easy snack ideas, be sure to try my apple chips, no-bake peanut butter bars, and cucumber bites. All of these recipes are perfect for a quick snack or for serving at a party.

    Table of Contents
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Key Ingredients
    • How to Make Caramel Puff Corn
    • Tips for Making the Best Caramel Puff Corn
    • Serving Suggestions 
    • Recipe Variation Ideas 
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • How to Store Leftovers
    • More Recipes You'll Enjoy
    • Recipe Card
    • Caramel Puff Corn
    • Comments

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Quick and Easy: This recipe is a cinch to make. It's incredible how something so simple can be so delicious.
    • Classic Flavors: The combination of caramel and puffed corn is a classic for a reason. It's sweet, crunchy, and utterly irresistible.
    • Family Favorite: This snack is a hit with both kids and adults alike. It's perfect for family movie nights or as a lunchbox treat.
    The combination of caramel and puffed corn is a classic for a reason. It's sweet, crunchy, and utterly irresistible.

    Key Ingredients

    All you need are some simple pantry staple ingredients to make this caramel puff corn recipe at home. Let's look at them in more detail:

    For a full list of ingredients and quantities, please check the recipe card at the end of this post.

    • Kix Cereal: This will be the base of our snack, providing a light and crunchy texture that contrasts beautifully with the smooth caramel.
    • Caramel Melts: The star of our caramel puff corn recipe, these will be melted down to form a sweet, sticky coating for our puffed corn.
    • Unsalted Butter: This will help to enrich the caramel, giving it a wonderfully creamy flavor and a glossy sheen.
    All you need are some simple pantry staple ingredients to make this caramel puff corn recipe at home.

    How to Make Caramel Puff Corn

    Making this incredible caramel puff corn is easier than you think. Here's how to make them at home step by step:

    Prepare the Caramel Puff Corn Mixture

    Combine Ingredients in a Saucepan: Place 2 tablespoons of butter into a large saucepan. Unwrap the caramel melts and add them to the saucepan.

    Melt the Ingredients: Place the saucepan on the stove and heat the mixture over medium to low heat. Stir the mixture constantly for about 6 minutes or until all the caramel is melted.

    Add the Kix Cereal: Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the entire box of Kix cereal to the melted caramel.

    Mix the Ingredients: Stir the cereal and caramel together using a wooden or plastic spoon. Make sure to scoop the melted caramel from the bottom of the pan to the top.

    Repeat the Process: Repeat this mixing pattern until all the cereal balls are evenly coated with caramel. It's important to work quickly to prevent the caramel from hardening.

    Stir the cereal and caramel together using a wooden or plastic spoon. Make sure to scoop the melted caramel from the bottom of the pan to the top.

    Shape the Caramel Puff Corn

    Form the Corn Shapes: Take a portion of the coated cereal and shape it into a corn cob shape using your hands.

    Wrap Each Corn Cob: Wrap each corn cob in a plastic food wrap, similar to the pattern used in this video.

    Repeat Process Quickly: Repeat this shaping and wrapping process until all the cereal is used. Again, work quickly as the caramel can harden fast.

    Reheat if it Hardens: If it does harden, simply reheat it for a minute, making sure to stir to prevent the caramel from burning.

    This snack is a hit with both kids and adults alike. It's perfect for family movie nights or as a lunchbox treat.

    For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.

    Tips for Making the Best Caramel Puff Corn

    • Choose the Right Cereal: For this caramel puff corn recipe, the Kix cereal works best due to its round shape and airy texture. However, you can also try other puffed corn cereals for a slightly different flavor and texture.
    • Stir Constantly While Melting the Caramel: To prevent the caramel from burning, make sure to stir it constantly while it melts in the saucepan. This will help it melt evenly and avoid any hot spots that could cause it to burn.
    • Work Quickly When Mixing in the Cereal: After you add the Kix cereal to the melted caramel, you need to work quickly to coat the cereal evenly. The caramel can harden fast, so use a wooden or plastic spoon to mix, scooping the caramel from the bottom of the pan to the top.
    • Shape the Puff Corn Carefully: Take the coated cereal into your hands and shape it into a corn shape. This step requires a bit of finesse, but it's important for the final presentation of your caramel puff corn.
    • Wrap the Cereal to Hold Its Shape: To make sure the puffed corn holds its shape, wrap each corn in a plastic food wrap. This will help the caramel harden and keep the puffed corn in its unique shape.

    Serving Suggestions 

    • Serve this delicious snack at your next game night. Your friends and family will love the classic flavors.
    • It's also a great option to pop in kids' lunch boxes for a special treat that will put a smile on their faces.
    • You can also enjoy this snack as a quick after-dinner dessert. We love having it for our movie nights every weekend!

    Recipe Variation Ideas 

    This delicious caramel puff corn recipe is perfect as is, but if you're looking to change things up, here are a few variation ideas you can try:

    • Sweet and Salty: If you're a fan of the sweet and salty flavor combination, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the caramel puff corn.
    • Peanut Butter: For all the peanut butter lovers out there, drizzle some melted peanut butter over the caramel puff corn and toss to coat.
    • Chocolatey: If you can't get enough chocolate, drizzle the caramel puff corn with melted chocolate and allow it to set before serving.
    • Nuts: For those who love nuts, add a handful of your favorite nuts, such as almonds, pecans, or cashews, to the caramel puff corn.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I substitute Kix cereal with another type of cereal?

    Absolutely! While this recipe calls for Kix cereal, you can easily substitute it with any other type of puffed corn cereal. Just make sure the cereal you choose is similar in size and shape to Kix.

    How do I prevent the caramel from burning during the melting process?

    The key is to stir the caramel constantly while it's melting in the saucepan. This will help it melt evenly and prevent any part of it from getting too hot and burning.

    How can I make sure each piece of cereal is evenly coated with caramel?

    After adding the cereal to the melted caramel, stir gently with a spoon to make sure that every piece is coated. You can also use your hands to gently toss the cereal in the caramel, being careful not to crush the puffs.

    If the caramel hardens too quickly, how many times can I reheat it without ruining the caramel?

    You can reheat the caramel a couple of times if needed, but be careful not to overheat it. Reheat it in short intervals, stirring constantly, to prevent it from burning.

    This easy-to-make snack is a hit at our house and is perfect for your next family movie night or a gathering with friends.

    How to Store Leftovers

    • Storing: Once you've made this delicious caramel puff corn, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay fresh and crunchy for up to two weeks.
    • Freezing: Freezing is not recommended for this caramel puff corn recipe. The texture of the puffed corn can become soggy and lose its puffs when thaw, so it's best to enjoy it fresh or within a couple of weeks of making.

    More Recipes You'll Enjoy

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    • Easy Banana Hot Dog Recipe (PB&J with Bananas)
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    Recipe Card

    The combination of light puffed corn and sweet caramel is just perfect.

    Caramel Puff Corn

    Valya's Taste of Home
    This caramel puff corn recipe is a sweet and crunchy treat made using only three ingredients. The combination of light puffed corn and sweet caramel is just perfect.
    4.72 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 20

    Ingredients
      

    • 12 oz. Kix cereal or any other puff corned cereal
    • 45 pieces caramel melts
    • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter softened
    Read More

    Instructions
     

    • Place 2 tablespoon of butter into a large sauce pan.
    • Unwrap the caramel melts and put them into a souse pan.
    • Place the sauce pan on the stove and on medium to low heat melt the caramel mixing it all the time for about 6 minutes or until it is all melted.
    • Remove from heat and add entire box of Kix cereal.
    • Mix the cereal and the caramel with a wooden (plastic is ok) spoon, scooping the melted caramel from the bottom of the pan to the top.
    • Repeat the mixing pattern until all the cereal balls are coated with caramel. You need to work fast so the caramel doesn't harden.
    • Take coated cereal into your hands and make corn shape.
    • Wrap each corn into a plastic food wrap the same patter as I was wrapping valyastasteofhome.com/home-made-eggrolls.
    • Repeat this shaping and wrapping steps until the cereal is all gone. You need to work fast, because the caramel hardens fast and the corn balls will not stick together.
    • Serve and enjoy.

    Notes

    • For this caramel puff corn recipe, the Kix cereal works best due to its round shape and airy texture. However, you can also try other puffed corn cereals for a slightly different flavor and texture.
    • To prevent the caramel from burning, make sure to stir it constantly while it melts in the saucepan. This will help it melt evenly and avoid any hot spots that could cause it to burn.
    • If the caramel hardens, just reheat it a little again for a minute, make sure you're mixing it or else the caramel will burn.
    • After you add the Kix cereal to the melted caramel, you need to work quickly to coat the cereal evenly. The caramel can harden fast, so use a wooden or plastic spoon to mix, scooping the caramel from the bottom of the pan to the top.
    • Take the coated cereal into your hands and shape it into a corn shape. This step requires a bit of finesse, but it's important for the final presentation of your caramel puff corn.
    • To make sure the puffed corn holds its shape, wrap each corn in plastic food wrap. This will help the caramel harden and keep the puffed corn in its unique shape.
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo on Instagram @valyastasteofhome or tag #valyastasteofhome!
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    This recipe was originally posted on August 14, 2014 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.

    Caramel Corn Snack

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    151 shares
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Dana Holley says

      December 08, 2022 at 11:32 pm

      5 stars
      OMG!! My hero!! I used to eat these as a child and I have actively searched for a recipe for years, to no avail. I cannot wait to make these with my grandkiddos. I am truly grateful that you have posted this recipe and I hope you are the recipient of a wonderful surprise in the near future as well. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

      Dana

      Reply
      • Valya's Taste of Home says

        December 10, 2022 at 6:30 pm

        I'm so happy to hear that! It's my kid's favorite. You are most welcome Dana, enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Svetlana says

      December 29, 2018 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for the great recipes! Love your blog!!!

      Reply
      • Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says

        December 29, 2018 at 7:12 pm

        You’re certainly very welcome! Thank you for an amazing review! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Ksusha.A says

      July 10, 2018 at 7:41 pm

      5 stars
      I used only half of the cereal box otherwise they tasted too dry. Also, warming them up a few seconds in the microwave before eating makes a BIG difference. Yum!

      Reply
      • Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says

        July 11, 2018 at 9:46 am

        Thank you for your review! 🙂

        Reply
        • Kay says

          November 05, 2018 at 5:15 am

          Is there a way to make these not harden SO much? It is almost impossible to eat them because they get so hard 🙁

          Reply
          • Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says

            November 05, 2018 at 9:58 am

            Try not to bring caramel candy to a boiling stage while melting (that makes the caramel hard). Melt caramel candy on low heat, remove from the stove, and then mix in the cereal. I hope this helps.

            Reply
            • Kay says

              November 05, 2018 at 6:25 pm

              Thank you

    4. Tanya says

      August 16, 2014 at 12:33 pm

      Valya
      Thank you so much for sharing another awesome and yummy recipe that I can make together with my daughter.
      Thank you, again and I love your blog!

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        August 16, 2014 at 1:19 pm

        Thank you Tanya! That encourages me to put even more delicious recipes. Thanks again!!! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Natasha says

      August 16, 2014 at 8:25 am

      5 stars
      Hey would you look at that! There is a little activity my kid's and I can do, then enjoy the outcome of it. Looks delicious. I love caramel so this is a must try.

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        August 16, 2014 at 1:17 pm

        Yea keep those kids busy with something beneficial! Seems like my kids cant get enough of them, as soon as I make them they are gone at that moment. Let me know how you like them. 🙂

        Reply
    6. alana says

      August 15, 2014 at 3:58 pm

      brings back childhood memories! cant wait to make it! thanks for sharing Valya:)

      Reply
      • valya'stasteofhome.com says

        August 15, 2014 at 7:15 pm

        I know, ha! Good luck on making them and let me know how you like em. 🙂

        Reply
    4.72 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    A food blogger, recipe developer, photographer, editor, and author behind Valya’s Taste of Home website. Sharing family-proven tasty recipes with step-by-step photos and videos. Read more...

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