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Peanut Butter Popcorn is a quick and easy favorite treat at our house! Perfect for family movie nights or a yummy treat to take to a friend or neighbor.
Featured with this recipe
One of the all-time best snacks, in my opinion, is popcorn. But not everyone knows just how versatile popcorn can be. Caramel popcorn recipes still rank as one of the best go-to treats, but this Peanut Butter Popcorn gives caramel a run for its money. It is so yummy!
This quick and easy popcorn is a favorite around our house. Perfect for family movie nights or when I need a quick treat to take to a friend or neighbor. You will love how easy it is to make and how much everyone loves it!
How to Gift Popcorn
To make this a gift, just put it in a clear plastic bag and tie on a cute ribbon! You can make it look fancier by melting a little chocolate and drizzling it over the popcorn after it has cooled. You can put it in a plastic baggie or a take-out style box from a craft store. If making for kids, you can press the popcorn into a ball and put it on a popsicle stick. So many possibilities here!
Recipe Ingredients
This is one of the easiest and most delicious treats to make! Make it simple with only four ingredients. The blend of each ingredient creates the perfect combination. This peanut butter mixture is one of the best for caramel popcorn!
- Popcorn – Make it easy and microwave popcorn or use a popcorn machine to have your popped popcorn.
- Brown sugar – Added for sweetness!
- Light corn syrup – This will thicken the caramel sauce.
- Peanut butter – Sweet and salty mixture that is the main event.
Tips and Variations for the Best Peanut Butter Popcorn
Make as little or as many variations as you’d like. This popcorn is going to be the hit of the night! Peanut butter popcorn recipe is a great snack or gift idea.
- Make your popcorn lighter with a light butter or plain popcorn bag.
- If you are a vanilla fan, add a splash of vanilla extract with the peanut butter sauce.
- Drizzle melted chocolate over top the caramel corn.
- Add a dash of sprinkles for holidays or special occasions!
Fun Additions to Peanut Butter Popcorn
As mentioned above, you can drizzle some chocolate over the popcorn to give it some added flavor and to make it look pretty. Some other great additions are M&M’s, Reese’s pieces, chopped candy bar (Butterfinger is awesome), or white or dark chocolate chips. Tastes so yummy with additions!
Storing or Making Ahead Easy Peanut Butter Popcorn
Make this ahead of time or package up your leftovers for the next night. This popcorn does not last too long but it is so good, usually it is gone before you need to store it! Store in an airtight container for two to three days.
“This is our family’s favorite Carmel Corn. (with peanut butter). There is NOT a recipe easier or quicker!!! The peanut butter is not too dominant. I use 3 batches of popcorn though! I also add a little vanilla and dash of salt to the sauce. Thanks for writing this up!!!”
-Sharon
Frequently Asked Questions
You can melt the peanut butter before adding it to the caramel mixture.
Add in margarine, confectioners’ sugar, and marshmallows in a saucepan over medium heat. Form into balls to create a delicious treat!
Either butterfly or mushroom popcorn are round. Butterfly popcorn has large bumps and a light fixture that breaks easily. Although mushroom popcorn is rough, it is very round.
More Delicious Snack Recipes
Movie nights, snack time, or just because, these snacks are so simple to make and taste even better! You will love all these flavors and different ideas. These are great for parties and get togethers too!
Peanut Butter Popcorn
Ingredients
- 2 bags microwave popcorn popped, I use light butter or plain
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup light corn syrup
- 1 cup peanut butter
Instructions
- Pop the microwave popcorn.
- Remove any unpopped kernels and place in large bowl.
- In medium saucepan combine brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring to boil over medium-high heat stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and whisk in peanut butter.
- Pour over popcorn and stir until well coated.
Notes
How to Gift Popcorn
To make this a gift, just put in a clear plastic bag and tie on a cute ribbon! You can make it look fancier by melting a little chocolate and drizzling it over the popcorn after it has cooled. You can put it in a plastic baggie or a take-out style box from a craft store. If making for kids, you can press the popcorn into a ball and put it on a popsicle stick. So many possibilities here!Nutrition Information
This is our family’s favorite Carmel Corn. (with peanut butter). There is NOT a recipe easier or quicker!!! The peanut butter is not too dominant. I use 3 batches of popcorn though! I also add a little vanilla and dash of salt to the sauce. Thanks for writing this up!!!
How many cups of popped popcorn?
It varies slightly by brand, but most bags have about 5 cups. So, you would need 10 cups for this recipe.
I have a craving for peanut butter popcorn. The problem is that I am diabetic so the syrup, etc. is out. Any ideas how to make this safe for a diabetic? I thought about just melting the pb and drizzling but I’m not sure how to go about that as it seems as though it needs something added. Any ideas for me? Thanks in advance.
Hi Marilyn- this is a great question. I wish I could be more helpful in my answer but since I am not very familiar with adjustments for diabetics I am afraid I won’t be able to help much. I think drizzling PB should still be really tasty!
I guess I’m the only one who had the popcorn get chewy. The flavor was good and I added peanuts which were the best part considering how the texture of the popcorn turned out. I followed the recipe exactly. Any ideas?
I would try boiling the mixture a little longer. Maybe give it a full minute at a full boil.
Loved this quick recipe! I added salted peanuts to the popcorn, too. Mine was also sticky. It was too late to cook it longer, obviously lol, so I stuck in thefreezer. That worked until it thawed. So I turned the oven on 300° and put it all back on the cookie sheet. I baked it for 5 minutes then turned it all over. I did that twice, just long enough to get it all fairly warm again. I knew if I walked away the goo would burn. Took it out, almost burned my tongue because that stuff is so good and it was hot, but after it cooled, it was perfection. I will cook it a minute or two longer on the stove next time because we live in a very humid area and I think that’s why it takes a little longer. I do not share this stuff: mine, all mine! I love it! Ok. Maybe for Christmas gifts…maybe. lol. Thanks for sharing!! Divine!
I am going to try drizzling white or milk chocolate over the peanut butter popcorn as well. OR white choclate and toasted coconut !
YUM those are great ideas. Especially love the toasted coconut idea. Thanks for sharing!