Peanut Butter Popcorn
This Peanut Butter Popcorn is a variation of soft caramel corn with a gentle peanut butter flavor. Kids love it and adults love it.
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PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN
This peanut butter popcorn that was sent to me by a reader, Jennifer back in 2010. Her mom has been making it since she was a kid.
It has just enough peanut butter flavor with the texture of this soft caramel corn that is a family favorite without the sweetened condensed milk.
HOW TO POP POPCORN
There are a number of ways to do this but my favorite way is with this Whirly Pop. I start with a tablespoon of coconut oil over medium-high heat. Once it starts melting, I add in a 1/2 cup of unpopped kernels and start stirring. Keep cooking over medium high heat until you hear the popping stop. Remove from heat.
HOW TO MAKE THIS
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Pop corn in your desired method (see note) and remove any unpopped kernels. Place in a large bowl and stir in peanuts if using.
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In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, honey and corn syrup. Bring mixture to boiling, continue boiling for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Do not boil too long or your popcorn will be rock hard. Remove from heat.
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Stir in peanut butter and vanilla extract.
Immediately pour over popcorn and stir to coat. Serve warm or a room temperature.
NUTS VS NO-NUTS
I’ll be honest, kids, specifically my kids, do not like the extra salted nuts in this. It seems that adults appreciate them more.
PRO TIP
- Use the largest bowl you have to toss the popcorn with the homemade caramel sauce. I use this bowl.
OTHER POPCORN RECIPES
Peanut Butter Popcorn
This Peanut Butter Popcorn is a variation of soft caramel corn with a gentle peanut butter flavor. Kids love it and adults love it.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn or 15 cups popped popcorn
- 1 1/2 cups dry-roasted peanuts, (optional)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup corn syrup
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pop corn in your desired method (see note) and remove any unpopped kernels. Place in a large bowl and stir in peanuts if using.
- In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, honey and corn syrup. Bring mixture to boiling, continue boiling for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Do not boil too long or your popcorn will be rock hard. Remove from heat.
- Stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Immediately pour over popcorn and stir to coat. Serve warm or a room temperature.
Notes
HOW TO POP POPCORN
There are a number of ways to do this but my favorite way is with this Whirly Pop. I start with a tablespoon of coconut oil over medium-high heat. Once it starts melting, I add in a 1/2 cup of unpopped kernels and start stirring. Keep cooking over medium high heat until you hear the popping stop. Remove from heat.
Source: Jennifer Francis 
Can you go without the corn syrup?
It holds it together in my opinion
Have made this several times a year for several years, it is wonderfully yummy and a family favorite!
Thank you!!
Hi Christy,
We make a wonderful Puppy Chow in our kitchen at My Popcorn Kitchen, located in Scottsdale, AZ. Our recipe calls for our Caramel popcorn (to maintain the crunch), milk chocolate combined with peanut butter and butter, Rice Chex cereal, and mini twist pretzels. We combine in our fudge kettle and then pour into a large bag to shake in powdered sugar. We love the addition of the pretzels and cereal. If you try it, let us know. We’d love your feedback!
Sounds like a wonderful combo!
I’ve made this twice. The first time, my husband said the honey taste was too strong, so this time I used all corn syrup. Much better. Easy recipe to make.
Thanks!
I made this and was disappointed that it stayed sticky…I was hoping it would dry a bit or something, but it stayed sticky and messy to eat. Tasted delish, but the texture made it hard to enjoy. Oh, and I doubled the recipe and had a whole ton of the peanut butter mixture left over, too. I could have doubled the popcorn and halved the mix and been okay, I think.
Oh and I personally prefer it once it has cooled off.
I make this all the time- it was introduced to me by some friends and my husband and I love it. I have always used a cup of corn syrup, so I like the idea of only using half a cup along with a half cup of honey to make it slightly healthier. I haven’t ever added whole peanuts either so maybe I’ll try that too.
One difference is that I don’t bring anything on the stove to a boil, I just heat and stir until the corn syrup and sugar are melted together and smooth.
made this at a big family get-together sunday and it was GREAT! thanks for sharing and thanks to jennifer for sending it to you! we made some with peanuts and some without. the men all said the peanuts are a MUST and it makes it taste like a candy bar. the kids, not so much. i just loved it. 😀
I made it last night, and liked it. I left the peanuts out because I just wanted to use what I had on hand. Today I had some, and loved it and might end up eating the rest of it all by myself! Thanks for the great recipe. Would love to see your caramel popcorn recipe.
I made this and it was delicious. I like mine a bit crunchy, so ended up baking it for a while, about 30-40 minutes on low, stirring often. When it was done it tasted just like cracker jacks!YUM
This looks so delicious!! I have been craving peanut butter lately! Thanks for sharing.
Wow that sounds awesome, my girls will flip! Found you through TasteSpotting..so glad I did love your blog 🙂
So how much do you run so you can eat whatever you want? Seriously, I want to know! 🙂 I need to run a ton so I can eat anything. I love food too much.
I was looking for a recipe like this, and here it is! Thanks 🙂
You’re killing me with this! It won’t be long be I try this recipe, for sure. Yum.
@vhoiten,
No you don’t have to bake it. Orginally she kept the popcorn warm in the oven while making the sauce. I didn’t do that. Serve warm or at room temperature.
I am totally making this today. It would be great to munch on whatching the junior high boys play basketball
Do you have to bake it or just let it cool?
this looks so good but so dangerous!
yuuuuuuuuuuuum! perfect for tonight! oh and i can’t wait for the cookie exchange! that’s great idea. let me know if you ever do another!
I made this today. Did not have honey so used all corn syrup instead. It turned out great!
Thanks for sharing the recipe for this yummy popcorn.
Barb
Christy – I am new to your blog and I love it. I can soooo relate to the title of your blog – I love to eat. This peanut butter popcorn looks amazing – may have to give it for some Christmas treats!
Susan http://www.ugogrrl.com
@Annette,
Honey is a good substitute for corn syrup. This already has honey in the recipe so I’m not sure if the flavor would be too overpowering. I have not tried it.
Christy
Do you have to use the corn syrup?
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, Christy! Glad you liked it!
Jennifer
Oh this just sounds freakishly good. I must make this. Especially since my husband and his two friends demolished the batch of caramel popcorn I made over the weekend! haha
This popcorn sounds delicious, way better than caramel corn. Have you thought about drizzling it with chocolate?
looks and sounds great!
have a nice time,
Paula