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 (yields 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 if desired); 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 something magical about that warm, spiced aroma filling your kitchen right around the holidays. This Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe is my go-to festive treat—crispy popcorn cloaked in a rich, fragrant caramel with cozy holiday spices that hit all the right notes every time.

A clear glass bowl filled with caramel popcorn mixed with light beige slivered almonds scattered on top. The popcorn is shiny and dark caramel colored with a slightly rough texture. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface, with red berries and green leaves softly visible in the background. 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

This popcorn recipe has been a holiday staple in my family for years. Every time I make it, the kitchen bursts with a cozy spice blend that invites everyone to gather round. The balance between sweet caramel and the warmth of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves feels like Christmas in a bowl.

Perfectly Spiced: The blend of cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves adds festive warmth without overpowering the popcorn.
Crunchy & Crisp: Baking the caramel-coated popcorn ensures a satisfyingly crunchy texture that holds up for weeks.
Easy to Customize: You can tweak the spice levels or swap almonds for other nuts, tailoring it to your holiday preferences.
Great for Gifting: Packaged in pretty jars or bags, it makes an irresistible homemade gift everyone will love.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays a special role here—popcorn gives the base crunch, while the caramel glaze brings the sweetness and the spices add that unmistakable holiday punch. I always recommend picking fresh spices for maximum flavor impact, and don’t skip the corn syrup or glucose; they’re key for that perfect, glossy caramel.

Flat lay of a small pile of unpopped popcorn kernels, a small mound of slivered almonds, a slab of unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with packed brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl holding light corn syrup, a small white ceramic bowl containing cinnamon powder, a small white ceramic bowl with ginger powder, a small white ceramic bowl with allspice powder, a small white ceramic bowl with ground cloves, a small white ceramic bowl of salt, and a small white ceramic bowl with vanilla extract liquid, 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

Popcorn kernels: Choose good-quality popping corn for fluffier, bigger popped kernels, which soak up caramel better.
Vegetable oil: Helps pop the kernels evenly if you’re stovetop popping; you can skip this if using an air popper.
Slivered almonds: Adds a lovely crunch and nutty depth—feel free to swap for pecans or walnuts if you prefer.
Unsalted butter: Gives richness to the caramel without adding salt confusion.
Brown sugar: Provides deep, molasses notes that complement the spices perfectly.
Corn syrup (or glucose): Prevents crystallization and keeps the caramel smooth and glossy.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the full flavor.
Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and rounds out the flavor profile subtly.
Baking soda: Aerates the caramel, making it lighter and helping it harden with a lovely texture.
Cinnamon powder: The star spice here for that classic Christmas feel.
Ginger powder: Adds a gentle zing and warmth that wakes up the palate.
Allspice powder: Contributes complexity, kind of like a mix of cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg in one.
Ground cloves: A little goes a long way—adds depth and that unmistakable holiday fragrance.

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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 to play with this recipe to suit the occasion. Sometimes I dial up the cinnamon for extra warmth, other times I toss in a handful of dried cranberries for a festive pop of color and tartness. You can totally make it your own—try swapping nuts or adjusting the spice blend until it feels just right.

Nut-Free Variation: Replace almonds with pumpkin seeds or simply leave nuts out to keep it allergy-friendly.
Extra Crunch: Add a sprinkle of coarse sea salt on top right after coating for a sweet-salty contrast.
Chocolate Drizzle: For an indulgent twist, drizzle melted dark chocolate over the cooled popcorn before breaking it into pieces.

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

The image shows three clear plastic bags filled with caramel popcorn tied with a green ribbon with red berries, placed on a white marbled surface. Scattered caramel popcorn pieces lie around the bags in the foreground. In the background, there are festive decorations including a white pot with a red poinsettia flower, a small grey pot with green leaves and red berries, and shiny gold ornaments with a soft red glow around them. The scene gives a warm and holiday feel. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Pop the Perfect Popcorn

Start by heating your oil in a large pot over medium heat. When the oil’s warm, toss in a few kernels and wait for them to pop—that’s your green light to add the rest. Give the pot a good shake to coat the kernels evenly and cover them with a lid. Listen closely—the popping should be steady. Shake the pot gently once or twice as the kernels pop to prevent burning. When the pops slow down to a few seconds apart, remove from heat. I always transfer the popcorn immediately to a large bowl because this helps keep it crispy as it cools.

Step 2: Make the Spiced Caramel Sauce

Preheat your oven to 110°C (230°F) while you get started. Melt butter over medium heat in a saucepan, then stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt—just until combined, no stirring once it bubbles. When bubbling, lower to a simmer and let it cook for 4 minutes to develop that caramel flavor but keep the heat gentle to avoid burning. Remove from heat and whisk in the Christmas spices, vanilla, and baking soda. Whisking vigorously for about 10 seconds is key—you'll see the caramel foam and grow in volume, which makes for that perfect, airy coating.

Step 3: Coat and Bake for Crunch

Pour your spiced caramel over the popcorn and toss quickly to coat every kernel. Sprinkle the almonds on top, toss gently again, and then spread the mixture evenly across two baking trays. Pop them into your preheated oven for 45 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes or so to keep the caramel coating even. You'll notice the caramel softens at first, but with repeated tossing, the coating hardens beautifully. If you’re using glucose syrup instead of corn syrup, add an extra 15 minutes to the bake time to get the right crispness.

Step 4: Cool, Break, and Store

Once your popcorn comes out of the oven, let it cool completely on the trays. Then gently break it into clusters or bite-sized pieces. Pop it into an airtight container, and you’ve got a holiday snack that stays crisp for 2 to 3 weeks—perfect for enjoying bit by bit or sharing with friends and family.

Top Tip

I’ve made this Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe dozens of times, and a few things really make a difference to the final result. Keep an eye on your caramel’s temperature and don’t rush stirring—that foam stage after whisking baking soda is where magic happens for a light, crisp finish.

Timing Is Everything: Don’t skip the 4 minutes simmering or the 45 minutes baking—they develop the flavor and texture you want.
Shake, Don’t Shake Too Hard: When tossing the popcorn in caramel and baking trays, be gentle to keep the popcorn from breaking apart.
Use Fresh Spices: I always grab fresh ground cinnamon and ginger – stale spices just don’t have the same punch.
Don’t Skip the Baking Soda: It’s what gives the caramel that light texture and stops the candy from feeling too dense.

How to Serve Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe

Christmas spiced caramel popcorn - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

When I serve this popcorn at holiday gatherings, I love sprinkling a touch of flaky sea salt or even some finely grated orange zest on top—it adds a bright contrast that complements the spices beautifully. For kid-friendly versions, a light dusting of powdered sugar mixed with cinnamon always hits the spot.

Side Dishes

This popcorn is perfect as a sweet snack alongside warm drinks like mulled cider, hot chocolate, or a cozy cup of chai. I also love serving it with a cheese board—its sweetness balances salty cheeses like sharp cheddar or aged gouda wonderfully.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties or gift-giving, I fill clear cellophane bags with popcorn clusters, then tie them with festive ribbons and add personalized tags. Another favorite presentation is layering popcorn in mason jars with ribbons around the lid—a simple but charming gift that feels homemade and heartfelt.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover popcorn in a large airtight container at room temperature, and it stays crisp and delicious for up to 3 weeks. Just be sure it’s completely cooled before sealing the container to prevent sogginess.

Freezing

While I haven’t personally frozen this popcorn often, it freezes well in freezer-safe bags for up to a month. When you want to enjoy it, just let it thaw completely at room temperature to bring back the crispness.

Reheating

If your popcorn loses some crunch, a brief 5-10 minute warm-up in a low oven (around 120°C / 250°F) revitalizes the caramel coating nicely. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn or melt too much.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use an air popper for the popcorn?

Absolutely! If you have an air popper, you can skip the oil and stovetop method altogether — just pop about 10 cups of popcorn using your machine. This makes a lighter, less oily base that still works perfectly with the caramel.

What if I don’t have corn syrup?

Corn syrup is key to preventing sugar crystallization in the caramel, but you can substitute glucose syrup or even golden syrup, honey, or maple syrup. Just keep in mind you’ll need to bake the popcorn for about 15 minutes longer to get the right crunch when using these alternatives.

Can I make this recipe nut-free?

Yes! Simply leave out the slivered almonds or substitute them with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds. The caramel coating works great either way, giving you a delicious nut-free treat.

How long does the popcorn stay fresh?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, the Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn stays crisp and fresh for 2 to 3 weeks. Make sure it’s fully cooled before sealing!

Final Thoughts

Making this Christmas Spiced Caramel Popcorn Recipe is like bringing a little extra joy and coziness into your home. I always find myself smiling as the whole house fills with those nostalgic holiday scents. Whether you’re sharing it as a gift or snacking by the fire, I truly hope you enjoy this as much as I do every festive season. Give it a try—you might just start a new tradition of your own!