gift guide – FoodWatcher

Holiday Gift Guide for Kids & Teens

If you need gift ideas for the kids, you are in luck because I am sharing my Holiday Gift Guide for kids today! I have ideas for little kids, big kids, tweens, and teens! Take a look and hopefully you will find some fun gifts! 2024 Gift Guide for Kids …

Holiday Gift Guide for Men

If you need help finding the perfect gift for your dad, husband, son, brother, grandpa, or friend. I’ve got you covered. I have LOTS of ideas that any guy on your list will love. Happy gifting! Check out my other gift guides! 2024 Holiday Gift Gu…

Holiday Gift Guide for Women

This gift guide is for the ladies! I’ve included all of my favorite things, plus some items that are on my list this year. I hope you find this list helpful! Let me know what you love and don’t forget to do a little shopping for yourself:) …

The Best Early Black Friday Deals on Air Fryers, Cookware, and More

It’s not even the holidays yet, but the Black Friday savings have already begun! There’s nothing I love more than finding a great deal on one of my favorite cooking products and sharing it with you to help you save a little. I’ve already rounded up som…

Kitchen Gift Guide

If you are shopping for someone who loves cooking, baking, and spending time in the kitchen, you are in the right place because I rounded up the Best Kitchen Gifts of 2024. Whether they’re a novice cook, a seasoned chef, or someone who simply enj…

My Favorite Early Black Friday Deals So Far!

It’s that time of year again when the Early Black Friday Deals start ramping up, so you can find a great price on those must-have items before the craziness of the holiday season gets into full swing! Retailers like Walmart, Wayfair, Target, and …

Hostess Gift Guide

If you are attending a holiday party, dinner party, or staying with friends or family this holiday season, don’t show up empty handed! Bring your host a thoughtful gift! I rounded up my favorite hostess gifts that are perfect to take to anyone! P…

Homemade Food Gifts for the Holidays

Giving my neighbors and friends homemade food gifts during the holidays (or really anytime) is my favorite! I’ve compiled all of my supplies and free printable gift labels so you can gift them too! Check out all of my Christmas Recipes, like Gingerbread Man Cookies, Reindeer Cookies, Peppermint Brownies, Oreo Balls, or Ginger Molasses Cookies!…

A collage image showing six pictures featuring a variety of homemade food gifts for Christmas to make for friends and neighbors.

Giving my neighbors and friends homemade food gifts during the holidays (or really anytime) is my favorite! I’ve compiled all of my supplies and free printable gift labels so you can gift them too!

Check out all of my Christmas Recipes, like Gingerbread Man Cookies, Reindeer Cookies, Peppermint Brownies, Oreo Balls, or Ginger Molasses Cookies!

The Best Kind of Gift is Homemade

It’s no surprise that my favorite way to spread love is through food, and every Christmas we choose a different Homemade food gift to give friends and neighbors. I decided to compile our favorites here, with free printable gift tags, and link to all the supplies we use, so you can deliver professional, delicious gifts to your friends, family, and neighbors this holiday season – or anytime!

A picture of Lauren Allen holding up a jar of homemade salsa to give to friends for Christmas.

Easy Homemade Salsa:

Healthy Granola:

A bag of homemade granola with a printable label to give as a food gift for Christmas.

Vanilla Extract:

Lauren Allen holding three dessert containers filled with cookie dough to give friends for the holidays.

Cheeseball:

Hot Honey:

Pepper Jelly:

Chia Seed Jam:

Raspberry Jam:

Three jars of peach jam, ready to have the lids put on and store or gift to friends.

Peach Freezer Jam:

More Food Gift Ideas:

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My Favorite Prime Big Deals Day Deals

Fall is officially HERE and that means that it’s time for another Amazon sale! The Prime Big Deals Days event is a great time to score huge savings on some of my favorite kitchen appliances and must-have home goods. It goes from today October 8 t…

Caramel Popcorn

This homemade Caramel Popcorn recipe is so flavorful and has the crunchy, chewy texture you want without sticking to your fingers or teeth! If you want more sweet snacks, try our Peanut Butter Popcorn, Chex Mix, Sweet Chex Mix, or a perfect Rice Krispies Treat! How to make Caramel Popcorn: Pop Popcorn: Pop your own…

This homemade Caramel Popcorn recipe is so flavorful and has the crunchy, chewy texture you want without sticking to your fingers or teeth!

If you want more sweet snacks, try our Peanut Butter Popcorn, Chex Mix, Sweet Chex Mix, or a perfect Rice Krispies Treat!

Not all Caramel Popcorn recipes are created equal.

I’ve had my fair share of caramel corn and for me, the best ones have a healthy coating of caramel covering the entire kearnal, and they’re not too sticky, or too hard. This version accomplishes that and I love that the caramel is made in one pan on the stove and you don’t even need a candy thermometer. Drizzle the caramel over fresh popped popcorn and bake it for a few minutes to get that perfect crunchy, chewy texture. This will be the highlight of your next movie night or game day!

How to make Caramel Popcorn:

Pop Popcorn: Pop your own plain kernels in the microwave in a brown paper bag, or with an air popper, or if you want a richer butter flavor, use a bag of movie theater microwave popcorn. After it’s popped, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and pour the popcorn on top.

Make Caramel: Add butter to a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once melted, stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt, whisking until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Let it gently boil for 2 minutes then remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.

Two images showing how to make a an easy caramel sauce on the stove to make the best caramel popcorn recipe.

Coat Popcorn: Drizzle caramel over popcorn, gently tossing it with a spatula until it’s coated evenly. Bake 200°F for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Enjoy the best caramel corn for a movie night, game day, or really anytime!

Two images showing how to make caramel popcorn by laying popped popcorn on a baking sheet, then drizzling homemade caramel on top, tossing, and baking to add that perfect crunch.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget a silicone spatula! It’s heat resistant and stays cleaner then a wooden spoon. I love to use a large non-stick skillet for this recipe because it’s so easy to clean and it comes to a boil much quicker than a saucepan.

More Caramel Recipes:

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Caramel Popcorn

Our easy caramel corn recipe has the perfect crunchy and chewy texture and is so easy to make. (No popcorn machine or special equipment required!)

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 50

Total Time 1

Servings

Calories 322kcal

Author Lauren Allen

Cost $4

Equipment

Popcorn Popper optional, you can use the microwave!
Silicone Spatula

Ingredients

8 cups popped popcorn* (about 1 large microwaveable bag, or ¼ cup kernels)
6 Tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
6 Tablespoons light karo syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Add popped popcorn and spread in an even layer.
Caramel: Melt butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once melted, stir in brown sugar, corn syrup, and salt until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. As soon as the caramel starts to gently boil, boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla
Drizzle caramel over popcorn. Toss gently with a spatula until the popcorn is evenly coated.
Bake at 200 degrees F for 45 minutes, stirring the popcorn every 15 minutes.
Store caramel corn in an airtight container at room temperature for to 2-3 weeks

Video

Notes

Popcorn: Pop your own plain kernels in the microwave in a brown paper bag, or with an air popper, or if you want a richer butter flavor, use a bag of movie theater microwave popcorn.

To Pop Popcorn without a Popper: Add ¼ cup popcorn kernels to a brown paper lunch bag and fold the top closed. Microwave for about two minutes, or until you hear the popping slowing down.

Nutrition

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*I originally shared this recipe March 2015. Updated March 2019, September 2022 and September 2024.

The Best Kind of Gift is Homemade

Easy Homemade Salsa:

Healthy Granola:

Vanilla Extract:

Cookie Dough:

Cheeseball:

Hot Honey:

Pepper Jelly:

Chia Seed Jam:

Raspberry Jam:

Peach Freezer Jam:

More Food Gift Ideas:

Not all Caramel Popcorn recipes are created equal.

How to make Caramel Popcorn:

More Caramel Recipes:

Caramel Popcorn

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Video

Notes

Nutrition