Introduction: Vegan Caramel Corn

This is a great snack & easy to make, and it's vegan.

There are many different ways to make caramel corn.

One way is to make the popcorn, then make the caramel, then add to the popcorn to the very hot caramel, which can damage the corn because of the intense heat of hot caramel.

Another way is to make the caramel up to the soft ball stage, then make the popcorn, then add the caramel near when the popcorn is about to start popping.  This is the way I like to do it.

Go to the first step!

Step 1: Supplies

You will need

1 can of coconut milk
white popcorn
canola oil
brown sugar
vanilla extract *optional
2 pots
something to put finished caramel corn in

Go to the next step!

Step 2: Making the Caramel

You can't really mess caramel up and you don't even need to measure the ingredients.  The coconut milk evaporates as it is cooked.

Add some coconut milk and brown sugar to one of the pots
Also add vanilla extract if you are using it *optional
Set it on medium heat
Stir

It will bubble up while it is cooking.  Take this time to prepare the next pot with canola oil and popcorn seeds.  Make sure to add a little extra oil.  Stir it.  Don't start cooking the popcorn yet.

After a few minutes, you should begin stirring the caramel.

Go to the next step!

Step 3: Wine Glass

Now you will need a wine glass - or any other glass - and fill it with cold water.  This will help you understand the "ball" stage of the caramel.  The softball stage of caramel is when you put some hot caramel in cold water during the cooking stage and it gets hard, but it isn't rock hard.  The hardball stage is when you put some hot caramel in cold water and it turns rock hard.  We don't want the caramel to be in the hardball stage because if we cook it with the popcorn in the hardball stage it will burn!

Set your glass of cold water on the counter near the stove
Continue to stir the caramel
Every once in a while test the ball stage of the caramel in the water
When it is in the softball stage, turn the heat off
Turn the heat on for the popcorn pot
Stir the caramel a little more as the popcorn begins heating up so the caramel doesn't burn.

Go to the next step!

Step 4: Popping

The popcorn should be bubbling by now.

Stir the popcorn to make sure the kernels don't burn.  If you ever experience popcorn that is halfway popped, it is probably because you didn't stir it good enough and one side of the kernel got more heat than the other.

Continue stirring the popcorn and go to the next step!

Step 5: Combine

After a few minutes on the heat, or as soon as you hear the first pop, add the caramel to the popcorn and stir it immediately.  That will slow the popcorn popping and give the caramel time to get to the hardball stage.

Continue stirring
When it begins popping again, put the lid on.  Hot oil and caramel burns and will hurt your paws.
Shake the pot as it continues popping
After it pops for a bit, turn the heat off and place the pot on another burner
Stir the popcorn around distributing the caramel evenly as possible
Place the caramel corn in the container you chose to put it in.  I chose to use a metal bowl.

Go to the next step!

Step 6: Final Step

The last thing I like to do is put it in the freezer for about 3-5 mins to expedite the hardball stage.  After you remove the popcorn from the freezer, it should be nice and crunchy the way caramel corn is suppose to be.

You can do many things with caramel corn, eat it for a snack like I did while writing this instructable, or give it away to a friend.  I've seen some people add food coloring to make colored caramel corn (red and green for Christmas).  You could also make popcorn balls out of it.  If you like nuts, you could add some walnuts or pecans to it.  Chocolate lovers can add their favorite chocolate to it.  I've also seen some people add sprinkles to it.

Enjoy!