Peanut Butter Butterscotch Popcorn

Why You’ll Love This Peanut Butter Popcorn

A cross between caramel corn and boxed Cracker Jack, this peanut butter popcorn recipe is beyond easy to make at home anytime you want a special treat! Crispy-crunchy and impossible to stop eating, there’s a lot going for this peanut butter popcorn recipe. Here’s why I love it:

• Homemade is best. I love caramel popcorn and chances are that you do, too! It’s so fun and easy to make at home. I also find homemade butterscotch popcorn to be so much fresher than anything you can buy at the store.
• Simple to prepare. First, you’ll make a smooth and creamy caramel sauce that’s infused with peanut butter. Then you stir it into freshly popped popcorn. Let the popcorn cool and firm up a bit and it will be ready to be devoured. That’s it!
• Gluten-free. Yes, this recipe is naturally gluten-free, making it the perfect choice for those of us who avoid gluten. All of the ingredients you’ll use are already gluten-free, so you won’t have to worry about doing any substitutions.
• Easy to adapt. See my tips section below for some easy ingredient swaps.
• Perfect to share. I love to give little bags of sweet, caramelly popcorn to friends, and it’s always received with happy exclamations.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here’s a list of the ingredients in this butterscotch popcorn. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.

• Popcorn Kernels: You can make your own popcorn or use pre-popped store-bought popcorn.
• Butter: I use unsalted butter but if you like a saltier finished treat you can use salted butter.
• Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar is fine.
• Heavy Cream: This helps to make the caramel. If you don’t have heavy cream, you can substitute half-and-half with similar results.
• Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract gives the best flavor!
• Salt: Fine sea salt or table salt is best in this recipe.
• Peanut Butter: It’s fine to use natural peanut butter in this recipe if you wish. Otherwise, you can use a peanut butter of your choice. If you use a sweetened peanut butter you may want to adjust the amount of added sugar.

What Popcorn Should I Use?

You can use white or yellow popcorn kernels in this recipe. Air-popped popcorn will yield the lightest and fluffiest popcorn, but it is perfectly fine to make it in a microwave.

How to Make Peanut Butter Butterscotch Popcorn

Follow along with the photos and method below to help you make butterscotch popcorn. Make sure you watch the caramel sauce carefully as it’s cooking so that it doesn’t burn. The full instructions will be in the recipe card at the end of this post.

• Make the popcorn. Pop the popcorn in an air popper, microwave, or using your favorite method. Set aside.
• Make the butterscotch. Melt the butter and sugar over medium heat. Stir in the cream and bring to a simmer.
• Add the peanut butter. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, salt, and peanut butter. Stir until smooth.

• Toss the popcorn. Pour the peanut butter butterscotch over the popcorn and mix it until thoroughly coated.
• Pour on the butterscotch. Pour the peanut butter butterscotch over the popcorn and mix it until thoroughly coated.
• Cool. Let the popcorn cool and firm on a baking sheet in a single layer.
• Store. Keep at room temperature in an airtight container.