Salted Caramel Popcorn, Pretzel & Peanut Bars

Let me introduce you to Rice Krispies treats on crack. Or steroids. Pick your poison. These are insanely, dangerously addictive. There aren’t even any Rice Krispies in them. Instead, we have a mixture of popcorn, pretzels and peanuts. And you know the whole butter and marshmallow mixture that traditionally binds everything together? Forget about it. How about marshmallows mixed with salted caramel? It’s the ultimate sweet and salty snack bar. It’s Rice Krispies treats meet Cracker Jacks. And this hybrid beats them both. I think I’m still in awe of how delicious this creation is. Also, have I mentioned how much I adore salted caramel? I currently want to put it on everything.

Here you go, the sweet and salty lineup.

We have salted caramel, popcorn, pretzels, peanuts, and another healthy dose of kosher salt. Sweet and salty heaven. I could bathe in this stuff!

Now, for the popcorn you’re going to want to either pop your own or use a “homestyle” version – absolutely no added butter or flavorings, or it would just taste weird. I was planning on popping my own and then happened to see this while perusing the chip and pretzel aisle. If you can find something similar, then I would totally rock the microwave. One bag of this stuffed popped up almost exactly 12 cups of popcorn. Score!

MY OTHER RECIPES

The bars are pretty much made exactly like typical Rice Krispies treats. Only instead of melting butter, you make a salted caramel sauce, then stir in the marshmallows until melted. Pour it over all of the salted goodies (popcorn, pretzels and peanuts), mix it up, and press it into your pan. Let it cool and set up, cut it into bars, and then dive right into heaven.

Directions:

2. Toss together the popcorn, pretzels and peanuts in a large bowl; set aside.

3. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil, without stirring, until the mixture reaches an amber color, about 8 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and slowly pour in the heavy cream (the mixture will bubble up and sputter). Immediately add the marshmallows and stir until melted.

4. Pour the salted caramel mixture over the popcorn, pretzel and peanut mixture and quickly stir together with a rubber spatula (I find that spraying the spatula with nonstick cooking spray makes this easier) until all of the popcorn, pretzels and peanuts are coated with the caramel mixture.

5. Pour the mixture into the prepared 9x13-inch pan. Spray a small piece of wax paper with nonstick cooking spray and use to press mixture evenly into pan. Sprinkle with some additional kosher. Cool completely and then cut into bars. These can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

I will be making these very soon! I made samoa popcorn balls recently and now I’m popcorn obsessed! These actually remind me of some bars I saw in Midwest Living magazine awhile ago, except they used kettle corn. GREAT recipe! 🙂

Holy shiznit (sorry, my homemade non-swear)! These look addictive! My twin sister and I are planning on making them this weekend. Of course, since I always have to go over and beyond the top, I was thinking of making a chocolate glaze to pour on top and then let it set up and harden a bit in the fridge. How do you think that would go?

I’m totally going to make these. However, I am hopelessly caramel challenged. I can never seem to get it right and usually end up cooking it too long or too hot. Is there a particular temperature that I can try and achieve on this? Just eyeballing it will probably result in failure for me.

Hi Mara, I didn’t use a thermometer, so I don’t have a temperature to advise you with. I will say that I just cooked it until the edges started to get sort of a copper color and I could smell the caramel. It had just a faint burnt smell, and it turned out to be the perfect amount of time, it was around 10 minutes or so. I hope this helps!

Oh. My. Goodness. This is one of few posts that makes me want to run to the store to get all the ingredients…and I literally mean run, because I don’t have a car. But…homework calls, so these will have to be made tomorrow. But they will be made. ASAP. Because anything with salt, caramel, popcorn, and pretzels would be a sin NOT to make.

SAD!! 🙁 I think I burned the caramel…and it was barely 8 minutes. Hate seeing all this goodness wasted! Just wanted to warn everyone to really WATCH that carmel! On the plus side my waistline will be happy 😉

I bought all of the ingredients to make these tonight but I have a quick question regarding the amount of popcorn. The recipe calls for 12 cups (of already popped, I am assuming), is that correct? It just seems like a lot of popcorn compared to all of the other ingredients, so I figured better safe than sorry and just double check.

Seriously drooling. You’re an evil genius, peddling salted caramel. I need to find me a reason to make these babies. Aside from, you know, just because. I’d be tempted to add just a drizzle of some semi sweet chocolate but that may be gilding the lily a bit.

Hi Michelle! I just made these last night, and they turned out completely soggy. I measured it all and followed the recipe to a T. I let them sit overnight, and in the morning all of the caramel-marshmallow stuff was on the bottom of the pan. What do you suggest I try to fix this? The flavors were delicious, but they were not servable.

Hi Lauren, I’m so sorry to hear that! I wonder if either the mixture wasn’t mixed completely (not all of the caramel mixture was distributed) and/or it was a little too warm and a stint in the refrigerator would help next time to get them to set up faster?

Just made these and they are AMAZING!! I made these for a big party and doubled the recipe so it took me about twice the amount of time for the sugar mixture to turn amber, but once it began to turn color it went really quickly. The caramel mixture spelled unbelievably good. Mine were extra sticky, maybe I went a little overboard with the caramel mixture, so the bars aren’t very pretty but they taste amazing. Thanks for the recipe!

A very yummy snack! Made it with homemade popcorn and it turned out great. Kids are loving having it as an after school snack. We are popcorn junkies making it old style on the stove. Love to see more popcorn creations.

I think I didn’t let the caramel cook long enough. However, as an update, I took the pan to work and they were hit with my coworkers! When I mentioend that they didn’t set up right, everyone said they liked it gooey and not to change anything. So, maybe next time I’ll make them into balls or bits and pieces. Thanks for once again making me a star with the sweet tooths in my life!

Hi Sara, You could use melted/salted caramel candies, but I would also add some heavy cream to make an actual sauce. Unfortunately, I don’t have the measurement for the amount of caramel that is actually used here, so I might need to do some trial and error if you go that route.

After making your Salted caramel ice cream topping several times, I NEEDED to try this. So far, I’m feel a little disappointed.

I boiled the sugar mixture for at least 15 minutes. I am talking crazy rolling boil. The sugar mixture never got that rich color like the caramel topping. The sugar started to smell scorchy so, I added the cream and mallows. It got big and fluffy. The mixture tastes OK but, it doesn’t look like caramel at all. Also, I used 14 cups of popped plain popcorn, because I was worried it would be soggy like others described.

The mixture is cooling now but, it’s going to be soggy and mostly not edible, I’m sure. I wish there were instructions to use the regular caramel sauce for this recipe. I really wanted that rich caramel and this just didn’t bring it.

Which kind of pot did you boil the mixture in? It is difficult to tell what color using nonstick. I haven’t made this, but sugar mixtures always eventually turn amber before they burn/scorch and this made me wonder about your pot.

Okay, Newbie type of question here…when you say “heavy cream” is that like a whipped non whipped? I don’t know how they call it where I live (different language) but I do know they sell Rich’s Whip. Would it work?

Hi Yael, I am not familiar with Rich’s Whip. Heavy cream is basically just all the stuff that floats to the top when milk is produced. It’s a step above whole milk – much thicker. It is not whipped, but if you have something called heavy whipping cream, that would work too.

Hi Melissa, Thank you! Looking at the two recipes, you would need the whole recipe of the salted caramel, although my salted caramel calls for butter, and this one does not. I’m not sure if that would affect the final consistency since you are melting marshmallows into it.

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Hello and welcome to this delicious little corner of the web! Here you'll find approachable recipes for desserts, comfort foods and easy dinners.

I reside in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with my husband, our two sons, and Golden Retriever.