• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Chef Sous Chef logo
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbook
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbook
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Dessert Recipes

    Maple & Brown Sugar Popcorn with Bacon

    Published: Dec 30, 2019 · Modified: Jul 8, 2021 by Philip + Mystique · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Sweet and salty, with a hint of smoke, our Maple and Brown Sugar Popcorn with Bacon is the perfect treat for the bacon lover in all of us. With just six ingredients, it's a simple snack you can make whether you're cozying on the couch for a movie or enjoying a night in with a group of friends.

    Large Bowl of Caramel Popcorn with Bacon, 2 black spoons, bowl of bacon and tray of maple bacon popcorn

    We have a simple rule in our home; eat whatever you want, as long as you make it yourself. Not only does it help you avoid a bunch of unhealthy and needless ingredients, but helps you connect with your food, be present, and know what you're putting in your body.

    One of our favourite snacks to play around with in the kitchen is popcorn. It's a quick and simple snack that can be made healthy or not-so-healthy, depending on your mood. It works as a savoury snack, sweet treat or even as a garnish on a dinner dish. The possibilities are endless. And while we love eating it simply prepared with a little butter and salt, popcorn by design, with all its nooks and crannies, is the perfect vessel for holding the sweet maple caramel and little bacon bits our recipe features.

    Two tins with Maple Bacon Popcorn in front of a bowl of maple caramel popcorn

    How to Make Our Maple and Brown Sugar Popcorn with Bacon

    Ingredients for Our Maple Bacon Popcorn Recipe

    Bacon, popcorn kernels, light olive oil, salted butter, brown sugar, maple syrup.

    Ingredients to Make Maple Caramel Popcorn with Bacon

    Step 1 | Brown the Bacon

    Lay bacon out on a frying pan and place on medium heat. Cooking for 12 to 15 minutes until crisp, turning once about halfway through cooking. Place on paper towel to cool, then finely chop and set aside.

    Step 2 | Pop the Corn

    Place three kernels of corn in a large, heavy-bottom French oven with olive oil. Cover and heat on medium-high. Once you hear all three kernels pop, pour in the ⅓ cup of kernels. Cover the pot, leaving the lid about half-inch ajar. Once the corn begins to pop, shake the pan back and forth every 30 seconds until the popping slows to every 2 seconds or so. Remove from heat, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Once the popping completely stops, remove the lid to let the popcorn cool completely.

    Plain Popcorn in French Oven

    Step 3 | Make the Maple Caramel

    Add the butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup in a medium saucepan. Place on medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to medium and continue to cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the reserved bacon and return the caramel to a boil.

    Saucier Pan with Maple Caramel with Bacon

    Step 4 | Dress the Popcorn and Cool

    Pour the caramel over the popcorn and toss using a spatula until the popcorn is evenly coated. Transfer the popcorn onto baking sheets and allow to cool for 10 minutes, until the caramel is cool and crunchy.

    Baking Sheet with Maple Caramel Popcorn with Bacon

    Elevate the Experience

    There's bacon in the recipe and there's no point in hiding that fact. Kick the bacon flavour up a few more notches by making a batch of candied bacon and chopping it up to put on top or just tuck a couple of slices into your popcorn bag.

    Bowl of maple and brown sugar popcorn with bacon, plate with bacon, black utensils

    Shop our Maple and Brown Sugar Popcorn with Bacon Recipe

    Shop the look, shop the styling, shop the recipe

    Below are affiliate links to products that will assist you in making our Maple Bacon Popcorn recipe. If you purchase an item through the links, Chef Sous Chef Inc. will receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you.

    Our Favourite Essential Cooking Tools

    A good heavy cutting board is a must with almost any recipe and we absolutely love our John Boos Maple Cutting Board for everyday use.

    Le Creuset has become our go-to brand for enameled cast iron cookware. It is well worth the investment and for this recipe, we used a Skillet to brown the bacon, a Saucier Pan to make the caramel, and a French Oven for popping the corn.

    Go good knife is key in the kitchen, both for efficiency and safety. Global makes great quality knives that are beautiful and won't break the bank. We use the Chef's knife for everyday use, but recommend buying a 2-piece set or 3-piece set for the best value.

    A baking sheet is a perfect vessel for cooling the popcorn and our go-to this Aluminum Half Sheet set that comes with two pans and two cooking racks.

    Ingredients

    Generic Light Olive Oil is used for popping the corn. It won't burn easily and is also great for everyday cooking or making homemade mayo.

    You can't make popcorn without popcorn kernels. Look for non-GMO popcorn kernels.

    There is nothing better than authentic Canadian Maple Syrup for making the caramel, along with brown sugar.

    Thank you for helping support us through these purchases. If you have made this recipe, please let us know in the comments below!

    Maple & Brown Sugar Popcorn with Bacon

    Chef Sous Chef
    Sweet and salty, with a hint of smoke, our Maple and Brown Sugar Popcorn with Bacon is the perfect treat for the bacon lover in all of us. With just six ingredients, it's a simple snack you can make whether you're cozying on the couch for a movie or enjoying a night in with a group of friends.
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Course food and drink, Snacks
    Cuisine north american
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 626

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 oz bacon
    • 1 tablespoon light olive oil
    • ⅓ cup popcorn kernels
    • ⅓ cup salted butter
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • ½ cup maple syrup
    • sea salt for serving optional

    Instructions
     

    • Lay bacon out on a frying pan and place on medium heat. Cooking for 12 to 15 minutes until crisp, turning once about halfway through cooking. Place on paper towel to cool, then finely chop and set aside.
    • Place three kernels of corn in a large, heavy-bottom French oven with olive oil. Cover and heat on medium-high. Once you hear all three kernels pop, pour in the ⅓ cup of kernels. Cover the pot, leaving the lid about half inch ajar. Once the corn begins to pop, shake the pan back and forth every 30 seconds until the popping slows to every 2 seconds or so. Remove from heat, leaving the lid slightly ajar. Once the popping completely stops, remove the lid to let the popcorn cool completely.
    • Add the butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup in a medium saucepan. Place on medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat to medium and continue to cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
    • Stir the bacon into the caramel and cook an addtional 1 minute. Pour the caramel over the popcorn and toss using a spatula until the popcorn is evenly coated. Transfer the popcorn onto baking sheets and allow to cool for 10 minutes, until the caramel is cool and crunchy.
    • Serve immediately with a light sprinkling of sea salt.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 626kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 1gFat: 51gSaturated Fat: 22gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 161mgPotassium: 113mgFiber: 1gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 315IUCalcium: 48mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword homemade popcorn, homemade popcorn recipes, snacks with bacon, sweet bacon recipes
    Have you tried this recipe?Tag us on Instagram @chef.souschef or use the hashtag #chefsouschef and let us know how it was!
    Maple and Brown Sugar Popcorn with Bacon
    « Butter Chicken with Coconut Milk
    How to Bring the Dining Out Experience In »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Philip Lago and Mystique Mattai of Chef Sous Chef

    Hi, we're Philip + Mystique 

    We're the creators of Chef Sous Chef, authors of the cookbook, Eat With Us, and co-hosts of the web series, Dining In, on Food Network Canada.

    More about us →


    Eat With Us Cookbook

    Eat With Us Cookbook on marble table

    Now available at all your favorite retailers.
    PURCHASE NOW


    Popular Recipes

    Classic Creamy Carbonara
    DIY Beeswax Food Wraps
    Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
    Oven Baked Fries
    Coconut Crème Brûlée


    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • As Seen In

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Media Kit (Coming Soon)
    • Work With Us

    If you purchase items through affiliate links, Chef Sous Chef Inc. may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

    Copyright © 2023 Chef Sous Chef Inc.