Watch out, caramel popcorn, because this peanut butter popcorn is going to take over the world! It’s soft, chewy and loaded with rich peanut butter caramel, crunchy Rice Krispies and colorful M&M’s! This easy, no-bake sweet and salty treat is perfect for movie nights, parties and sharing with friends!
This recipe comes from my Aunt Helen, and it’s one of those treats you just can’t stop grabbing handfuls of! The combination of buttery popcorn, gooey peanut butter caramel and chocolate candies is absolutely irresistible.
And trust me, don’t skip the Rice Krispies! They add the best little crunch to all that chewy, peanut buttery goodness!
Why You’ll Love This Peanut Butter Popcorn
- Sweet and salty perfection: The salty popcorn perfectly balances the rich, sweet peanut butter caramel.
- The best texture combination: Soft, chewy popcorn, crispy Rice Krispies and little bites of chocolate candy make every handful different.
- A fun twist on caramel popcorn: If you love traditional caramel popcorn, the addition of creamy peanut butter takes it to a whole new level!
- Perfect for sharing: Make a big bowl for movie night, take it to a party or package it up for friends and neighbors.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this sweet and salty peanut butter popcorn!
- Butter: Creates a rich, buttery base for the soft caramel coating.
- Sugar: Sweetens the caramel and gives it that delicious candy-like flavor.
- Karo Syrup: Light corn syrup helps keep the caramel smooth and chewy instead of grainy.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Adds rich peanut butter flavor and makes the caramel extra creamy. I prefer regular creamy peanut butter for the smoothest results.
- Popcorn: You’ll need 10 cups of popped popcorn. I love buttery, salty movie theater popcorn because it balances the sweet caramel, but regular microwave, stovetop or air-popped popcorn works too. Remove any unpopped kernels before adding the coating.
- Rice Krispies: Add the most delicious little crunch throughout the chewy popcorn.
- M&M’s: Use any variety you love! Peanut butter M&M’s are my personal favorite, but peanut, plain, mini or fun seasonal flavors all work. I used peanut butter cinnamon roll M&M’s and mini M&M’s in the photos!
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