Bursting with caramel flavor, this all-natural, whole food sweetened popcorn is easy to make and a true delight!

Summer has hit its peak—the heat here is at a fever pitch, but wisps of a new school year are winding their way into the day-to-day, from the marching calendar to emailed supply lists. Whether you’re feeling worn out from heat at the end of the day or a resistance to back-to-school messaging uring return to routines, you can’t beat the remedy of a good movie night. And, movie night can’t help but be elevated with the snacktastic, pop-in-your-mouth delight of popcorn! This simple date-caramel sweetened snack is packed with flavor and absent of junk. Win-win!

Tips and Variations

This date-caramel popcorn is actually a remake of sorts from a maple-tahini popcorn I first made in 2022. That one was more subtly flavored but just as tasty. But, having edged more and more to whole food sweeteners since then, I really wanted to omit the maple syrup altogether. Don’t get me wrong, I adore maple syrup. In fact, I some of my warmest, more fuzzily fond memories of childhood are of my grandfather making his own maple syrup from sap in my grandparents’ backyard sugar house. With its stained glass windows and splintered red frame, the small shed had an allure like Hansel and Gretel’s gingerbread house, but without the witch or the danger. Still, while I am very happy to use maple syrup in baking, especially desserts, I thought something so snackabley rustic as popcorn seems would pair perfectly with simple, whole food sweeteness—and it does.

A few things to note:

While traditional, buttery carmel corn can stand a solid, brittle, all-over candy coating, this recipe does better when the coating is a little more careful. Even dabs of the sauce will add a nice touch of flavor while retaining the fluffiness better.
Be mindful how long you put the coated popcorn in the oven. You can let it air dry a bit after you pull it out to set further, but if you leave it in the warmth too long, the popcorn will really shrink, and you’ll end up with caramel-coated kernels.
While this post showcases straight-up date caramel corn, our favorite way to enjoy is actually mixing it with salted air popped popcorn, as well as some nuts. If you’re feeling up for a little of everything, try adding dried cranberries (we love Trader Joe’s unsweetened) and vegan chocolate chips (like Just Date dark chips!). You get a little sweet, a little salty, a balance of chewiness and crunch, and an overall irresistible blend.

However you choose to mix and match, I hope you’re getting to cozy up in the warmth of your choice company and delights. No matter what swirls around us, let’s embrace our own radiance and the small things we can share. xo

Yield: 3

Author: Wendy McMillan

Easy, Healthy, Vegan Date-Caramel Popcorn

Bursting with caramel flavor, this all-natural, whole food sweetened popcorn is easy to make and a true delight!

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 15 Min

Ingredients

6 Cups air-popped popcorn
8-10 Medjool dates, soaked in warm water 10 minutes
1/3 to ½ Cup unsweetened plant milk (I use vanilla almond)
½ Teaspoon vanilla, if using a plain plant milk, optional
Pinch (⅛ Teaspoon) sea salt
Optional mix-ins: peanuts, Just Date dark chocolate chips, Trader Joe’s unsweetened dried cranberries

Instructions

Blend the soaked dates, 1/3 cup plant milk, vanilla if using, and salt; add additional milk as needed until achieving a smooth consistency. Drizzle the caramel over the popcorn and toss to coat.
Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let air dry a further few minutes. Enjoy as is or (recommended) mixed with lightly salted air-popped popcorn and other addends (see note). Enjoy!

Notes

Our favorite way to enjoy is actually mixing it with salted air popped popcorn, as well as some nuts. If you’re feeling up for a little of everything, try adding dried cranberries (we love Trader Joe’s unsweetened) and vegan chocolate chips (like Just Date dark chips!).

Nutrition Facts

Calories

288

Fat

1 g

Sat. Fat

0 g

Carbs

71 g

Fiber

8 g

Net carbs

63 g

Sugar

48 g

Protein

4 g

Sodium

16 mg

Cholesterol

0 mg

Healthy Date-Caramel Popcorn