Chocolate-Covered Kettle Corn Bars

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This treat is perfect for you if you're a fan of salty and sweet snacks. Chocolate-covered kettle corn bars are a fun and unique twist on the classic combination of popcorn and chocolate.

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When you go to fairs or festivals, do you ever buy a bag of kettle corn? I mean the really big bag. For some reason, I think for $2.00 more, that really big bag is worth it. But I have realized you can keep eating and eating that kettle corn, and the bag is still full. Am I right? I have the solution for all that leftover popcorn, make these no-bake Chocolate Covered Kettle Corn Bars.

Now if you find yourself with extra kettle corn, these bars are super simple to make and are similar to Rice Krispie treats, a little chewy and gooey, but better.

But wait, it's in the middle of the week, and no one is making kettle corn; what to do? Just run to the store and grab a bag, or even homemade kettle corn works great in this recipe.

We love popcorn at my house and think everyone else does too; that is why we make Christmas Crunch Popcorn and give it as holiday gifts.

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How To Make Chocolate Covered Kettle Corn
Make the caramel
More bar favorites
FAQs
Variations
More Tasty Bar Recipe
Recipe

Kettle Corn Bar Ingredients

Popped kettle corn
Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Chopped pecans
Brown sugar
White sugar
Corn syrup
Condensed milk
Unsalted butter
Vanilla extract
Sea salt

How To Make Chocolate Covered Kettle Corn

Add the kettle corn, chocolate chips, and pecans in a large bowl. Stir the mixture to combine.

A bowl of popcorn, chocolate chips and pecans. — You need a big bowl and a wooden spoon

Make the caramel

Cook the caramel glaze by combining the sugars, corn syrup, condensed milk, and butter in a medium-sized saucepan. Stir constantly and bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and boil gently for 6 to 8 minutes until the caramel becomes a nice golden brown color and bubbly all over. Then add the vanilla and give a quick stir.

Making caramel sauce for kettle corn bars

Pour the caramel over the kettle corn mixture and stir to coat. I spray my spoon with cooking spray to keep it from sticking to the caramel. Make sure you use a super big bowl for mixing; otherwise, you will be picking up popcorn from your floor.

Pouring caramel on popcorn and stirring together. — Caramel kettle corn

Pour the mixture into a 13" x 9" dish that is coated with butter and pack it down with the back of your spoon really well so when you cut the bars, the kettle corn sticks together. Now, let this pan of yumminess cool.

It's that time to add the finishing touches to these bars and make them over-the-top delicious.

This final step involves melting chocolate chips in the microwave and then spreading the chocolate over the cooled kettle corn.

Pouring chocolate on top of the kettle corn bars — Chocolate drizzled popcorn

After you spread the chocolate on top of the kettle corn, add a sprinkling of Maldon sea salt. This is optional, but the salt adds just a bit of wonderful texture on top of the creamy chocolate and then that perfect salty taste that adds to the flavor of the chocolate, caramel and kettle corn.

You can learn about Maldon Sea Salt here. If you like, you can purchase a box of Maldon Sea Salt here. This salt adds a distinctive flavor to your baked goods, savory dishes, and cocktails.

These kettle corn snack bars are sweet, salty, and deliciously crunchy. Once that creamy chocolate sets on top of the popcorn bars, cut into squares and enjoy.

Kettle corn bars topped with chocolate and sea salt

More bar favorites

These rich and nutty Butter Pecan Blondies have that classic butter pecan taste.
For a fruity bar, try these Easy Raspberry Peach Crumb Bars; they are a big hit in the summer during peach season.
We go both ways with this Apple Cranberry Baked Oatmeal. I like these squares for breakfast, and the kids eat them for a snack. Either way, they are hearty and packed full of good things.
Lucky Charms Bars are made with the classic cereal and are full of all those colorful marshmallows we all love.

And if you are looking for more chocolate-covered treat, try these 5-ingredient Oreo Ice Cream Bites or Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie Treats.

FAQs

What is Kettle Corn?

The classic version of kettle corn is made in large kettles. The corn is popped in the kettle, and then oil, sugar, and salt are added to coat the popped corn. This gives the kettle corn a sweet and salty taste.

Variations

This recipe is very flexible; there are so many options to add to these bars.

If you are not a fan of pecans, leave them out or add chopped almonds or hazelnuts.
Toffee bits
White chocolate chips
Butterscotch chips
Peanut butter
Chopped peanuts
Chopped pretzels
Coconut
You can even add spices like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice

More Tasty Bar Recipe

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Recipe

No-Bake Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn Bars

Jere' Cassidy

These Kettle Corn Bars are covered in gooey caramel and topped with chocolate. A perfect way to use that left-over kettle corn.

5 from 55 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

cool time 30

Total Time 55

Course Dessert

Cuisine Dessert

Servings

Calories 391 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

8 cups kettle corn
⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
1¼ cups chopped pecans
⅓ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons sugar
½ cup light corn syrup
⅔ cup sweetened condensed milk
5 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
Maldon Sea Salt optional

Instructions

Butter or spray cooking spray in the bottom of a 13" x 9" pan
In a large bowl mix the kettle corn, pecans and mini chocolate chips
In a medium-sized saucepan mix the butter, sugars and sweetened condensed milk.
Stir constantly over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat and boil gently for 6 to 8 minutes until the caramel becomes a nice golden brown color and bubbly all over.
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
Pour the caramel mixture over the kettle corn mixture with a wooden spoon that is sprayed with cooking spray.
Once the mixture is combined pour into the 13" x 9" pan. Spread the mixture out in the pan and pack down with the wooden spoon until it is compact.
Let cool.
Place the chocolate chips in a glass bowl and melt in the microwave for 30-second intervals, stirring each time until melted.
Immediately pour the chocolate on top of the kettle corn mixture in the pan, and sprinkle with the Maldon Sea Salt (optional)
After the chocolate has set up cut the bars into squares.
Store at room temperature in a covered container for three days

Notes

These bars can be cut directly in the pan or you can loosen the sides of the bars from the pan with a spatula and then pop the whole sheet out of the pan and place on a cutting board.

This recipe is very adaptable to other ingredients to mix in. Try these options:

Peanuts, Butterscotch chips, Pretzels, Toffee Bits, Peanut Butter

One Hot Oven provides approximate nutritional information as a courtesy and cannot guarantee the accuracy for any recipe on this blog.

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Nutrition

Serving: 12Calories: 391kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 5.9gFat: 17.6gSaturated Fat: 10.4gCholesterol: 26mg

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About Jere' Cassidy

From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place. I am glad to be sharing sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.

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