Never miss a bite! Sign up here to receive new recipes and reviews straight to your inbox.
Your hands will be a sticky sweet mess when you dig into this South Jersey Boardwalk Caramel Corn — just like the iconic Johnson’s Popcorn we all know and love!
What food represents your hometown? That’s the question all of us at #SundaySupper had to think about for this week’s Hometown Foods theme hosted by Coleen of The Redhead Baker. It’s actually a pretty hard question. For my hometown of Egg Harbor Township, a pretty large suburb of Atlantic City, New Jersey, things like Primo’s and Mack and Manco’s Pizza were one of the first things to come to mind, followed by Wawa — yes, just Wawa. Not a specific food or anything, just the whole entire concept. So that was kind of out of the question. Then there’s the whole sub thing — White House Subs or Atlantic City Sub Shop with just the right rolls so perfectly soft on the inside and just a tad hard on the outside. So much food, what would I choose?! Then it hit me. The Ocean City Boardwalk is a totally iconic part of South Jersey life. Whether you’re from my town, EHT, or any of the neighboring towns, we all spent summers walking up and down the boards with our friends, eating all the wonderfully greasy and delicious boardwalk fries, funnel cake, monkey bread and….Johnson’s Popcorn, that super sweet, sticky, almost dessert-like popcorn.
Some may look at it and just call it caramel corn and that’s that — but it is so much more. Johnson’s has been around since 1940 and is an Ocean City Boardwalk staple. You can’t visit without devouring a tub full of this stuff. There’s nothing better than getting one of those huge gift tins full of popcorn. With so many different foods I could have chosen to represent my hometown in South Jersey, nothing felt as significant as Johnson’s. I had to make my own South Jersey Boardwalk Caramel Corn!
A few simple ingredients are all it takes to replicate this delicious crunchy snack. I have no idea what the actual original recipe is — apparently anyone who works there was sworn to secrecy and even had to sign off that they’d never tell! But this copycat recipe works just as well and tastes just as good!
- 1 cup popcorn kernels
- 2 tbsp cooking oil of choice
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 2-3 cups brown sugar
- 2 tbsp molasses
- Heat a 1½ qt pot on medium heat and add kernels. There should be enough to coat the entire bottom of the pot.
- Add oil and toss the make sure all of the kernels are coated.
- Cover and let cook until the kernels have popped and filled the pot. This should take about 6-8 minutes.
- Empty the popcorn into another container and immediately add butter and brown sugar to the pot while it's still hot.
- Once the butter has started to melt, add the molasses and stir until it becomes a gooey liquid.
- Stir in the popcorn until its well coated.
- Let sit for 1-2 minutes until the brown sugar mixture starts to bubble, and then continue to toss the popcorn. Repeat twice.
- Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes or until the brown sugar mixture has set.
#SundaySupper members are from all over the world — check out some of their favorite dishes that remind them of home.
Breakfast
- Alamo City Breakfast Tacos by The Weekend Gourmet
- Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Mickey Mouse Waffles by Wallflour Girl
- New York Style Bagels by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Peanut Butter and Fluff French Toast by Momma’s Meals
Drinks
- Candied Kumquat Peels, Kumquat Syrup, and Kumquat-Ade by Recipe for Perfection
- Wine Pairing Recommendations for Hometown Food by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog
Appetizers and Snacks
- Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Cuban Sandwich Crostini by Casa de Crews
- Cuban Sandwich Dip by Family Foodie
- South Jersey Boardwalk Popcorn by Take A Bite Out of Boca
Main Dishes
- Chicken and Dumplings by Food Lust People Love
- Crockpot Cincinnati Chili by Palatable Pastime
- Fried Rice Vermicelli with Vegetable Fritters by Brunch with Joy
- Honey Cola Baked Ham by Magnolia Days
- Hot Brown Ham Sliders by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Joe’s Special by Nosh My Way
- Lentil, Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Curry by Mess Makes Food
- New England Beans and Cod by Cooking Chat
- Oven Toasted Ravioli by Curious Cuisiniere
- Philadelphia Tomato Pie by The Redhead Baker
- Pierogies by Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
- Portobello “Philly Cheese Steak” by PancakeWarriors
- Pozole Rojo by Simply Healthy Family
- Revved-up Poutine by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Rice with Pork and Pineapple by Basic N Delicious
- San Francisco Cioppino by Eat, Drink and be Tracy
- Seattle-Style Dungeness Crab Roll by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Tex-Mex Cheese Enchiladas with Chile con Carne by The Texan New Yorker
- The Pittsburgh Devonshire Sandwich by Seduction in the Kitchen
- Upper Peninsula Pasties by Recipes Food and Cooking
- Victory Pig Sicilian Style Pizza by Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
- Xiang La Tu Zi // Hot & Spicy Rabbit by Curried Canteloupe
Side Dishes
- 1905 Salad by Supper for a Steal
- Chicken Rice Pilaf by Crazy Foodie Stunts
- Classic Italian Risotto in Bianco by La Bella Vita Cucina
- Greek Salad with Potato Salad by Ruffles & Truffles
- Korean Steamed Eggs by Hip Foodie Mom
- Smoke House Cheesy Garlic Bread by Peaceful Cooking
Desserts
- Apple Crisp by Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch
- Buckeye Cupcakes by Desserts Required
- Carob Bumpy Cake by Pies and Plots
- Chocolate Earthquake Cake by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Chocolate Pocky Cake by NinjaBaker
- Grandma Sweeney’s Chocolate Cream Pie by Lifestyle Food Artistry
- Lemon Buttermilk Bundt Cake by Alida’s Kitchen
- Memories of Mom; Michigan Apple Cake by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Mile High Strawberry Pie by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Pear Parkin by Happy Baking Days
- Vegan Timbits by Killer Bunnies, Inc
- Vernors Cake by Country Girl in the Village
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
I love the back story to this recipe! Makes this popcorn look even more tasty! I may need to make this for our Oscars party next month!
That’s a great idea, Nichole! Enjoy 🙂
This recipe makes me miss Summer… as I sit here bundled in blankets and drinking hot coffee on a snowy Michigan morning. Yum!
Glad I could bring you a little warmth, Shannon!
I absolutely love this. I am in Philly, so I am quite familiar with the Jersey shore! We went down to Wildwood for vacations when I was growing up, and it will always hold a special place in my heart, but I’ve also come to appreciate Ocean City. The caramel corn cannot be beat!
Agreed, Coleen! It’s truly the best there is!
Oh, I swoon over caramel corn and you rocked this one, Shaina!!! Perfect.
Thank you, Liz!
My youngest brother loves popcorn and he just made his own for the first time over Christmas – I’ll have to share this recipe with him, it looks wonderful!
Thanks, Katy! Hope your brother likes it!
YUMMY! I love caramel corn by the shore! So heavenly!!!
Thanks, Deanna!
Love me som caramel corn. I tried my hand at some once; made craft beer caramel corn. It was pretty good, but looked NOTHING like this deliciousness.
Oh wow, that sounds so good with the craft beer, Christie!
Caramel corn is the best! I have always wanted to make some.
It was really easy, Laura, enjoy!
I love caramel corn, Shaina, and since the chances of my going to Atlantic City any time soon are slim, I’m going to try your copy cat recipe! Can’t wait!
Oh good!! Enjoy, Stacy!
It’s been a long time since I’ve had caramel corn. Yours is making me crave it again.
Same, Renee, I haven’t had it since I was a little kid until now!
i have never been to Jersey except vicariously through Stephanie Plum LOL but when I do visit I am going to try this and see how it compares to the version I am going to make with your recipe
Awesome!! Thanks, Wendy, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
New Jerseyites are kvelling because you did them proud with your caramel corn! Wish I had a bag of it right now.
Thank you, Betsy!! If there is any left over on Saturday when we meet for brunch Ill bring it 😉 Although, I doubt there will be haha
So simple, what a great way to make the average popcorn yummy!!! Happy Sunday!
Oh yeah, this stuff is addicting! Thanks, Tammi!
Your post was so much fun to read! And the popcorn looks amazing!
Thanks, Julie!
oh my gawd, I loooovveeee caramel popcorn!!! I’ve heard of South Jersey Boardwalk Caramel Corn!!! this is awesome!! I want this and some pizza! 🙂
Alice, a slice of Mack and Manco’s pizza followed by Kohr Bros Ice Cream and Johnson’s Popcorn — that’s what Ocean City Boardwalk dreams are made of 🙂
I love my stovetop popcorn and this elevates it! I’ll have to try it.
This elevates it to an entirely new level, DB, you’ve gotta try!
Oh, my goodness, there is some gooey wonderful goodness going on in that popcorn, Shaina. Very serendipitous, too. My hubby is from South NJ and spent many a summer in Ocean City!
Really?!? Kim, I wonder if he is from anywhere near me! That’s so cool.
YUM my mouth is watering! I grew up in Philly and trips to the shore were always so fun! Love the boardwalk!! WAWA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh I miss wawa 🙂
I miss Wawa too, Sam!!!
Literally the best popcorn in the world, though I’m sure yours is a very close second!
It really is, Brianne. I haven’t had it in years, so this brought back good memories!
Yay! A caramel corn recipe! I have made kettle corn, but never caramel corn- and by sheer coincidence I happen to have a bag of corn and a new bag of brown sugar in the pantry!
Yay! Hope you enjoy, Katie 🙂
Caramel corn is my favorite…this looks like perfection!
Thanks, Alida!
Yummy Shaina! I love caramel popcorn. But you know what I love even more is the combination of caramel popcorn and cheddar cheese. The salty and sweet are so good together for me. I should use your recipe for the caramel and figure out how to make the cheddar cheese popcorn!
That sounds SUPER delicious, Martin. When you figure out how to make the cheddar popcorn let me know!!
I’m pretty sure I would eat wayyy to much of this for my own good!
I am guilty of this, Lane, haha
This looks soon good (and so addicting)!!!! YUM!!!! My husband and I used to live in South Jersey for a couple years, and really miss our trips to Ocean City now! Nothing like the Jersey shore 🙂 Thanks for sharing this!!!!
Glad I could bring you a blast from the past, Maria 😉
I can never pass on Caramel Corn! Jersey Shore here I come!
Enjoy, Serena!! 🙂
Caramel corn sounds great right about now!
It sounds great anytime, Cindy!
I love caramel corn and haven’t had it in ages. I may just have to make a batch of this. Thanks for sharing.
Hope you enjoy, Susi, it’s super addicting!
Just visiting from The Recipe Wench. I saw your popcorn post on the link-up at Made from Pinterest. This recipe sounds amazing. Can’t wait to try it!!!
Thanks for stopping by, Bridget!