Who Invented Caramel Popcorn?

May 20, 2024

Popcorn in its “classic” form is usually thought of as a savory snack, and when you want a bite of something salty, it’s hard to beat traditional, butter-flavored popcorn. But of course, there are other flavor options out there which can allow popcorn to satisfy just about any craving, even a sweet tooth. One of the most popular and most well-known is caramel flavored popcorn. So who first came up with the idea of giving traditionally savory popcorn this sweet twist?

Although Topsy’s has been making delicious gourmet popcorn, including caramel popcorn, for decades, we can’t claim the credit for originating the idea. Caramel itself has been made dating back to ancient times. Some readers might be surprised to learn that caramel is actually very simple – it’s just made by heating up sugar! It wasn’t until the 1870’s, however, that someone first combined caramel flavoring with popcorn. Brothers Frederick and Louis Rueckheim came to America from Germany and opened a popcorn shop in Chicago. To stand out from their competitors, they tried adding various types of flavorings and toppings to their popcorn, including caramel. The Rueckheim brothers named their variety Cracker Jack, creating the brand that still exists today, and many other companies adopted the idea of flavoring popcorn with caramel.

Topsy’s Flavored Popcorn

Today, over 150 years later, caramel popcorn is a salty-sweet staple, and a permanent part of our range of flavor offerings at Topsy’s! You can get a whole tin of caramel popcorn in our 1-gallon, 2-gallon, 3.5, or 6.5-gallon sizes. But what if your cravings change, or you need to satisfy friends, family, or party guests with different tastes? You can choose multiple flavors in our 2-gallon and larger tin sizes. Pick any combination from caramel, butter, cinnamon, and cheese popcorn in halves or thirds. Our popcorn tins also come in a variety of fun and attractive designs, so you can pick the one you like best for a gift or special occasion.

Order a tin of Topsy’s gourmet flavored popcorn as a gift, for a party, or just because it’s delicious today!