Gourmet caramel-chili popcorn in bowl beside standing popcorn bag
Caramel-chili gourmet popcorn bowl and standing bag with branding
Gourmet popcorn bag labeled caramel-chili flavor
Caramel-chili popcorn clusters in clear bowl, golden orange
Brand story

Prospector Popcorn

Movie night has a secret ingredient, and it's the people. In November 2014, Valerie Jensen opened The Prospector Theater in Ridgefield, Connecticut, a nonprofit first-run movie theater built around one big idea: people with disabilities deserve real jobs, real paychecks, and a real chance to shine. Today about three out of four team members, known as Prospects, self-identify with a disability, and the mission is simple: a better quality of life through meaningful employment.

The popcorn got its start behind the concession stand with a batch of Classic Caramel. Then the pandemic dimmed the lights. With the theater closed, the team took its popcorn online, and fans in all 50 states have been ordering ever since. Bags now turn up in regional grocery stores, pro sports stadiums, and more than 360 hotels across the country.

Prospects run the whole snack business: popping, mixing, baking, packaging, shipping, and even marketing. Team members who love to bake help dream up and test new flavors. The caramel is made from scratch with real butter and brown sugar, the kernels are non-GMO, and the recipes have the hardware to prove it. Superstar Crunch, a fudge brownie take on Classic Caramel created for Autism Acceptance Month, was named one of Convenience Store News' Best New Products of 2025.

The Prospector matches each person to work that fits their strengths, something the team calls their "sparkle." The Prospect who loves to bake ends up inventing flavors. The Prospect who loves people ends up greeting moviegoers at the door.

So go ahead. Open the Buffalo Cheddar and save the Strawberry Ice Cream for dessert. Every bag helps keep good jobs coming, in the theater and in the kitchen. That's Universal Design you can eat by the handful. Sparkle on.

Heads up for allergies: the caramel is made with real butter, so it contains dairy, and the kitchen handles other common allergens too.

Why We Love It

Sweet first, then a slow, warm pepper glow your spice lover will adore.

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Meet the flavor made for your favorite spice lover. Spicy Caramel starts out sweet and buttery, then a pepper trio of habanero, Scotch bonnet, and ghost pepper arrives slowly and stays a while. It's a warm, rolling heat that builds with every handful, so pace yourself (or don't). Keep a cold drink nearby, cue up your phone for the reaction video, and pass the bag around the room.

Heads up: this one is genuinely hot, made for anyone who loves serious heat.

SPICY CARAMEL

$8.00
By Prospector Popcorn
SKU: sku-51815423246637
Brand story

Prospector Popcorn

Movie night has a secret ingredient, and it's the people. In November 2014, Valerie Jensen opened The Prospector Theater in Ridgefield, Connecticut, a nonprofit first-run movie theater built around one big idea: people with disabilities deserve real jobs, real paychecks, and a real chance to shine. Today about three out of four team members, known as Prospects, self-identify with a disability, and the mission is simple: a better quality of life through meaningful employment.

The popcorn got its start behind the concession stand with a batch of Classic Caramel. Then the pandemic dimmed the lights. With the theater closed, the team took its popcorn online, and fans in all 50 states have been ordering ever since. Bags now turn up in regional grocery stores, pro sports stadiums, and more than 360 hotels across the country.

Prospects run the whole snack business: popping, mixing, baking, packaging, shipping, and even marketing. Team members who love to bake help dream up and test new flavors. The caramel is made from scratch with real butter and brown sugar, the kernels are non-GMO, and the recipes have the hardware to prove it. Superstar Crunch, a fudge brownie take on Classic Caramel created for Autism Acceptance Month, was named one of Convenience Store News' Best New Products of 2025.

The Prospector matches each person to work that fits their strengths, something the team calls their "sparkle." The Prospect who loves to bake ends up inventing flavors. The Prospect who loves people ends up greeting moviegoers at the door.

So go ahead. Open the Buffalo Cheddar and save the Strawberry Ice Cream for dessert. Every bag helps keep good jobs coming, in the theater and in the kitchen. That's Universal Design you can eat by the handful. Sparkle on.

Heads up for allergies: the caramel is made with real butter, so it contains dairy, and the kitchen handles other common allergens too.
Description

 

Sweet N' Spicy Gourmet Popcorn - Sweet & Spicy Popcorn with Ghost Pepper Heat

Sweet N' Spicy Gourmet Popcorn delivers serious heat balanced by sweet caramel. This bold snack combines classic caramel popcorn with Mule Sauce by Sticker Mule, a fiery blend of habanero, Scotch bonnet, and ghost peppers. Each bite starts with comforting caramel sweetness and builds to an exciting, slow-burning heat that satisfies adventurous snackers who crave intensity.

Flavor & Heat Level

This gourmet popcorn starts with our caramel corn base made from real butter and brown sugar, then gets infused with a carefully crafted hot sauce featuring three distinct peppers. The heat builds gradually rather than hitting all at once, allowing the sweet caramel to balance the spice. Made fresh daily using non-GMO popcorn kernels and authentic Mule Sauce with real habanero, Scotch bonnet, and ghost peppers, this combination delivers genuine heat alongside red bell pepper, onions, garlic, and ginger for complex flavor. This is not a mild spice level—it's designed for those who genuinely enjoy spicy foods.

Bold Snacking

Sweet N' Spicy works well for spice enthusiasts, game day snacking, or anyone seeking something more adventurous than standard popcorn flavors. The unique combination of sweet and genuinely spicy makes this a standout choice and a conversation starter. Resealable 4 oz bags maintain freshness, with a 12-month shelf life.

Product Details

Packaged in retail-ready 3.5 oz resealable bags. Made in the USA with premium ingredients. 12-month shelf life.

About Our Gourmet Popcorn

Handmade in small batches at Prospector Popcorn in Ridgefield, CT, where our mission is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities through meaningful employment.
How It's Made

Handmade in small batches by Prospector Popcorn in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Ingredients

Brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt, vanilla, baking soda, red bell pepper, distilled vinegar, onions, pure cane sugar (cane sugar and molasses), habanero peppers, jolokia peppers, yellow scotch bonnet peppers, lemon juice, garlic, ginger root, xanthan gum.

CONTAINS MILK.

Made in a shared facility that also processes tree nuts, wheat, milk, and soy.
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