How to Create Different Flavored Popcorn

Popcorn can be sweetened or made savory for an exciting snack.

Butter and salt are popular popcorn enhancers, with gourmet popcorn shops selling premium flavors of their own creation. You can recreate some of these special popcorn flavors at home. There are two main ways to flavor popcorn, make it sweet by coating it in a simple syrup or tossing it with spices and seasonings to make it savory. Prepare large batches of both the sweet and savory versions of flavored popcorn to make your own holiday popcorn gift tins or to make a new twist on a movie snack for munching anytime.

Things You'll Need

• 3 quarts popped popcorn
• 1 cup white or brown sugar
• ½ cup butter
• ¼ cup light corn syrup
• ¼ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• Baking pan lined with wax paper
• Butter flavored cooking spray
• Finely grated hard cheese (optional)
• Powdered seasonings

Instructions

Make Sweet Syrup Coated Popcorn

1. Heat the sugar, butter and light corn syrup in a saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a boil.

2. Boil the sugar syrup for two minutes.

3. Remove the syrup from the heat and stir in the baking soda and vanilla extract.

4. Pour the syrup over the popcorn in a large bowl and toss to coat.

5. Spread the coated popcorn on a wax paper-lined baking sheet to cool and harden.

6. Break up the sweet popcorn and store in an airtight container for two to three weeks in a cool, dry place.

Make Savory Popcorn

1. Arrange the popped popcorn in a single layer on a wax-paper lined baking sheet.

2. Spray the popcorn evenly with a light coating of butter-flavored cooking spray.

3. Sprinkle grated cheese or powdered seasoning over the popcorn to taste.

4. Toss the popcorn and repeat spraying and sprinkling if you desire a heavier coating of spice.

5. Store the popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the flavor of the sweet popcorn by substituting maple, chocolate, walnut, almond or coconut extract for the vanilla extract.

• Grate your own hard cheese such as cheddar, Parmesan, Romano or Asiago with a fine grater if you cannot find pre-grated cheese.

• Try any one or a combination of the following seasonings for the savory popcorn: hickory salt, salad dressing mix, salt and pepper, chili powder, Worcestershire powder or seasoned salt.

References

• Chow: Cheese Popcorn Without the Powder
• Recipe Tips: Vanilla Flavored Popcorn

Resources

• Chow: Popcorn Recipes
• All Recipes: Popcorn Recipes
• Popcorn Board: Popcorn Recipes