How to Sweeten Popcorn

Sweeten a small bowl for you or a big bowl for the whole family.

Popcorn is an incredibly versatile food, delicious in forms, ranging from salty and savory to sweet and buttery. Some sweet popcorn varieties include kettle corn and caramel corn. Making your own sweetened popcorn isn't difficult, but does require more work than simply sprinkling sugar on top of warm popcorn as you might do with salt.

Things You'll Need

• 1 stick salted, melted butter
• 2 tbsp. confectioners' sugar
• 6 cups freshly popped popcorn
• Small pot
• Whisk
• Glass casserole dish
• Large bowl

Instructions

1. Stir the confectioners' sugar into the pot of melted butter and mix until completely dissolved. For a sweeter or saltier flavor, add confectioners' sugar or table salt to taste.

2. Pop the popcorn once the sweet sauce is complete. Keep the hot popcorn covered or leave it in the microwave until you are ready to mix in the sauce. Butter will stick more easily to hot popcorn.

3. Pour half the popcorn into the glass casserole dish and drizzle half the butter-sugar mixture over it. Gently shake the glass dish from side to side, coating the popcorn. Use a flat spatula to turn over and coat the popcorn without crushing the individual puffed kernels.

4. Pour the coated popcorn into the large bowl and repeat with the other half. Wait a few minutes for the sauce to cool before serving to prevent the butter from dripping on your hands and clothing.

Tips & Warnings

• Reduce the fat content by substituting the butter for yogurt butter or a butter substitute. Avoid using liquid such as water or milk in place of butter, which won't mix as well and will make the popcorn soggy.

References

• Country Living: Salty Sweet Popcorn
• Martha Stewart: Maple Spiced Kettle Corn