Best Popcorn Recipes

CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (95 degrees C). Place popcorn in a very large bowl.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil without stirring 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in soda and vanilla. Pour in a thin stream over popcorn, stirring to coat.
• Place in two large shallow baking dishes and bake in preheated oven, stirring every 15 minutes, for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool completely before breaking into pieces.

TRADITIONAL POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Place popcorn in a large baking pan; keep warm in a 200° oven. , In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water and salt. Cook over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 235° (soft-ball stage). , Remove from the heat. Add the butter, vanilla and food coloring if desired; stir until butter is melted. Immediately pour over popcorn and stir until evenly coated. , When mixture is cool enough to handle, quickly shape into 3-in. balls, dipping hands in cold water to prevent sticking.

THEATER-STYLE BUTTERED POPCORN

Steps:

• Movie theaters use butter-flavored oil, which has a lower water content than butter so it makes popcorn less soggy. Real clarified butter has the same effect. To make it, melt 2 sticks butter in a glass measuring cup in the microwave. Let sit for a few minutes; the butter will separate into 3 layers. Skim off the top layer of foam, then slowly pour the clarified butter into a heatproof container; discard the bottom layer of milk solids. Use 3 tablespoons hot clarified butter for 10 cups popcorn; refrigerate the rest (it's great for sauteeing).

BEST EVER POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the corn syrup, margarine, cold water, confectioners' sugar and marshmallows. Heat and stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Carefully combine the hot mixture with the popcorn, coating each kernel.
• Grease hands with vegetable shortening and quickly shape the coated popcorn into balls before it cools. Wrap with cellophane or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

PERFECT POPCORN

Steps:

• Place the oil, popcorn and salt in a large, 6-quart, metal mixing bowl. Cover with heavy-duty aluminum foil and poke 10 slits in the top with a knife.
• Place the bowl over medium heat and shake constantly using a pair of tongs to hold the bowl. Continue shaking until the popcorn finishes popping, approximately 3 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the heat and carefully remove the foil. Stir in any salt that is on the side of the bowl.
• Melt the butter in the microwave. Slowly drizzle over the popcorn, while spinning the bowl. Serve immediately.

GRANDPA'S POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and water. Stir and heat to hard-crack stage or 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Remove from heat, add vanilla or vinegar; mix well.
• Pour slowly over popped popcorn while stirring. Wait 5 minutes and shape into 3 inch round balls.

OLD-FASHIONED POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Place popcorn in a baking pan and keep warm in a 200° oven. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, stir together the sugar, corn syrup, water, butter and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. , Continue cooking without stirring until the temperature reaches 270° on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat. Add vanilla; stir just enough to mix. Slowly pour over the popcorn. Cool just enough to handle. Shape with buttered hands.

CHEWY PEANUT BUTTER POPCORN BARS

Steps:

• Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• Melt the peanut butter and butter together in a medium saucepan over low heat, then stir in the marshmallows. Continue to stir until the marshmallows are melted.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the popcorn to coat evenly in the melted marshmallow mixture. Pour the popcorn mixture into the coated baking dish and spread out into an even layer. Drizzle the popcorn with the chocolate sauce. Allow the popcorn treats to cool for 30 minutes, then cut into bars.

ULTIMATE CARAMEL CHOCOLATE POPCORN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°. Place popcorn and nuts in a greased roasting pan; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir 5 minutes. , Remove from heat; stir in baking soda (mixture will foam). Quickly pour over popcorn and mix well., Transfer to two greased 15x10X1-in. baking pans. , Bake 1 hour or until dry, stirring every 15 minutes., In a microwave, melt each chocolate separately, adding 1 teaspoon shortening to each 1/2 cup chips; stir until smooth. Drizzle over popcorn mixture; let stand until set., Break into clusters. Store in an airtight container.,

EASY CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Set oven to 250 degrees F.
• Put the popped corn in a large bowl.
• Melt the margarine (or butter) stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt; bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Then boil for 5 minutes WITHOUT stirring (this is important DO NOT stir for 5 minutes!).
• Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla.
• Add in the nuts and stir to combine.
• Pour the mixture over popped corn in bowl; mix well with a wooden spoon to combine.
• Transfer to a large greased roasting pan, and bake for 1 hour, stirring every 10-15 minutes.
• Remove from oven then cool.
• Break into pieces.
• Store in a tightly covered tin box.
• Delicious!

POPCORN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix flour, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl. Beat eggs and lemon juice together in a separate bowl.
• Heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil in a large pot over medium heat.
• Dip the chicken pieces into the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, and again into the flour mixture.
• Test the oil to make sure it is hot enough: a small amount of flour dropped in should sizzle. Place 10 pieces of chicken into the hot oil; cook until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on a paper towel lined plate and season with salt. Repeat with remaining chicken.

SWEET AND CRUNCHY POPCORN SNACK MIX

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with waxed paper.
• Combine crispy corn and rice cereal, honey graham cereal, peanut butter corn puff cereal, popcorn, chocolate pieces, and peanuts in a large bowl.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; whisk in flour until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add brown sugar and corn syrup; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Stir peanut butter into sugar mixture until creamy, about 3 minutes; pour over cereal mixture and gently toss until coated.
• Spread cereal mixture over prepared baking sheet and allow to cool, about 30 minutes. Once cooled, break mixture into chunks and store in an airtight container.

SWEET AND SPICY POPCORN

Steps:

• Stir the confectioners' sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, cumin and cayenne together in a small bowl. Heat the coconut oil in a very large pot with a lid over medium heat. Add the popcorn and half of the sugar mixture, cover the pot and shake to coat. Add the remaining sugar mixture and continue to shake until well coated. Serve immediately.

EASY CARAMEL POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Pour popcorn into a large bowl.
• Combine brown sugar, condensed milk, corn syrup, butter, and vanilla extract in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until a candy thermometer reads 234 degrees F (112 degrees C), about 5 minutes. Pour over popcorn; stir to coat evenly.
• Scoop some of the popcorn mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap. Gather and twist the plastic wrap to shape into a ball. Place popcorn ball on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; repeat with remaining mixture. Let cool until set, about 5 minutes.

SWEET POPCORN

Steps:

• Put the oil in a large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid over a medium heat. Toss the popcorn kernels in the oil to coat. Put the lid on, and keep over a medium heat until you hear the first popcorn pop, then turn the heat to medium-low. When you begin to hear lots of popping, give the pan a shake. Continue to shake frequently until the popping stops. Turn off the heat and leave in the pan.
• Line a large baking tray with baking parchment. Put the sugar and 60ml water into a medium heavy-based saucepan and bring to the boil. Stir until the sugar has dissolved, then leave over a medium heat, without stirring, for 6-8 mins. It should start to turn into a golden caramel, swirl it around and add the butter - stand back as it may spit a little. Stir well until combined.
• Pour the caramel over the popcorn in the pan and stir immediately to coat the popcorn, being careful not to touch the hot caramel. Carefully transfer onto the lined baking tray and press down with the back of a spoon to spread evenly. Leave to cool for 5 mins, then break apart and eat.

CINNAMON CANDY POPCORN

Steps:

• Place popcorn in a large bowl; set aside. In a large saucepan, combine the butter, corn syrup and candies; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour over popcorn and toss to coat. , Transfer to 2 greased 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from pans and place on waxed paper to cool. Break apart; store in airtight containers.

POPEYE'S POPCORN SHRIMP AND CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep fryer or in a deep cast iron skillet on the stove to 350 degrees F. Use a digital thermometer to check the temperature.
• Combine the flour, salt, peppers, paprika and cajun seasoning, if using,in a bowl. In another bowl, break eggs and beat until well blended.
• Dip each piece of shrimp/chicken into eggs; then coat generously with the flour mixture. Drop each piece into the hot oil and fry for 15 to 25 minutes or until the shrimp/chicken is a dark golden brown. Drain shrimp/chicken on paper towels and serve warm.

MICROWAVE CARAMEL POPCORN

Steps:

• Place the popped popcorn into a large brown paper bag. Set aside.
• In a 2 quart casserole dish, or other heat-proof glass dish, combine the brown sugar, margarine, corn syrup, salt and vanilla. Heat for 3 minutes in the microwave, then take out and stir until well blended. Return to the microwave, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from microwave, and stir in the baking soda.
• Pour syrup over the popcorn in the bag. Roll down the top once or twice to close the bag, and shake to coat the corn. Place bag into the microwave, and cook for 1 minute and 10 seconds. Remove, shake, flip the bag over, and return it to the microwave. Cook for another 1 minute and 10 seconds. Dump the popcorn out onto waxed paper, and let cool until coating is set. Store in an airtight container.

WHITE CHOCOLATE POPCORN

Steps:

• Pop 1 popcorn package at a time in the microwave on high until popping begins to slow down, about 2 1/2 minutes. Open bags carefully and transfer popcorn to a large plastic bag, discarding any burnt pieces or unpopped kernels.
• Melt white chocolate chips with butter in top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula, until mixture is creamy, about 5 minutes.
• Drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn. Close bag and shake until thoroughly coated, 3 to 4 minutes. Place in the refrigerator to cool, about 1 hour.

POPCORN BALLS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large heavy pot over low heat. Add marshmallows and brown sugar and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
• Pour popcorn and cranberries, or English toffee bits if using, into pot; toss well. With buttered hands, shape into 2 1/2-inch balls. Set on parchment lined baking sheet to dry slightly.