We are making old-fashioned kettle corn today, kettle corn that tastes just like the one you buy at your local fair, amusement parks, farmer’s markets, or sporting events. I love traditional movie theater popcorn but at movie theaters, it’s pretty expensive and basically loaded with butter and sugar. This recipe is the perfect compromise – it tastes just as good but you get to control the ingredients so you can keep them healthy-ish! This recipe is perfect for a fun girls’ night at home, a party, or a family movie night. Just make sure that you have enough bowls on hand for everyone because once you start eating this tasty popcorn, it will be gone in a flash! The prep time for this homemade kettle corn is about 5-10 minutes. It’s super simple to make, and you don’t need any special equipment. When it’s finished you just need to transfer it onto a baking sheet, sprinkle with sea salt, and gently shake it up so that everything gets nice and mixed together. Then just divide it between bowls, and get ready for your taste buds to go crazy because this stuff is so good you won’t be able to stop eating it! Try my perfect caramel popcorn recipe too! Or make homemade Chex Mix for your next snack attack.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients Needed
Here’s what you need to make kettle corn: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Popcorn Kernels: When choosing popcorn kernels, look for kernels that are as fresh as possible. If they’ve been sitting in your pantry for too long, they might not pop. For larger and sturdy popcorn, buy yellow kernels. For smaller tender popcorn, go for white kernels.Oil: I normally use peanut or vegetable oil as they’re neutral and are best for classic kettle corn. You can also use refined coconut oil. but keep in mind that coconut oil adds a little flavor, but it’s not overpowering and I actually like it (go for refined coconut oil, as unrefined will have a strong taste of coconut). For neutral tasting oil, go for peanut, sunflower, canola, or vegetable oil. Basically, you need to pick an oil with a high smoke point that also has a neutral taste.Sugar: We’re using just normal granulated sugar to sweeten our popcorn. For a stronger caramel flavor, you can use brown sugar.Salt: To balance the sweetness, and add a little saltiness to the popcorn.
How To Make Kettle Corn
Top Tips
It’s important to keep shaking the pot, as the sugar will melt and coat each raw kernel before it pops and then when it pops you will get a candy like thin layer of caramel on each piece of popcorn. If you don’t shake the pot enough, it can sink at the bottom of the pot and burn. If that happens, it can turn bitter and you certainly want to avoid that.When the popcorn is popped, transfer to a baking sheet immediately. If you don’t do that, the popcorn might absorb some liquid from the trapped steam under the lid, and it can become chewy.
Making a large batch
If you need to double the recipe, you don’t need to change anything, just make sure that your pot is large enough. If you want to make multiple batches, you have to wash the pot between each batch, as any remaining sugar will stick to the pot and burn causing your kettle corn to turn bitter with burnt bits. Save this recipe for the next time you’re craving popcorn, or have a party! Also, share with your friends so they can enjoy it too! © Little Sunny Kitchen
