We all love the classic, buttery movie theater-style popcorn. However, while butter may be delicious, it can get boring after so many movie nights.
We like to shake it up with gourmet popcorn and make our own fancy popcorn sampler platters at home. It is not as hard as it may sound. We have compiled a list of our favorite fancy popcorn recipes that you may want to try. Hopefully, these will give you some snack inspiration.
What is Fancy Popcorn?
Fancy popcorn is just like gourmet popcorn. It is made with high-quality ingredients and unique flavor combinations. The best type of popcorn to use for fancy popcorn is non-GMO kernels, organic or heirloom varieties of popcorn. These usually have a superior taste and texture when compared to regular, microwaveable bagged popcorn.
To make fancy popcorn at home, you want to first pop your popcorn kernels using an air popper or stove (the fancy way to make popcorn.). Once the popcorn is ready, you can drizzle it with some melted butter or coconut oil. This will help your seasonings stick to every kernel and make it extra yummy.
Sprinkle your seasonings over the warm popcorn, adding cinnamon sugar, parmesan cheese, or even a spicy cajun blend. Toss the popcorn in a big bowl then it is ready to enjoy.
Making fancy popcorn at home is easy and fun. It will upgrade your snack, impress your friends and make your movie night totally epic. With just a little creativity and the right ingredients, your popcorn will be a whole lot tastier than any of the pre-packaged options out there.
Fancy Popcorn Flavors to Try at Home
Here is a quick look at how to make our favorite flavors of fancy popcorn. Our simple popcorn recipes will help you make a perfect gourmet snack.
Caramel Popcorn
Caramel popcorn is a classic, delicious treat that turns a salty snack into something sweet. Popped popcorn is coated in a sticky caramel sauce. Some people prefer the texture of caramel popcorn to be crunchy, like kettle corn, while others like it chewy. It is really great either way.
To make caramel popcorn at home, start by popping some popcorn kernels and then spreading them on a baking sheet in a flat layer. Melt some butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Stir in a tablespoon or two of corn syrup and a pinch of salt then cook the caramel until it is bubbling and very thick.
Pour the hot caramel over the popcorn then bake the popcorn in a 225-degree oven until it is firm (about 10 minutes). Enjoy the caramel popcorn once it has cooled.
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn
This is a very decadent treat that combines the rich taste of dark chocolate with the bright, bold flavor of peppermint. We love serving this snack at Christmas time but it is really good any time of year.
To make dark chocolate peppermint popcorn, start by popping your popcorn kernels until they are fluffy and white. Spread the popcorn on a baking sheet tray in a flat, even layer.
Microwave some dark chocolate in a large bowl, heating it in thirty-second increments until it is melted. Stir in a few drops of peppermint extract then drizzle the chocolate mix over the popcorn. Let the dark chocolate set so the popcorn will be crunchy. Try sprinkling some crushed candy canes over the chocolate for an extra festive touch.
Truffle Popcorn
Truffle popcorn is quite a luxurious snack. It combines the earthy, robust taste of truffles with salty, buttery popcorn. Making truffle popcorn at home is pretty easy and also pretty impressive.
Start by popping your popcorn kernels then spreading them out on a baking sheet. Melt some butter in a small saucepan and then mix in a small amount of truffle oil. Drizzle the truffle butter over the popcorn and toss it on the pan to coat every kernel evenly.
Try adding a little grated parmesan cheese and truffle salt to the popcorn for an extra flavor boost. You can also put the truffle popcorn in a low-temperature oven to make it extra crispy. Definitely serve this fancy popcorn warm as the flavors will be stronger when hot.
White Cheddar Popcorn
White cheddar popcorn is a savory, cheesy snack. It is perfect for movie night and also ideal as a mid-day snack. Pop your popcorn kernels in an air popper or on the stovetop then place the popcorn in a large bowl.
Melt a little bitter in a pot and stir in some white cheddar cheese powder. Drizzle the chewy butter over the popcorn and toss everything together well. Serve the cheddar popcorn right away.
Popcorn Balls
Popcorn balls are a fun and easy-to-make snack that everyone will enjoy. They are chewy, flavorful, and a new way to enjoy your favorite snack.
To make popcorn balls at home, pop some popcorn kernels then place them in a large mixing bowl. Melt some butter and marshmallows in a medium saucepan and stir until the marshmallows are melted. Pour the marshmallows over the popcorn and toss everything together quickly. You can also add chocolate chips, chopped nuts or dried fruit to the popcorn balls at this step.
Spray your hands with baking spray and then grab a handful of the marshmallow popcorn. Use your hands to form a ball then place the popcorn ball on a baking tray lined with waxed paper. Let the popcorn ball cool and harden then enjoy.
Butter Pecan Popcorn
Butter pecan popcorn is delicious and surprisingly easy to make for such a fancy popcorn flavor. If you love rich butter and warm pecans, this is the popcorn for you.
Put your popped popcorn in a large bowl. Then. melt some butter and brown sugar together in a pot. Bring the mix to a boil and stir in some chopped pecans. Pour the melted butter mix over the popcorn and mix everything together well.
Spread the buttered popcorn onto a baking tray then bake it in the oven at 250 degrees F for about 15 minutes. This will toast the pecans, bringing out the flavor and also hardening the popcorn.
Peanut Butter Popcorn
Peanut butter popcorn is an incredible way to combine the sweet, salty taste of popcorn and the rich flavor of peanut butter. It can make a lighter popcorn snack into something much heartier. It is also very easy to make.
Melt some butter in a small pot and then stir in a big scoop of peanut butter. Once the peanut butter is melted and drippy, you can pour it over some freshly popped popcorn and mix it all up. The peanut butter popcorn is ready to eat. Try drizzling your serving of peanut butter popcorn with some melted chocolate for an even more heavenly treat.
Cookies and Cream Popcorn
We want to warn you that cookies and cream popcorn is a completely addictive snacks. It is sweet and salty thanks to the crunchy popped popcorn and chocolate cookies. Sounds pretty amazing, right?.
To make cookies and cream popcorn, you can melt little white chocolate chips until they are smooth and creamy. Stir in some crushed cookie pieces. Pour the cookies and cream mix over popped popcorn and then the sweet snack is ready to enjoy. For an even more indulgent treat, drizzle some melted dark chocolate over the popcorn and let it cool before serving. A sprinkle of crushed cookies over the popcorn bowl is the perfect finishing touch. Now THIS is fancy popcorn.
Sea Salt Pretzel Popcorn
Pretzel popcorn is a yummy salty snack that is full of exciting textures. The fluffy popcorn goes well with crunchy pretzels and both ingredients are even better when tossed with some sea salt.
This fancy popcorn can be made in just a minute. Pop some fresh microwave popcorn or use your air popper to make some lower calorie popcorn. Mix the popcorn with a few cups of chopped pretzels and then sprinkle the mix with some sea salt. You can also add a drizzle of salted butter to help the sea salt stick to the popcorn better. Either way, this is a perfect movie night snack.
White Chocolate Popcorn
White chocolate popcorn is sweet and indulgent. It is basically a dessert. But you can still get away with calling it a snack since it is made mostly with popcorn.
Spread your popped popcorn on a baking tray in a single layer. Drizzle the popcorn with some melted white chocolate and then toss the popcorn in the chocolate to coat each piece in the chocolate. Let the popcorn sit for a few minutes before serving so the chocolate has time to harden. The crunchy, yummy snack will be ready to eat in no time.
How to Prepare Fancy Popcorn At Home & Save on Prep Time
As popcorn pros, we have a few tips and tricks we wanted to share that will help you make perfect fancy popcorn. First, it is a good idea to invest in a good quality air popper. This will ensure you can make high quality popcorn without needing a lot of oil. You can also look for gourmet microwave popcorn bags that will help you reduce prep time and have less mess.
Try to pre measure all your ingredients before popping the popcorn. This will save on time and is something you can easily do while the popcorn is heating up. You will be ready to mix the ingredients together quickly, while the popcorn is warm. Seasonings tend to stick to warm popcorn better.
Store any leftover fancy popcorn in an airtight container. A good fancy popcprn recipe should stay fresh for about a week or two when stored correctly. This will ensure you can quickly grab your gourmet snack whenever a craving strikes.
Get More Snacking Inspiration from The Popsmith Blog
We hope you are excited to give these fancy popcorn recipes a try. There are so many tasty popcorn recipes out there to make snack time even more exciting. We at Popsmith are always coming up with new, tasty popcorn ideas so you need to check back often.
Our blog will help you learn about popcorn and discover lots of ways to enjoy your favorite snack. We hope to see you soon.
