No need to wait for a fair or festival to get your kettle corn fix! Making it at home is way easier than you might think.
Kettle corn is a beloved and ubiquitous treat at fairs and festivals across the country, and when I catch a whiff of that unmistakable sweet smell wafting through the air at the state fair, I think of my grandmother. It’s kind of funny though, because my grandma never took me to a state fair. But she absolutely loved kettle corn. She loved it so much that for most of my life, I didn’t know that most people eat it at fairs. She made it fresh whenever she wanted it, at home!
While you can buy it at the grocery store in addition to festival food courts, nothing beats the aroma and taste of freshly-popped, warm kettle corn. It’s sweet and salty, very satisfying as a snack, and with just the right level of crunch; it’s one of my favorite bites to have around for a movie night. One of the best parts about making it yourself is that you can add as much (or as little) sugar as you prefer, and you can throw in extra flavors if you want to experiment!
If you’ve never made kettle corn at home before, you’re in for a treat, and a surprisingly easy time! Making popcorn on the stovetop is a super simple process, and kettle corn is simply a variation of that. So don’t be intimidated; whip up some kettle corn for your next movie night!
Scrumptious kettle corn variations
A touch of sugar and a pinch of salt not enough for you? Well, guess what—that’s far from the only kettle corn flavor combo. There are tons of ways to flavor your kettle corn, truly, the sky is the limit, but here are a few of my favorite ways to dress up this wonderful snack.
- Chocolate drizzle: Melt 1/4 cup of chocolate chips with 1/2 a teaspoon of coconut oil in the microwave on half power, at 15-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Pop the kettle corn per the recipe below. As the kettle corn cools in the bowl, drizzle it with the melted chocolate.
- Peanutty kettle corn: Halfway through the kettle corn popping, throw a handful of roasted and salted peanuts into the pan to toss around in the sugar.
- Spicy and cheesy kettle corn: Omit the sugar in the recipe. Instead, add a teaspoon of cheese powder or nutritional yeast plus a 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper to the kettle corn after it pops. Toss well to coat!
How do I store leftovers?
Store leftover kettle corn in an airtight, resealable bag and store at room temperature for up to 4 days. Don’t try to reheat it; it may burn on the stove! It’s fine to eat without reheating.
Serving suggestions
As a snack, homemade kettle corn just about covers everything I need in a quality munchie, so I typically just eat this by itself! If you’re hosting lots of people for a movie night (or you simply want a buffet for yourself!), whip up a few other snacks that pair well with kettle corn, like this Toffee Nut Snack Mix, or a Healthy Pumpkin Pie Dip with Cinnamon Cookies for scooping!
How To Make Kettle Corn At Home
Ingredients Â
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/4 cup popcorn kernels
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
InstructionsÂ
- Add the coconut oil to a large heavy-bottomed pot and place a few popcorn kernels inside. Cover the pot and heat over medium-high heat. Once these kernels pop, the oil is hot enough.
- Add the remaining popcorn kernels, a pinch of salt, and the sugar to the pot, cover with the lid, and shake the pan for a few seconds.
- Cook the corn until all the kernels have popped, while continuously shaking the pan. Pause occasionally to listen for breaks in popping. Once there is about a 2-second break between pops, remove the pan from the heat and transfer the popcorn to a bowl. Allow the popcorn to cool down for 2 minutes before eating.
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