This Gingerbread Popcorn is sweet, salty, crunchy, and INSANELY delicious. This is the perfect movie night snack.
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I’m not sure what gave me this idea, but I was just thinking about cinnamon sugar. Then I started thinking about all my people who love salty and crunchy snacks. Plus, popcorn is one of those snacks that absorbs any flavor you put on it.
Popcorn alone is quite bland. It’s a crunchy carb vehicle for any flavor you desire. After all, there are entire seasoning lines made specifically for popcorn! If you are a grocery browser, you will also find white chocolate popcorn, caramel corn, and many other flavors. So I thought, why not try Gingerbread Popcorn?!
I find that most people are either team sweet snacks or team salty snacks. I am team sweet, but my husband is team salty. The danger lies when you marry the sweet & salty together. That’s exactly what this recipe does! It’s sweet, salty, and crunchy which makes it the most satisfying of snacks. If you’re not careful, you could eat the whole recipe by yourself!
In this recipe, I use my salt-free, sugar-free Gingerbread spice blend from my spice company – The Spice Girl Kitchen. I’m biased because it is, after all, my spice recipe and the best salt-free, sugar-free Gingerbread seasoning on the market. But you can always swap this for plain cinnamon or come up with a Gingerbread spice blend at home!
This post is all about Gingerbread Popcorn!
All About Popcorn Kernels
I remember the first time I popped popcorn on the stovetop rather than in a microwavable bag. It’s such a fun and satisfying experience! Most of us grew up with microwave bags that make popcorn snacking a breeze, but those bags are loaded with a bunch of unnecessary ingredients. I promise if you give this method a try, you’ll never go back!
Where to buy raw popcorn kernels?
Most grocery stores carry them these days, even Walmart and Aldi! You may just have to look high or low (even on the lowest shelf) to spot them. You can also buy popcorn in bulk online. Check out this 5 lb Orville Popcorn Kernels that you can buy on Amazon!
What’s the shelf life of popcorn kernels?
On average, the shelf life of unpopped kernels is 1 to 2 years. The kernels do lose their ability to pop after a while.
How much do I use?
Remember this: 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels yields 14 cups of popcorn! That’s a whole lot of popcorn for a small amount of kernels. Less is more when it comes to popcorn kernels.
What’s the nutritional profile of popcorn?
One cup of air-popped popcorn (nothing added) contains only 31 calories! The calories start to add up in the oil or butter added. Popcorn by itself is a very calorie-smart snack!
Raw Popcorn Kernel Cost vs. Bag Popcorn Cost
Buying popcorn kernels raw is also extremely affordable. Per serving, popcorn kernels cost only $0.13 while bagged popcorn costs $0.33 per serving. You can save 20% just by popping your popcorn from scratch! [the_ad id=”3378″]
Popcorn Poppin’ Methods
There are 2 ways to pop your kernels:
1. Stovetop
Follow these steps for perfectly popped stovetop popcorn:
- heat oil or butter over medium-high heat in a 3-quart pot
- put 3-4 popcorn kernels at the bottom and wait for them to pop
- once popped add the rest of the kernels in an even layer
- cover the lid, remove from heat, and count to 30 seconds
- add the pot back to the heat and give it a shake (all of the popcorn will pop at once!)
- once the popping slows to a few seconds in between pops, remove from heat and immediately transfer to a large bowl and toss in your flavorings
Pro tip: leave the lid slightly open while popcorn pops to allow steam to escape!
2. Microwave
You can also make this recipe in the microwave, it just requires one special, yet inexpensive tool. This HotPop Silicone Popcorn Maker is only about $15 and comes in an array of fun colors. Simply add your kernels, oil, and flavorings and place it in the microwave to pop. The bowl holds about 15 cups of popcorn and evenly distributes the heat to pop all the kernels!
If you are a popcorn-loving family, I recommend getting this HotPop Silicone Popcorn Maker. It’s so convenient and a great alternative to your popcorn bags from the store! If you are a popcorn lover, click here to access my Amazon “Popcorn Lovers” Board!
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Nutritional Breakdown
Since popcorn by itself only contains 31 calories per cup, this recipe is a great high-volume low-calorie snack. Just be careful with the amount of butter you add!
As it is written, here are the nutritional details of this recipe:
- 128 calories
- 3.8 grams of fat
- 22 grams of carbs
- 3 grams of fiber!
- 2.5 grams of protein
Is Popcorn Gluten Free?
Yes, popcorn is naturally gluten-free!
Can I make this recipe dairy-free or vegan?
Yes, simply swap the butter for vegan butter or avocado oil!
You Might Also Like
If you like this recipe, you will also like:
- Gingerbread Smoothie
- Gingerbread Banana Bread
- Gingerbread Overnight Oats
- Gingerbread Monkey Bread
- Gingerbread Energy Bites
- Skinny Slow Cooker Apple Crisp
OR click here for the entire Gingerbread category!
Storage Information
Since this recipe is so quick to make, I recommend making just enough for the night! Popcorn tends to go stale quickly and it’s best enjoyed right away. However, you can store it in an airtight container or bag for up to 4 days! [the_ad id=”3378″]
Gingerbread Popcorn
Ingredients
For The Popcorn
- 4 tbsp butter, divided
- 1/3 cup popcorn kernels
For The Flavorings
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp The Spice Girl Kitchen Gingerbread Spice
- The Spice Girl Kitchen Tri-Salt Blend, to taste
Instructions
- Heat half of the butter over medium-high heat in a 3-qt pot.
- Put 3-4 popcorn kernels at the bottom and wait for them to pop.
- Once popped add the rest of the kernels in an even layer. Cover the lid, remove from heat, and count to 30 seconds.
- Add the pot back to the heat and give it a shake (all of the popcorn will pop at once!). Pro tip: leave the lid slightly open while popcorn pops to allow steam to escape!
- Once the popping slows to a few seconds in between pops, remove from heat and immediately transfer to a large bowl.
- In the same pot used for the popcorn, place the remaining butter. Add in the brown sugar, gingerbread spice, and salt. Stir until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved (if you like your popcorn heavy on the flavorings, double the ingredients listed under "for the flavorings" in the recipe).
- Immediately drizzle the flavorings on your popcorn and toss to coat. Enjoy!
Notes
Storage Information
Since this recipe is so quick to make, I recommend making just enough for the night! Popcorn tends to go stale quickly and it's best enjoyed right away. However, you can store it in an airtight container or bag for up to 4 days!Popcorn Poppin' Methods
There are 2 ways to pop your kernels:1. Stovetop
Follow these steps for perfectly popped stovetop popcorn:- heat oil or butter over medium-high heat in a 3-quart pot
- put 3-4 popcorn kernels at the bottom and wait for them to pop
- once popped add the rest of the kernels in an even layer
- cover the lid, remove from heat, and count to 30 seconds
- add the pot back to the heat and give it a shake (all of the popcorn will pop at once!)
- once the popping slows to a few seconds in between pops, remove from heat and immediately transfer to a large bowl and toss in your flavorings
2. Microwave
You can also make this recipe in the microwave, it just requires one special, yet inexpensive tool. This HotPop Silicone Popcorn Maker is only about $15 and comes in an array of fun colors. Simply add your kernels, oil, and flavorings and place it in the microwave to pop. The bowl holds about 15 cups of popcorn and evenly distributes the heat to pop all the kernels! If you are a popcorn-loving family, I recommend getting this HotPop Silicone Popcorn Maker. It's so convenient and a great alternative to your popcorn bags from the store! In fact, if you are a popcorn lover, click here to access my Amazon "Popcorn Lovers" Board!This post was all about Gingerbread Popcorn!
Did you make this recipe? Make sure to tag me @thespicegirlkitchen_ on Instagram or @thespicegirlkitchen on TikTok! I love seeing your recreations! I will be your ultimate hype woman!
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