I love making my own popcorn at home. It’s easy to do, and homemade popcorn makes something simple like movie night all the more special.
These healthy popcorn seasonings will satisfy everyone’s pallet.
Savory: Nutritional Yeast + Dill + Garlic Salt
Spicy: Sriracha + Nori + Pink Salt
Sweet: Maple + Vanilla Bean + Flaked Salt
Movie night has actually has become one of my family’s favorite traditions. We love the cozy blankets, dim lights, flickering candles, and a wonderful movie to snuggle up to.
Maybe for your family it’s a fire in the fireplace, warm slippers, and charades. Regardless of what it is you’re doing; a beloved food ritual — like homemade popcorn – can be such an important component to wonderful family memories.
A regular bag of microwave popcorn surely will suffice, but I always encourage my clients to cook a little bit more from scratch at home. It forces us to explore every part of the meal from start to finish.
The process of cooking from start to finish helps us connect to our food and feel a greater sense of satisfaction from it, a key to intuitive cooking and eating.
Plus, the more we cook at home, the more we can identify what exactly we are hungry for, and properly nourish our mind, body, and soul.
I created three healthy popcorn seasonings to invite a little extra exploration into your family time. There’s something every palate: savory, spicy, and sweet, and each flavor combinations specifically works together to create a unique flavor profile.
Savory Popcorn Seasoning: Nutritional Yeast + Dill + Garlic Salt
Savory Dill & Garlic Popcorn Seasoning
INGREDIENTS
- 2/3 cup Nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons dill weed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 tablespoons butter, for serving each bowl
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix together in a small jar with a tight seal lid. Shake to combine. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
- To Serve: Melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Coat the popcorn with the melted butter and sprinkle seasonings to taste.
Spicy Popcorn Seasoning: Sriracha + Nori + Pink Salt
Spicy Sriracha Popcorn Seasoning
INGREDIENTS
- 4 large Nori sheets, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons sriracha powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons of butter, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix together in a small jar with a tight seal lid. Shake to combine. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
- To serve: Melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Coat the popcorn with the melted butter and sprinkle seasonings to taste.
Sweet Popcorn Seasoning: Maple + Vanilla Bean + Flaked Salt
Sweet Maple & Vanilla Bean Popcorn Seasoning
INGREDIENTS
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla bean paste
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 8 cups popped popcorn
- 1 teaspoon (a heavy pinch) flaked salt for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees. In a heavy bottom saucepan on the stove, bring dark brown sugar, butter and maple syrup to a boil. Continue to boil, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and add vanilla bean paste, maple extract, and baking soda. Let it cool slightly before proceeding to step 2.
- On a lined cookie sheet, pour mixture over popcorn, mix to coat evenly. Sprinkle flaked salt over top and let popcorn set up in the oven, about 10 minutes. Cool completely and enjoy.
A few things to make this recipe easier:
For the dry shake-ins:
- Both can be made ahead of time and sealed in airtight containers. Each batch makes plenty!
- Be generous when you’re sprinkling, but remember you can always add more.
- If the topping isn’t sticking to your satisfaction try adding a bit more butter or spray the popcorn with a butter cooking spray, then add more seasonings.
- The nutritional yeast recipe was inspired by a local Maine company, Little Lad’s Popcorn. Little Lad’s is one of my toddler’s favorite snacks, and I hope this copy-cat recipe reaches those who live outside the state that can’t get this scrumptious treat.
For the caramel corn:
- Unlike the shake-ins, this recipe is designed to be made per batch.
- If you find that the corn isn’t hardening up to your satisfaction, put it in the refrigerator or freezer until set.
- I prefer a lightly coated sweet popcorn, and I designed this recipe to have plenty of flavor with a little less sugar. If you prefer a heavily coated corn, double the recipe.
- Feel free to swap vanilla bean paste for pure vanilla extract if it’s all you have.
Looking for some other quick late-night snack recipes?
Check out these homemade no-bake energy bites.
These 26 Whole30 snack recipes are so tasty and easy to make.
This Instant Pot fruit crisp is the perfect late-night snack!
