Easy Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn Recipe - Feeding Your Fam (2024)

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This Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn Recipe is an easy homemade snack made with coconut oil, sugar, salt and popcorn kernels. Skip the movie theater and stay home with a big batch of this deliciousness!!

If you are a popcorn fan like our fam check out my other recipes for Caramel Popcorn and White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn.

Homemade Kettle Corn

Homemade Kettle Corn is one of our go to snack choices! This recipe is so simple to make and is ready in under 10 minutes.

Don’t be afraid to try this, it really is easy and comes out perfect every time. If you haven’t tried making homemade popcorn before, let this be a turning point for you!

You won’t go back to store bought once you taste a fresh, hot batch of this kettle corn!!

How to Make Homemade Kettle Corn

To make this stovetop kettle corn you will want to use a 4-5 quart pot or cast iron. Place the pot on the stove top over medium-high heat.

Add the oil and one or two popcorn kernels. Cover the pot and wait until you hear the kernel pop, this will take just a few minutes, so don’t walk away.

This is to help you know when the oil is hot enough to add in the kernels and start the popping.

After you know the oil is hot enough, remove the lid and add in the rest of the kernels, sugar and salt. Give it a quick stir and place the lid back on the pot, leaving the lid off to the side a little so heat can vent from the pan.

Pour in just enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pan, one kernel deep.

With the lid on the pot, vented and it still over the heat, gently shake the pan as you hear the kernels begin to pop. You might want to wear some oven mitts for this part as the heat over the stove can get hot.

Continue to shake the pan over the heat until you hear the popping slow down.

Remove from the heat and keep the pan covered for 1-2 minutes until you no longer hear popping. If you remove the pan too early, you will have popcorn popping all over!!

Ingredients Needed for this Kettle Corn Recipe

Just a few simple ingredients and you are all set for your binge weekend or family movie night! For this homemade kettle corn recipe you will need:

  • 1 cup yellow popcorn kernels (or just enough to cover the bottom of your pot)
  • 3 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt

That is it!! Now sit down and enjoy a show, snack or make up a batch as a special gift!!

What Kind of Popcorn Kernels Should I use?

I personally prefer yellow kernels, they just work perfectly when cooked in a pot or cast iron. My second choice would be white kernels.

There are definitely other varieties of kernels that you can use for this recipe, so if you have one you like best, go ahead and use that one.

Kettle Corn Recipe

Easy Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn Recipe - Feeding Your Fam (6)

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4.77 from 26 votes

Kettle Corn Recipe

Kettle Corn is a simple and delicious sweet and salty treat!! It is so simple to make, you will never go back to store bought!

Cook Time5 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Course: After School Snack, Breakfast, Gift, Snack

Cuisine: American, Comfort Food, Holidays

Keyword: Kettle Corn Recipe

Servings: 10

Calories: 92kcal

Author: Sarah Alvord, Feeding Your Fam

Ingredients

  • 1 cup yellow popcorn kernels (or just enough to cover bottom of pot)
  • 3 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

  • In a large 4-5 quart pot over medium high heat, melt the coconut oil. Add one kernel of popcorn and cover pot with the lid tilted to create a small vent, until you hear the kernel pop.

  • Remove the lid and add the remaining popcorn kernels, sugar and salt. Stir to coat and then quickly flatten kernels on the bottom of the pot, just so they cover the bottom.

  • Cover the pot with a vent and shake gently. You will hear the kernels begin to pop.

  • Continue shaking over the heat for another 2-3 minutes or until the popping begins to slow down.

  • Remove from the heat and leave the lid on for just a few seconds until you hear the popping stop. Makes 8-10 cups of popped popcorn. Store in an air tight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 92kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1.6g | Fat: 4.7g | Saturated Fat: 3.5g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 58mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @feedingyourfam or tag #feedingyourfam!

How to Store Homemade Kettle Corn

The best way to store any left over kettle corn is in air tight containers, or zip top bags. This popcorn will keep fresh for up to a week or longer.

We like to make large batches of this recipe and take it with us on long road trips or weekend campouts. It is always a hit and always gets eaten!

This Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn Recipe is an easy homemade snack made with coconut oil, sugar, salt and popcorn kernels. Skip the movie theater and stay home with a big batch of this deliciousness!!

Easy Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn Recipe - Feeding Your Fam (2024)

FAQs

What is the best oil for kettle corn? ›

You have a few good options to choose from, which work across variety of kettle corn types. The best oil to cook with is Canola oil.

What makes kettle corn better? ›

The caramelized sugar coating on kettle corn gives it a delightful balance between sugary sweetness and the savory note from the added salt. This unique combination of flavors is what makes kettle corn so irresistible to many people.

What is the difference between kettle popcorn and regular popcorn? ›

Classic popcorn is mostly popped with oil and butter, while kettle popcorn is traditionally air-popped in an iron kettle. Regular popcorn is considered a healthy snack. While kettle popcorn has similar health benefits, you should watch the sugar.

What makes kettle popcorn sweet? ›

Kettle corn is a variety of popcorn that is seasoned and mixed with light colored refined sugar, salt, and oil, giving it a sweet flavor. Back in the day it was made in cast iron kettles, hence the name “kettle” corn. Why is kettle corn sweet? Because there's sugar in there!

Is kettle corn healthier than regular popcorn? ›

While both varieties of popcorn have similar nutritious benefits, sugar added to kettle popcorn is more likely to cause you to gain weight (due to its higher calorie count and addictive nature). However, there is no reason to worry if you consume kettle popcorn every now and then.

What oil does movie theaters use for popcorn? ›

It's a personal preference—and there are certainly people who eat both and wouldn't even notice the difference.” AMC, Regal, and Marcus theaters use coconut oil, while Cinemark opts for canola, and other regional chains use a blend.

How do you keep sugar from burning in kettle corn? ›

Keep shaking the pan.

This is to avoid burning the sugar and ensure every piece of popcorn is coated with it.

Is kettle corn sweeter than popcorn? ›

The addition of sugar during the cooking process gives kettle corn its distinctive sweetness, complementing the savory notes from the salt. This combination of sweet and salty flavors is a hallmark of kettle corn and sets it apart from regular popcorn.

What can I add to popcorn for flavor? ›

What can I add to popcorn for flavor?
  1. Garlic powder or garlic salt.
  2. Dried parsley and grated Parmesan.
  3. Nutritional yeast, which is a healthy—but still flavorful—alternative to cheese.
Dec 22, 2020

Can a dog eat popcorn? ›

Is Eating Popcorn Safe for Dogs? Yes and no. Plain, air-popped popcorn is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. Buttered popcorn or popcorn with other toppings is not safe for your dog on a regular basis, although eating a few dropped pieces here and there probably won't hurt them.

Can diabetics eat kettle popcorn? ›

However, it is important to check the packaging as prepared bags often contain extra butter or sugar. Instead, people can look for packets of popcorn with light, unsalted butter or fewer calories. People with diabetes should avoid kettle corn varieties, as the extra sweetness comes with additional sugar.

Is popcorn OK to eat everyday? ›

Popcorn is actually a good snack choice when eaten plain without the traditional butter flavoring. It's a healthy snack that can be eaten daily when prepared with low-fat ingredients.

What is sweet and salty popcorn called? ›

Kettle corn is a sweet variety of popcorn that is typically mixed or seasoned with a light-colored refined sugar, salt, and oil.

What is German kettle corn? ›

Kettle corn is traditionally popped in a large, oiled iron kettle. At the beginning of the 18th century, European immigrants cooked corn in cast-iron kettles coated with oil. Then, they would add molasses and honey to create the perfect sweet-savory flavor.

Can dogs have kettle corn? ›

Kettle corn and caramel popcorn are not good snacks for dogs. In addition to the butter and salt, both types of popcorn have tons of sugar and other preservatives that are very unhealthy for our fur babies. They may give your pup stomach issues like gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Do you use corn oil or vegetable oil for popcorn? ›

But many of our customers swear by the flavor. So, if you're looking to switch things up, peanut oil may be the answer. Corn oil: If you're looking for more of a kettle corn flavor, corn oil is a great option for you. Corn oil also boasts a good smoke point and is one of the healthier options on the market.

Is corn oil or olive oil better for frying? ›

Corn oil has a higher smoke point compared to virgin olive oil (450°F vs 350°F) making it an excellent choice for high-heat cooking methods like frying and sautéing. Conversely, olive oil has a lower smoke point, making it better suited for gentle cooking techniques such as roasting and baking.

Is corn oil or peanut oil better for frying? ›

High smoke point is one of the main reasons peanut oil is preferred as frying oil. High temperature frying allows food to cook quickly resulting in a crispy coating with very little oil absorption.

Is corn oil better than olive oil for frying? ›

Corn oil and olive oil have slightly different smoke points. Fresh extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of around 400 degrees Fahrenheit, but this can vary with age or refining processes. Meanwhile, the smoke point for corn oil can vary anywhere from 350 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the brand.

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