10 Tasty Ways to Spice Up Your Next Bowl of Popcorn

Popcorn season started early this year.

We usually spend more time indoors and watching movies when the weather becomes colder in the fall and winter—but that was before the pandemic. We have been stuck inside now since March, which means we've watched every show, movie and video on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+ and YouTube. It is a fact that popcorn is the ultimate movie snack, but there is only so much plain or buttered popcorn you can eat before you become bored.

Lucky for us, there are a lot of creative people in the world with ideas that will spice up your popcorn bowl and keep you popping. This list has something for everyone, whether you're a savory or sweet person. We might have to stay in quarantine for a little while longer, but as long as we have streaming services and popcorn, we're going to be okay.

"NOOCH" (Nutritional Yeast) Popcorn

Cheesy popcorn without the mess of melting the cheese? That's what Ali from Gimme Some Oven has created with her "NOOCH" Nutritional Yeast Popcorn. Nutritional yeast is an ingredient that many vegans use because it has a savory taste similar to cheese. It is a dried, deactivated yeast that is full of vitamins and protein. All you need is nutritional yeast, sea salt, coconut oil and, of course, popcorn kernels to pop this delicious tasty bowl.

(via Gimme Some Oven)

Doritos Popcorn

You don't have to choose between Doritos or popcorn any more thanks to this recipe from the Edgy Veg. This recipe includes garlic powder, cumin, paprika, chili powder, sea salt and nutritional yeast to mimic that cheesy Dorito flavor. All you have to do is coat the popcorn in melted butter, grind the spices, and add the spice mix. You can prepare the dry seasoning ahead of time and store it in an airtight container so you'll be ready for your next movie marathon.

 

Cinnamon Maple Caramel Popcorn

Kate of Cookie and Kate fame has the perfect popcorn recipe for everyone with a sweet tooth. Kate combines maple syrup, almond butter, vanilla, sea salt and cinnamon to create the ideal sticky treat. The recipe is very customizable, too. You can add in chocolate chips, marshmallows, coconut flakes, chopped nuts or whatever else your heart desires to get exactly the flavor you've been craving. gdimple

(via Cookie and Kate)

 

Peanut Butter Popcorn

You can never go wrong with peanut butter, and this recipe from Sam at It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken is no exception. This sweet recipe adds a drizzle of peanut butter, which makes the popcorn creamy and sweet. With a minimal list of ingredients and a 10 minute cook time, this is an easy recipe anybody can try. If you're not a fan of peanut butter, or you're allergic, you can always substitute almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter.

 

Chai Chocolate Popcorn

You've heard of chai lattes, but have you heard of chai popcorn? Elevate your simple snack with this recipe from Julie at The Simple Veganista. It sounds like an odd combination, but this warm and decadent treat is perfect for cold fall nights. A perfect mix of cocoa and chai creates a balanced taste of sweetness and spice that will make you grab handful after handful. This recipe only takes 10 minutes to put together, but it tastes like a gourmet snack.

(via The Simple Veganista)

 

Pumpkin Popcorn

We hope you're not tired of pumpkin spice yet. because this recipe from Real Food Real Deal's Annemarie is the perfect autumn snack. The sweet pumpkin glaze made of maple syrup, coconut oil, cinnamon and salt is a melt-in-your-mouth snack. Pop up some pumpkin popcorn for your whole family to keep them warm during cool fall evenings. Trader Joes won't be able to compete with this pumpkin-spiced treat!

 

Vegan Sea Salt Chocolate Popcorn

This salty and sweet treat will satisfy chocolate and popcorn lovers. Dee from The Light Green Bean created this simple recipe with common ingredients we can find in our houses. All you need are some chocolate chips and pink Himalayan salt,  satisfying your salty and sweet cravings. You can store leftovers in the fridge for one day so that you can have a snack for tomorrow's movie night as well.

(via The Light Green Bean)

 

Ranch Popcorn

Skip the store-bought ranch seasoning and make your own with Becky's Ranch Popcorn Recipe. This is a super quick recipe that is very easy to throw together. The seasoning base is dill, garlic and onion, but you can customize the recipe and add paprika or parsley for a kick. Drizzle melted butter on the popcorn, add seasoning and shake until everything is coated. You can make a big batch of seasoning and keep it in an airtight container for whenever you're craving a savory snack.

 

Candy Cane Popcorn

We know that Christmas is two months away, but it's never too early to get in the holiday spirit. While you're getting your Christmas movies ready and pulling your reindeer sweater from the back of the closet, don't forget to try this Candy Cane popcorn recipe to feel festive. This simple recipe by Elizabeth at The Spruce Eats includes only three ingredients: microwave popcorn, candy canes and white chocolate. This is a holiday treat that even Buddy the Elf would love!

(via The Spruce Eats)

 

Smores Popcorn

Sometimes you want a snack with a little bit of everything, and that's exactly what you get with this S' mores Popcorn recipe. There's the crunch from the graham crackers and popcorn, sweetness from marshmallows and chocolate, and salt from the popcorn. Everyone will want s'more when they take a bite of this inventive take on a classic treat.

 

Do you need any new movie suggestions for your gourmet popcorn? Check out THIS list of the ultimate feel-good movies!