Homemade Kettle Corn
Homemade Kettle Corn is the perfect balance of salty and sweet, and it is easier to pull together on the stovetop than you would think. Indulge in this homemade snack in about 10 minutes and with only 4 simple ingredients.
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Homemade Kettle Corn Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels (any kind will work, but Free Day Popcorn is my favorite)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (coconut oil would be a healthier choice)
- Salt to taste
Homemade Kettle Corn Preparation:
1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Toss in three kernels, place the lid on the pot, and wait for the kernels to pop.
3. Once one or more kernels has popped, stir in the sugar and add the remaining kernels.
4. Continue to stir the sugar and kernels until the kernels start popping again. Then put the lid on, but leave it cracked if possible to allow the steam to escape. This will keep your popcorn crisp.
5. Repeatedly shake the pot (to keep the corn from burning) until all kernels have popped.
6. Dump the popcorn into a large bowl. Salt to taste and enjoy!
Homemade Kettle Corn Recipe Tips
I always have two bowls ready for the finished popcorn. The corn at the bottom of the pot can burn easily. So I dump the majority of the finished popcorn into a large bowl and then put the dark or unpopped kernels into a small bowl to throw away.
Other recipes call for 1/4 cup of butter instead of oil. I’ve tried both, and the oil works much better in my experience.
Also, if you don’t make popcorn very often you can store the kernels in your freezer. Be sure that you allow the popcorn to come to room temperature before you start making the homemade kettle corn. You’ll have fluffier popcorn and less unpopped kernels.
THE HARDEST PART: Dumping the popcorn into the large bowl without it going everywhere! There always seems to be one or two late popping kernels that explode popcorn everywhere.
Get $5 off Free Day Popcorn
For several years, I have bought my popcorn from Free Day Popcorn, a small, family owned farm. The popcorn is incredibly fresh, and I love supporting a small business.
For a limited time, Free Day Popcorn is offering my readers a $5 off coupon. This coupon is good for this week only on orders of $8+, and will help offset your shipping cost.
Click here to visit Free Day Popcorn’s website, enter your email in the pop-up to claim your $5 off coupon, check your email for the discount, and be sure to place your order this week while the coupon is still valid.
Want More Snack Recipes?
- Super Simple Cake Batter Cookies
- Heavenly Chocolate Butterscotch Chex Mix
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
- Easy Chocolate Cherry Cake
What is your favorite way to eat popcorn?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Simply Rebekah! Image by Anarkali Art from Pixabay The coupon offer from Free Day Popcorn expires on 11/2/25.
I love kettle corn, but my favorite way to make it at home is popped in oil, and sprinkled with seasoning salt and a little parmesan cheese (the dried from a can stuff). I might have to give this a try though. You make it sound so easy, and as I said before, I love kettle corn.
I’ve never put parmesan cheese on my popcorn. It sounds yummy!
I always burned popcorn on the stove and ruined one of my best kettles, so with a lot of trial and error I figured out how to pop kernels in the microwave:. This also makes them a lot healthier.
Place a covered pyrex in the microwave (empty) bake on high 3-5 minutes so the dish is hot (you can omit this step, but you’ll have many more unpopped kernels if you do). It doesn’t really matter if you use s small pyrex or a large one – the recipe stays the same.
Add whole popcorn kernels so that they form a single layer at the bottom of the dish and fill approx 85% of the bottom surface.
Microwave on high until there is a longer pause between popping kernels. I usually start with full power for 5 minutes but I stay close to watch and listen closely.
For healthy popcorn, eat it as is. If you like melted butter, turn the hot lid upside down. Slice very thin strips of butter onto the lid and it will melt. Then pour over the popcorn.
You use a glass dish with a glass lid? I’ll have to try that!
Honestly, I avoid conventional microwave popcorn. The different ingredients/chemicals kinda scare me. This sounds like a good alternative.
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