This homemade kettle corn recipe is super-easy to make on the stovetop with 4 simple ingredients.
For over a decade, my friends have known me as the girl who brings nooch popcorn to just about every gathering. But this year, I have officially entered my homemade kettle corn era. ♡
I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I actually had no idea how incredibly easy it is to make kettle corn from scratch! Turns out all you need is a saucepan and 4 basic ingredients — popcorn kernels, sugar, salt and oil — and this irresistibly salty-sweet snack can be ready to go in just 10 minutes. Who knew?!
That said, after practicing for the past few months, I’ve found that there are a few subtle but important preferences that can emerge when it comes to the type of oil and sugar you use and the ratios of salt and sugar. I’m personally partial to the neutral flavor and high-heat versatility of refined coconut oil (although unrefined works just as well, with slightly more coconut flavor). And while you can arguably use just about any type of sugar here, I prefer turbinado sugar (a.k.a. “raw” sugar) whose natural molasses flavor is downright heavenly paired with the sea salt. I’ve included my favorite ingredient ratios in the recipe below, along with a handful of simple tips I’ve learned along the way.
So if you’re looking for a fun new party snack to impress your friends, or just a deliciously salty-sweet snack for a cozy night in, grab a saucepan and let’s make some homemade kettle corn together!
Homemade Kettle Corn Ingredients
Here are a few brief notes about the 4 essential kettle corn ingredients that you will need for this recipe:
- Popcorn kernels: I find that the most important factor with kernels when making stovetop popcorn is freshness. Choose a good-quality brand that you love and be sure that the kernels are not expired and have been stored properly in an airtight container. This is the brand I usually use.
- Refined coconut oil: I prefer making stovetop popcorn with refined coconut oil because it has a very neutral flavor and a very high and forgiving smoke point. That said, you’re welcome to use unrefined coconut oil instead, which has slightly more of a coconut-y flavor. Or you can also use any other high-heat oils that you prefer, such as avocado, grapeseed or safflower oil.
- Turbinado sugar: After testing this recipe with many different types of sugar, I’ve found that I prefer the flavor of turbinado sugar (a.k.a. “raw sugar”) here. It has a touch of molasses flavor that I absolutely love and is less refined than traditional white or brown sugars.
- Fine sea salt: Finally, we’ll use a hint of sea salt to bring out the best of these flavors and create that irresistible sweet + salty vibe that makes kettle corn so famous!
How To Make Kettle Corn
Full detailed instructions for how to make kettle corn are included in the recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the process:
- Prep a sheet pan. We’ll need a flat parchment-covered surface to spread out the hot popcorn (and avoid clumps) and let it cool.
- Heat the oil. I find that a 3-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan works best for this recipe. We’ll heat the oil, add a few “test” kernels, cover the pan, and wait until they pop to add the rest.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Next we’ll add in the remaining kernels and shake to coat in oil, then sprinkle with the sugar and salt, cover, and shake again.
- Pop the popcorn. We’ll keep on with the cooking (and shaking the pan every 5 seconds) until there is about a 2-second delay between pops.
- Cool. It’s important to immediately transfer the popcorn to the prepared baking sheet and use a wooden spoon to spread it out in an even-ish layer. Once it has cooled a bit, be sure to pick out and discard any unpopped kernels, since they tend to stick to the popped popcorn.
- Serve. Once the popcorn has cooled to room temp, serve it up and enjoy, enjoy!
The truth about what is kettle corn
FAQ
What does kettle corn have on it?
Is kettle corn healthier than regular popcorn?
What makes kettle corn taste the way it does?
Why is kettle corn so addictive?
How do you cook kettle corn?
Cover with the lid and set over medium-high heat. Add the corn kernels, sugar, and salt: When you hear one of the kernels pop, uncover the pot and pour in the rest of the kernels, sugar, and salt. Use 1/4 cup of sugar if you like slightly sweet kettle corn and more if you like sweeter.
What is kettle corn & how is it made?
Kettle corn is a type of popcorn made with oil, salt, and sugar. This delicious, crunchy snack gets its name from the original method in which it was originally cooked – a cast iron kettle! How is kettle corn different from popcorn? Traditional movie-style popcorn is made with oil and salt, and has a rather mild, salty flavor.
How do you make kettle corn without burning sugar?
A delicious sweet and salty easy kettle corn recipe plus tips on how to make kettle corn without burning the sugar. Set a large bowl on the counter to pour your popped kettle corn into.* To a large heavy-bottomed pot (with a lid) add oil and 3 kernels of popcorn.
Can you add salt to kettle corn?
Kettle corn usually has a lightly sweet and salty flavor achieved by adding oil, salt, and sugar to the pot as it cooks. You’ll notice this recipe doesn’t include salt. So it’s obviously sweet and not salty. That said, you can totally add salt to the mix if you like! You’ll want about 1/4 teaspoon for every 2 tablespoons of sugar.