How to Make Homemade Kettle Corn
Kettle corn is a carnival and fair classic on a summer afternoon. While you can buy kettle corn popcorn topping you can’t really beat the flavor of homemade kettle corn. Whether a fun treat or a snack for a summer movie night. when you think of kettle corn you often think that you would need special equipment or extra time but you will be surprised how quick and easy you can make your own homemade kettle corn.
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Give me something sweet and salty and you’ve got me in the palm of your hands. I absolutely adore kettle corn. When I was in college my roommate could not stand the way it smelled and oddly enough I had never experienced kettle corn until I met her. Well, that made the sweet and salty treat all the more desirable for this rebel. Now you can make it from the comfort of your own home! We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
What is Kettle Corn?
Think of kettle corn as the middle ground between regular popcorn and caramel popcorn. Definitely not as messy as caramel popcorn and not as sweet but it has a lighter sweet and salty mix that regular popcorn just doesn’t have.
Is Kettle Corn good for you?
Popcorn is a great low calorie, low fat snack. When you add the sugar and salt that’s needed to create that perfect batch of homemade popcorn you’re going to find yourself with a higher calorie snack. It’s not that much higher than regular popcorn without the butter and salt but you are adding sugar into the mix so just be aware of that. Plus, if you’re like me you won’t be able to stop eating it!
Photo by Keegan Evans from Pexels
How do you make Kettle Corn with microwave popcorn?
You really can’t. To be able to make true, good kettle corn you’ll need to pop the kernels with the sugar and salt mixture. You can try to use microwave popcorn that’s popped and add the oil, sugar and salt to already popped popcorn but it’s not going to have the same result. It’ll be more like caramel corn.
Is Kettle Corn gluten-free?
In a word, yes. There isn’t any gluten in popcorn and oil and those two ingredients are the main ingredients for making Kettle Corn. Sugar and Salt do not contain gluten either so yes, homemade kettle corn is gluten-free. Remember that you can control the ingredients that go into homemade kettle corn which is one of the beauties of making your own kettle corn snack.
How do you make homemade Kettle Corn?
Gather your ingredients and tools: Large pot with lid – I like this one, Cooking or popcorn oil, Popcorn kernels, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Place your pan on the stove over medium heat. Place three tablespoons of popcorn kernels in the bottom of the pan. Add enough oil to cover the seeds.
Dump in the salt and sugar. Stir until the oil heats enough to pop one of the seeds.
Fill a single layer of seeds along the bottom of the pan. Place the lid over the top of the pan and gently shake the pan as it heats.
Continue to shake as the popcorn pops stopping for a few seconds here and there to help keep the temperature. When the majority of kernels are popped remove the pot from the stove, allow to cool a little bit (warm, fresh kettle corn is my favorite thing) and then enjoy!
Doesn’t that look absolutely amazing? Ensue mouth watering in 3…2…1! You can make your own kettle corn with the recipe below! Enjoy!
Try these awesome popcorn recipes for your next gathering!
Homemade Kettle Corn
Ingredients
- Large pot with lid
- 2 tbsp Cooking or popcorn oil
- 3 tbsp Popcorn kernels
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
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Place your pan on the stove over medium heat.
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Place three popcorn seed in the bottom of the pan. Add enough oil to cover the seeds.
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Dump in the salt and sugar. Stir until the oil heats enough to pop one of the seeds.
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Fill a single layer of seeds along the bottom of the pan.
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Place the lid over the top of the pan and gently shake the pan as it heats.
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Continue to shake as the popcorn pops stopping for a few seconds here and there to help keep the temperature.
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When popping starts to slow turn off the heat and keep shaking the pan until the popping stops. Immediately transfer to a large bowl for serving.
Recipe Notes
Want an extra sweet kettle corn? Add more sugar. Like a bit of a salty kick to your sweet and salty kettle corn add more salt. The best part about homemade kettle corn is you can make it the way you like.
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