Spicy Sweet Stovetop Popcorn Recipes

BEST STOVETOP POPCORN

Steps:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, combine the oil and 2 popcorn kernels. Cover the pot and wait for the kernels to pop, which might take a few minutes. In the meantime, place a large serving bowl near the stove so it's ready when you need it.
• Once the kernels pop, turn off the burner, remove the pot from the heat and pour in the remaining popcorn kernels. Cover the pot again, and give the pot a little shimmy to distribute the kernels evenly. Let the pot rest for 60 seconds to make sure the oil doesn't get too hot before the kernels are ready to pop.
• Turn the heat back up to medium, put the pot back onto the burner and continue cooking the popcorn, carefully shimmying the pot occasionally to cook the kernels evenly. Once the kernels start popping, tip the lid just a touch to allow steam to escape (see photo).
• Continue cooking until the popping sound slows to about one pop per every few seconds. (If the popcorn tries to overflow the pot, just tip the upper portion of popcorn into your bowl and return it to the heat.)
• Remove the lid and dump the popcorn into your serving bowl. Sprinkle the popcorn with a couple pinches of salt, to taste, and any other topping you would like. Toss the popcorn and serve immediately, for best flavor and texture. The popcorn will taste good for several hours, though.

SWEET AND SPICY POPCORN

Steps:

• Stir the confectioners' sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, cumin and cayenne together in a small bowl. Heat the coconut oil in a very large pot with a lid over medium heat. Add the popcorn and half of the sugar mixture, cover the pot and shake to coat. Add the remaining sugar mixture and continue to shake until well coated. Serve immediately.

SWEET AND SPICY POPCORN

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons coconut oil in a large pot over high heat. Add the popcorn kernels, partially cover and cook, shaking the pot occasionally, until the popping slows down. Transfer the popcorn to a large bowl. Wipe out the pot.
• Stir the confectioners' sugar, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, the garlic powder, cumin and cayenne together in a small bowl.
• Melt the remaining 1/4 cup coconut oil in the same pot over medium heat. Add the popcorn and half of the sugar mixture, cover the pot and shake to coat. Add the remaining sugar mixture and continue to shake until well coated.

SPICY-SWEET BUFFALO POPCORN

Steps:

• Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Fill with popcorn.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone pad.
• Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook, without stirring and swirling pan gently as needed, until sugar has melted and the caramel is a deep amber color, 8 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir Buffalo sauce and butter carefully into the caramel; it will spit and bubble and may form a ball. Return to heat; bring to a boil, stirring until caramel is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda and cayenne pepper.
• Pour spicy caramel mixture carefully over the popcorn. Toss to completely coat, guarding your hands from the hot caramel. Spread the coated popcorn onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until dry, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes; stir.

SUNNY'S SWEET 'N SPICY POPCORN

Steps:

• In a heavy pot on high heat, add the oil and 1 kernel of popcorn; then cover. When the kernel pops, add the rest of the kernels and cover. Pop while gently sliding and shaking the pot back and forth to move kernels around inside. Cook until the popping slows dramatically to 1 or 2 pops per second. Remove the popcorn from the pot and pour on top of a wire rack in a parchment-lined baking sheet. Lightly salt. Using the same pot, add the butter, maple syrup, cayenne, cumin, cinnamon and chili powder and stir to combine. Cook over medium-high heat until it bubbles. Gently pour over the popcorn, allow to cool slightly, then tranfer to a bowl, toss with tongs, and serve immediately.

SPICY SWEET POPCORN

Steps:

• Combine the butter, sugar, cinnamon, chipotle and salt in a saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring, until the butter melts and starts to bubble, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add the popcorn to a large bowl. Working quickly, pour the butter mixture over the popcorn and use 2 rubber spatulas to evenly coat the popcorn.