Description
Cinnamon Popcorn is a delightful, sweet and lightly spiced snack featuring crunchy, buttery popcorn coated in a cinnamon-sugar glaze. Perfect for holidays, parties, or anytime you want a flavorful treat, this recipe uses simple ingredients like brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon baked to a crispy perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Popcorn
- 8 cups plain popped popcorn (about 1/3 cup kernels)
Cinnamon Coating
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup or honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or a pinch of cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 300°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Heat Butter Mixture: Melt the unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar, light corn syrup (or honey), ground cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
- Simmer and Stir: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes while stirring frequently to dissolve the sugar and blend the flavors thoroughly.
- Add Vanilla: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in vanilla extract to infuse the coating with its characteristic warmth.
- Coat the Popcorn: Immediately pour the cinnamon sugar mixture over the large bowl of popped popcorn. Toss gently but thoroughly to evenly coat every piece with the cinnamon glaze.
- Bake Until Crisp: Spread the coated popcorn in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through the cooking time to ensure even baking and prevent burning, until the coating is set and popcorn becomes slightly crisp.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from oven and let the popcorn cool completely on the baking sheet to harden the glaze, resulting in a crunchy texture perfect for snacking.
Notes
- For extra crunch, make sure the popcorn is fully cooled before storing it in an airtight container to maintain its crispness.
- This recipe can be adjusted for a softer, gooey version by skipping the baking step and coating popcorn directly with the warm cinnamon mixture on the stovetop.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick or ground nutmeg for a deeper spice flavor to customize the snack.
- Perfect for holiday parties, movie nights, or as a homemade edible gift.
