Peanut Butter Popcorn

Peanut Butter Popcorn is a super easy treat that is wonderful for the holidays or as an evening dessert. Made with honey and no corn syrup, this is a healthy popcorn recipe that feels very gourmet.

Course Appetizer/Snack, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Peanut Butter Honey Popcorn, Peanut Butter Popcorn, Popcorn and Peanut Butter

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Cooling Time 1

Servings cups

Calories 260kcal

Author Heather

Equipment

Hot Air Popcorn Popper

Ingredients

1/4 cup popcorn kernels
2 tablespoons butter *see Note #2 below
2/3 cup honey
pinch of salt *see Note #3 below
1/2 cup natural peanut butter *see Note #4 below
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Measure all ingredients.
Add unpopped popcorn kernels to the popping chamber of a hot air popcorn popper.
Place lid on and turn on popcorn popper. Place a large bowl underneath the spout of the popcorn popper to catch the popcorn.
Once popped slowly transfer the popped kernels from one bowl to the other. The unpopped kernels will remain in the bottom of the bowl and should be thrown away. See Note #5 below.
Melt butter in a medium sized sauce pan over medium heat. This will take approximately 1 1/2 minutes.
Add honey and pinch of salt.
Whisking consistently bring to a roaring boil over the same medium heat, about 2- 2 1/2 minutes. See Note #6 below.
Add peanut butter and continue whisking over the same medium heat until the peanut butter is fully melted, about 1 1/2 minutes.
Take mixture off heat and whisk in vanilla.
Immediately pour mixture over the popcorn. Using a long handled wooden spoon stir until popcorn is well coated with mixture. See Note #7 below.
Let fully cool and then enjoy. This will take approximately an hour.

Notes

Recipe Notes

Note #1- The recommended method of popping the popping corn is using a hot air popcorn popper because the kernels turn out light, fluffy and not weighed down by any oils. Because of this, the peanut butter mixture adheres to the popped kernels very well.

However, if you don't have a hot air popcorn popper the second best popping method is done on the stovetop using this as guidance.

Note #2- Either salted or unsalted butter may be used. However, if using salted butter go sparingly with the pinch of salt.

Note #3- I absolutely adore Maldon's pure and natural sea salt flakes for all things cooking, baking and of course as a finishing salt.

Note #4- For this recipe I used Laura Scudder's All Natural Nutty Peanut Butter. Before using all natural peanut butter it is important stir well because of oil separation.

Additionally, any type of peanut butter may be used.

Note #5- One of the most crucial steps is removing the unpopped popcorn kernels before making the peanut butter sauce. The reason, because once coated with the peanut butter sauce the unpopped kernels can cause significant tooth damage.

Note #6- A roaring boil is when it is boiling vigorously and is not interrupted by stirring.

Note #7- Once the peanut butter sauce is fully mixed with the popcorn, additional add ins may be stirred in at this time. See the "Fun Add Ins" section above in post.

Additionally, if a lightly caramelized popcorn is desired, increase popcorn kernels to 1/2 cup and leave all other ingredients the same.

Nutrition