How to makeHomemade Kettle Corn Recipe Kettle Corn (2024)

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This homemade Kettle Corn is the BEST homemade Kettle corn recipe you are going to find! I say that as a kettle corn fanatic! This recipe tastes JUST like what you get when you go to a fair. The perfect combination of sweet and salty with this delicious popcorn recipe!

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Homemade Kettle Corn

My favorite part of fairs is the kettle corn. My husband likes to joke around saying that I’m a blood hound for kettle corn because i can smell it miles away and then I go and find it. I am not leaving the fair grounds until I get a bite (well, a lot more then one) of the awesome flavors.

I LOVE Kettle Corn! Seriously I love it and I have no shame at all with how much I love it!

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I have tried many of the microwave kettle corns that you can get at the grocery store but nothing tasted like real stuff. Seriously, don’t waste your time or money on them. They are sooo NOT worth even trying to make.

I was having a talk with a family member about kettle corn, which lead to them sharing this amazing homemade kettle corn recipe with me. Which also then lead to the dangerous point that I am at now, where I can have kettle corn in under 15 minutes from the time I start wanting it.

When I tried this recipe I felt like I was back at a fair! Seriously, no other recipe has ever compared to the sweet and salty combo that this recipe gives you!

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What is Kettle Corn?

As I am going on and on about how amazing kettle corn is, I realized some of you may have never heard of it. Kettle corn is popcorn that has both sugar and salt that combined give it the most amazing flavor. The popcorn is popped either on the stove, or in a popcorn popper with the sugar so the sugar melts all over the popcorn. Once the popcorn is cooked, then you add the salt and you have the most amazing snack ever!

When to Eat Kettle Corn

There is no right or wrong time to eat kettle corn. It is one of my favorite things to snack on!

But I highly suggest if you are making this for movie night, that you make a large bowl for everyone before you start the movie. Otherwise you are going to find yourself missing the movie while making everyone more kettle corn.

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How to Know when to Add Popcorn Kernels to oil

The easiest way to make sure your oil is hot enough is to add your oil in your pot or popcorn popper and then add a few popcorn kernels. When those kernels pop you’ll know the oil is hot enough to pop all of your popcorn kernels.

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Ways to Pop Popcorn for Kettle Corn

There are quite a few different ways that you can make the popcorn to make this homemade kettle corn. Use which ever method is easiest for you or the appliance that you have.

On The Stove Popper

When I am making kettle corn, I just use the biggest pot with a lid that I have or my Cuisinart EasyPop Popcorn maker. Whichever one I am in the mood to use. However it is MUCH easier to use a Whirley Pop. This is what my family member uses, and while I should probably get one for myself with how much kettle corn I make.

Use a Whirley Pop

You can make this homemade kettle corn using a popcorn popper, a large pan on the stove or the Whirley Pop, all of them will give you the same amazing kettle corn at the end.If you are using a Whirley Pop, then you will want to make sure once all the kernels are popped, that you give the pot a good shake.

Use a large Pot on the stove

Add the Sugar, coconut oil, and the popcorn kernels into the pot over medium heat.

If you are making this popcorn recipe on the stove with a large pot, there are a few things you must know about making this recipe. First, and MOST IMPORTANT, you MUST stir continuously until all of the kernels are popped.

You will turn your stove to medium high heat and leave it there the whole time you are cooking it. Once you have the popcorn popped you want to remove the pot from the stove and turn it off right away. Once you remove the pot from the stove you want to shake the pot before you add the salt to it.

Use a Popcorn Popper

If you are using a popcorn popper like the Cuisinart EasyPop Popcorn maker, you want to add the popcorn kernels and then add sugar on top of them while they are still unpopped.

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Kettle Corn Ingredients

Coconut oil.There are different oils you can use to make kettle corn on the stove, however I love using coconut oil because it is a healthy fat and while this is a treat I do want to keep it semi healthy too.

Sugar.Using an artificial sugar is not going to work for this recipe. You want the real deal sugar when making kettle corn at home.

Popcorn kernels.All you need is basic popcorn kernels, however you can use the organic popcorn kernels, the white or yellow popcorn kernels all the same.

Popcorn salt. Or if you don’t have any of that on hand you can use your normal table salt, it will work just fine.

How to Make Homemade Kettle Corn

Add the coconut oil to your popcorn popper, pot.

Place a few popcorn kernels into your popper and when those kernels pop you’ll know the oil is hot enough.

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Once the oil is hot enough, add the popcorn and then add the sugar on top of the popcorn.

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Cook your popcorn until all the kernels have popped, or until you have a 1 second gap in hearing kernels pop.

Pour it into your favorite popcorn bowl and sprinkle with popcorn salt and shake it around for a few minutes so it does not stick together.

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Homemade Kettle Corn Recipe

Created by Lauren

3.93 from 76 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings 4

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

This homemade Kettle Corn is the BEST homemade Kettle corn recipe you are going to find! I say that as a kettle corn fanatic!

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Add the coconut oil to your popcorn popper.

  • Place a few popcorn kernels into your popper and when those kernels pop you’ll know the oil is hot enough.

  • Once the oil is hot enough, Add the popcorn and then add the sugar on top of the popcorn.

  • Cook your kettle corn until all the kernels have popped, or until you have a 1 second gap in hearing kernels pop.

  • Pour it into your favorite popcorn bowl and sprinkle with popcorn salt and shake it around for a few minutes so it does not stick together.

Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 56mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Iron: 0.6mg

homemade kettle corn, kettle corn

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How to makeHomemade Kettle Corn Recipe Kettle Corn (2024)

FAQs

What makes kettle corn taste like kettle corn? ›

The only difference between popcorn and kettle corn is a little bit of sugar. Unlike popcorn, kettle corn is cooked with sugar, which when heated melts and coats the popping kernels making them both sweet and salty.

What is kettle corn flavoring made of? ›

What flavor is kettle corn? Kettle corn is sweet and salty, it's so addictive and is sure to please everyone! It's a blend of white and brown sugar and salt and pleases those with a sweet tooth and those that prefer savory.

How to make kettle corn vs popcorn? ›

The process starts similarly, by heating the corn kernels. However, in the case of kettle corn, a mixture of oil, sugar, and salt is added to the kettle along with the corn kernels. As the kernels heat up and pop, the sugar caramelizes, resulting in a crunchy, sweet coating on the popcorn.

Is kettle corn just caramel? ›

Kettle corn is a combination of sweet and salty flavors. It is lighter in flavor and texture than caramel corn as the sugar and salt are mixed in during popping rather than coated.

Why is kettle corn so addictive? ›

One of the reasons people enjoy kettle corn so much is its sweet flavor. The addition of sugar makes kettle popcorn very addictive, so it's no surprise that you can't stop eating it until you've finished the entire bowl.

Is kettle corn good or bad for you? ›

While both varieties of popcorn have similar nutritious benefits, sugar added to kettle popcorn is more likely to cause you to gain weight (due to its higher calorie count and addictive nature). However, there is no reason to worry if you consume kettle popcorn every now and then.

What kind of popcorn is used for kettle corn? ›

Regular popcorn comes from butterfly flakes or snowflakes, which are irregular in shape with many popping “wings” that stick out, hence the name. Butterfly flakes are much more tender and have a better mouthfeel. Mushroom flakes, used to make kettle corn, are mostly spherical in shape and can be either round or oblong.

Where does kettle corn get its sweetness from? ›

c) Sugar: Granulated sugar is a key component of kettle corn, adding the signature sweetness to each kernel. The sugar combines with the oil and salt during the cooking process, creating a caramel-like coating.

What is classic kettle corn? ›

Place the oil in the bottom of a large pot. Add in the unpopped popcorn kernels with the sugar and salt. Over a medium heat begin to pop the popcorn, constantly shaking the pot to ensure that the popcorn kernels and oil do not burn. Once the popping has slowed down remove the pot from the heat.

Can dogs eat popcorn? ›

Is Eating Popcorn Safe for Dogs? Yes and no. Plain, air-popped popcorn is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. Buttered popcorn or popcorn with other toppings is not safe for your dog on a regular basis, although eating a few dropped pieces here and there probably won't hurt them.

Is kettle corn good for diabetics? ›

However, it is important to check the packaging as prepared bags often contain extra butter or sugar. Instead, people can look for packets of popcorn with light, unsalted butter or fewer calories. People with diabetes should avoid kettle corn varieties, as the extra sweetness comes with additional sugar.

Can dogs have kettle corn? ›

Kettle corn and caramel popcorn are not good snacks for dogs. In addition to the butter and salt, both types of popcorn have tons of sugar and other preservatives that are very unhealthy for our fur babies. They may give your pup stomach issues like gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Is kettle corn healthier than popcorn? ›

Popcorn in general is a good source of fiber since it's a whole grain. But as kettle corn has sugar added to it, it has more calories than plain popcorn. Don't worry — it's still healthier than other snacks. One serving is around 120 calories.

How is kettle corn so round? ›

On the surface, the answer is simply that there are two types of popcorn kernels that one can buy to pop: so-called "mushroom" kernels that pop into spheres, and "butterfly" kernels that pop into asymmetric, winged shapes. For the most part, the choice of which type a particular vendor will use is just preference.

Who invented popcorn? ›

Corn was domesticated from a wild grass in Mexico nearly 9,000 years ago and spread throughout Central and South America. However, the first popcorn is often linked to Charles Cretors of Chicago. Cretors, who invented the mobile popcorn cart in 1885, is widely regarded as the modern-day inventor of popcorn.

What's the difference between kettle corn and regular corn? ›

Kettle corn is also made from regular popping corn. The difference is how it's popped. Kettle corn is traditionally made in a large, iron kettle that has been oiled. The popcorn is popped before it is tossed with a little salt, and of course some sugar, to give it that addictive flavor.

Is kettle corn real popcorn? ›

Kettle corn is a type of popcorn that was traditionally made in cast iron kettles. The lightly sweetened popcorn is usually made with just oil and white sugar, but you can mix it up with sugars and sweeteners to suit your taste.

Are kettle corn kernels different? ›

Regular popcorn and kettle corn are made from different types of corn. As a result, they differ in the flake shapes of the popped kernels.

What are some fun facts about kettle corn? ›

Supposedly, the farmers and cowboys of the old Mid-West used to make their own version of kettle corn. After a day of harvest, they would throw rendered fat into a cast iron pot sitting over the fire. When the fat was hot, they'd throw in some corn kernels and whatever sweetener available, usually honey or molasses.

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