This homemade kettle corn recipe is the perfect balance of sweet and salty and is made with just three ingredients. This popcorn seasoning is super simple to make and is an easy way to turn your popcorn into something special!
Kettle corn is one of my favorite popcorn flavors and it’s so easy to make it at home! Popcorn is our go to snack for movie nights and this seasoning makes it super addictive!
If you are looking for more ways to mix up your corn, be sure to check out my Cookies and Cream Popcorn and Flavored Popcorn Salt.
Why you will love this kettle corn recipe
- 3 ingredients: Yes, that’s right, just 3 ingredients to transform your popcorn! I will bet that you will already have the ingredients in your cupboard too!
- Quick: It takes just minutes to make up a batch of this seasoning.
- Make ahead: It’s so easy to make a big batch of this seasoning to have on hand whenever you need.
How to make kettle corn
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Combine: Mix together the seasoning ingredients.
- Use: Sprinkle over your freshly made popcorn!
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 long does it keep?
Once you have made the seasoning, keep it in an airtight container in a cupboard. It will keep for several months, so feel free to double the recipe!
Once you have seasoned the corn, it’s best to eat straight away. Any leftovers can be kept in a sealed container for 1 to 2 days.
How do you cook popcorn?
- Heat a little oil in a large pot.
- Add the kernels and coat them in the hot oil.
- Place on the lid.
- Cook, shaking the pot occasionally until all of the corn has popped.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Mix the salt and sugar so that everything is well combined and you don’t end up with lumps of sugar or salt.
- Season the popcorn as soon as it comes out of the pot.
- This recipe makes 1 1/4 cup of homemade kettle corn seasoning
More easy snack recipes
- Candied Corn Puffs Snack Mix Recipe
- Chocolate Popcorn
- Salted Caramel Puppy Chow Snack Mix
- Sweet and Salty Hot Buttered Cheerios Snack Mix
- Homemade Wonton Chips
Kettle Corn Recipe (Popcorn Seasoning)
Ingredients
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt 27 grams (see note)
- Prepared popcorn for serving (about 5 cups per person)
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a medium-size mixing bowl. Prepare popcorn, place popcorn in individual bowls and sprinkle popcorn with desired amount of seasoning.½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons kosher salt, Prepared popcorn
- Enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Note: If using sea salt or any other fine salt, reduce the quantity of salt by half!
- Mix the salt and sugar so that everything is well combined and you don’t end up with lumps of sugar or salt.
- Use unsalted popcorn for the best results.
- ¼ cup of popcorn kernels yields about 7 cups of popped popcorn.
- Season the popcorn as soon as it comes out of the pot.
Nutrition Information
I tried this recipe, and it was really good.
WAY too salty if you are using it on microwave popcorn. This might work well on raw popcorn kernels…but I suspect even then 3 TEASPOONS of salt might be better, then add a little more salt to taste. If you have a bowl of popped popcorn (10 cups or so) you only need about 3 tablespoons of seasoning. Using powdered sugar allowed it to stick better. Still wasn’t very “Kettle”. I’m going to add less salt and more brown sugar (dark) next time and adjust the leftovers.
I’m sorry this recipe wasn’t quite to your tastes, Nici! I definitely recommend reducing the salt if you’re using salted popcorn!!
If you have Pink Himalayan salt like me, please whatever you do, do NOT add 3 tbsp of salt. It was extremely salty. Lovely Recipe but super salty even with kosher salt. That’s even with my sodium deficiency.
Thanks for sharing, Aubrey!
I found that my usual large pot, 1/3 cup of kernels, and 2T. oil made 8 cups popped. I immediately sprayed the popped corn and shook some of this mix over the corn, tossed, and repeated. I used half of this mix on the batch, and at the end, had 6T. of the mix at the bottom of the pan. I then put that leftover mix and small popcorn debris into a strainer over a bowl, and ended with about 3 1/2T. of mixture that I’m saving to sprinkle over more corn later.
I also used only half of the salt called for, and used table salt. I thought the mixture was perfect. You couldn’t see the mix on the kernels, so I’m not bothering to post a picture, but you could taste it! Delicious!!
Thanks for sharing your process with us!
I spray my popcorn with no stick cooking spray before adding the seaoning. It helps it stick to the popcorn. I use table salt and use 1/2 the amount the recipe calls far. Very good popcorn.
Thanks for sharing!
It’s a tasty seasoning but ain’t no way this is sticking to popcorn without butter! I just tried it and the “seasoning” is in a pile at the bottom of the bowl, even after stirring/mixing with the popcorn!
I am sorry it’s not working out for you!
I want to ship this overseas in a gift box. Will it keep during shipping, which could take 10 days?
It may get a little stale!
This might be a silly question. But how much of the kernels do you use for this recipe?
A bag of popcorn is about 450~ kernels!
LOL i think they mean like 1/4 cup… 1/3 cup of kernels, etc.
This popcorn seasoning tastes amazing!! Just made it, and I love that I don’t have to wait to find kettle corn, that I can have it anytime that I want!!!! Love it!!
Thank you, Laura!! I’m glad you enjoy it so much!
I love your recipes. they are very easy to do. I am not a cook and do not enjoy cooking but you have changed that around. thank you so much
I’m so happy I could help with that!! Thank YOU, Kathy!