Freshly popped, DIY microwave-style popcorn drizzled with butter and honey, vanilla and sea salt is the ultimate in sweet and savoury snacks. This Sweet and Salty Popcorn recipe is not only delicious it’s super easy to make too!
I have become super obsessed with making my own popcorn at home. Like, this is my go-to snack/dessert/lunch more days than not.
And I really, really love this snack not only because it is delicious but because it’s totally gluten-free, vegetarian-friendly, simple and easy and made without the use of chemical-filled microwave popcorn from a bag or an expensive popcorn popper that takes up way too much room in your cupboard.
Because I don’t think my cupboards could handle another small kitchen appliance…
What movie night or evening on the couch isn’t complete without a big bowl of popcorn? Movies and popcorn, popcorn and TV – pretty much the perfect pair no matter how you look at it, right?
I mean, the word “movie-theatre” (yes, that is one word!) is pretty much synonymous with a $12 bag of popcorn these days. (Ridiculous? Yes. Delicious? Yes.)
But Friends, worry no longer!
That movie theatre snack that was once a natural and fun, any-time-of-day snack but has become a super salty, oil-loaded, fake butter junk food can be enjoyed by all no questions asked once again.
I had been complaining to J for the longest time about how I kept having these intense air-popped popcorn cravings, especially during our weekly reality TV dates. (Because if reality TV binge feasts on the couch aren’t romantic, I don’t know what is!) And how we need to go out and buy a popcorn popper pronto. Of course, our procrastinating selves never got around to actually purchasing a popper. And now with this super delicious popcorn hack we don’t need to!
Isn’t it great how life works out that way sometimes?!
MORE ABOUT THIS SWEET AND SALTY POPCORN RECIPE: Tips and Tricks…
Freshly popped, DIY microwave-style popcorn in 3 minutes flat. Seriously! And it’s the perfect serving size for 1 – hello, portion control! And all you need is a brown paper bag and popping corn (remember organic and non-GMO corn is always the best!).
No sharing required.
And magic happens when you melt a little butter with a little honey and vanilla. And we aren’t talking loads of butter like they do at the movies either. Just enough butter (and please, not margarine!) to lightly cover most kernels. Finish with an extra sprinkle of sea salt. Sweet and salty at its finest!
Super genius, right?!
Because who doesn’t love a little sweet and a little salty all at the same time allll the time?
This Sweet and Salty Popcorn gives you that kind of sweet, kind of salty flavour that will have you popping yourself another bowl in no time.
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Homemade Sweet and Salty Popcorn
- Total Time: 4 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
Freshly popped, DIY microwave-style popcorn drizzled with butter and honey, vanilla and sea salt is the ultimate in sweet and savoury snacks. This Sweet and Salty Popcorn recipe is not only delicious it’s super easy to make too!
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup yellow or white popping corn
- 1 teaspoon butter
- 1 tablespoon honey or other liquid sweetener (or a little more or a little less depending on taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- Dash of salt
Instructions
- Add corn to a standard lunch-size brown paper bag and fold the top of the bag over twice, pressing the fold tightly so the bag stays closed.
- Microwave the paper bag for 2 – 2 1/2 minutes or until there is a 5 second pause between pops.
- Remove the bag from the microwave, transfer the popcorn to a large bowl.
- In a small microwave-safe dish, heat butter, honey, vanilla and salt in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or until butter is melted and honey is just bubbling.
- Pour the butter mixture over top of the popcorn, tossing to popcorn to coat evenly.
- Season with additional salt, if needed.
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
Recipe updated October 2016.
Rebecca Dwyre is the holistic nutritionist, recipe creator and photographer behind Always Nourished. Being diagnosed with PCOS in 2018 was unexpected and devastating for her. Since then she’s been on her own PCOS Freedom journey and has learned so much about managing Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with food and lifestyle that she’s made it her mission to share what she has learned so that other women with PCOS don’t have to struggle like she did. 
Fantastic recipe! I have made this so many times.
★★★★★
This is a super easy and delicious too. I used almond extract instead of vanilla ones of the times I made this.
★★★★★
You can pop popcorn in the microwave with a regular old paper bag?!?! You just blew my mind.
Can you make this ahead and store if? Or is it best to make and eat right away?
It’s best enjoyed immediately. Stored popcorn would start to go stale rather quickly.
Perfect recipe! I was looking for and easier and healthier alternative to kettle corn and this is it! I used cinnamon honey and it was amazing! Totally tied it all together! Thanks for sharing, I’m totally keeping this one!
★★★★★
So yummy! I popped the popcorn on the stove top in canola oil. I also sprinkled it with coarse kosher salt. Great recipe!
★★★★★
Ok I am in LOVE with this recipe and even more so when it’s THIS delicious coupled with the fact that I don’t have to add mounds of butter or add sugar to it! Like hello… no guilt factor like I normally would have 😆.
I use raw honey which I love in taste and health benefits.
And I pop the popcorn on the stove because it’s so crunchy that way. To take the sogginess away… I put it in the freezer for 10 min like the choc recipe mentioned… and presto… perfection.
★★★★★
This was absolutely delicious and smelled amazing! Thank you for such a lovely simple recipe.
★★★★★
Just what I was looking for! This recipe satisfied multiple cravings. Admittedly I increased butter, but found popcorn a little soggy, so I’ll cut back to original proportions next time. Also increased salt a bit to taste. 🤤
★★★★★
This is the best sleepover snack!!
But we had to quadruple the recipe because,
You can never get enough popcorn.
Thanks for the recipe!!😌
★★★★★
I used my airpopper for the popcorn, but the topping recipe came out perfectly. Not too sweet!
★★★★★
Delicious!!! I only had sugar at hand but that add of vanilla is amazing. Thank you!
★★★★★
OMG! Why have I been buying expensive popcorn laden with all kinds of bad stuff….I can’t believe you can actually pop your own in a brown paper bag!!!WHAAAAT!
Thanks so much. This was wonderful.
I also made a batch with just some melted coconut oil and salt. That was great too.
This was the BOMB!!
So glad you liked it, Kevin!
Done!
Exactly what I wanted. I didn’t want to mess with making kettle corn at the moment and just wanted a quick salty sweet fix. This worked like a charm!
★★★★★
I just made it and it finish for only 20min! Hahaha!! Thnks for the recipe. ☺☺
Just made a batch. It’s very tasty. The husband and child both approve.
Thank you for the idea.
So glad you guys liked it!!
Hi Rebecca!
I’m so excited that I found this recipe! I have 3 little boys, all under the age of 4, who are sort of obsessed with popcorn, and they’re going to love this recipe! I bought a sweet and salty seasoning for popcorn, but i had to use so much of it to get the flavor I wanted, that it just wasn’t worth the cost. This recipe looks like the perfect sweet and salty combo, and I love that it uses honey instead of sugar!
Anyways, I run a site myself and included your recipe in an article I just published about fun, and healthy alternatives to candy in Easter baskets. Here’s the link if you want to check it out!
https://gatheredagain.com/healthy-non-candy-easter-basket-ideas/
Can’t wait to try out this popcorn! Pinning it right now! Thanks a bunch!
Laura
I didn’t have any vanilla so I used almond extract and it was amazing!!!
I’m glad to here it, Elaine!! I will definitely have to try it that way too.