Popcorn lovers rejoice: October is National Popcorn Poppin’ Month, a seasonal celebration of one of America’s oldest and most beloved snack foods.
As farmers head into the fields to harvest crops, families and friends gather to honor this ever-popular treat. Whether stovetop, microwave, or ready-to-eat, we consume some 14 billion quarts each year of this wholesome, whole grain.
Long regarded as a sign of good times, popcorn has found new appreciation among today’s lean-and-green consumer. Celebrated for its seed-to-snack simplicity, popcorn is also non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, and naturally low in fat and calories, which makes it an easy fit for dietary preferences—and it’s budget-friendly. A quart of popped popcorn costs as little as 15 cents.
Add in popcorn’s irresistible smell, taste, and versatility, and its popularity is easy to understand. With so many different ways to eat it—plain, buttery, or loaded with goodies—popcorn always fits the mood or occasion.
Pop up a bowl and join the Popcorn Poppin’ Month celebration. For a special seasonal snack, try the following recipes from the Popcorn Board (popcorn.org).
Down Home Apple Pie Popcorn
What’s better than apple pie? Apple pie popcorn!
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
8 cups popped popcorn
1 cup dried apple chips, broken into large pieces
1/4 cup toffee bits
Directions
Preheat oven to 300° Fahrenheit. Whisk melted butter with vanilla. Toss brown sugar with cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg. Toss popcorn with butter mixture. Sprinkle evenly with brown sugar mixture. Stir. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle apple chips and toffee bits over top. Bake for 15 minutes or until toffee bits start to melt. Cool before serving.
Tip: Add chopped pecans for extra crunch.
Blazing Buffalo Ranch Seasoning Mix
Perfect for game time and super easy to make, it’ll be the hit at any tailgating party.
1 tablespoon ranch dressing or dip mix (from a 1-ounce package)
1 tablespoon seafood spice mix (or celery salt)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon powdered sugar (or sugar)
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon vegetable oil
6 quarts popped popcorn
Cooking spray, optional
Directions
In a small bowl, blend ranch dressing mix, spice mix, garlic powder, powdered sugar, and cayenne pepper. Sprinkle with vegetable oil and blend until well incorporated. Place popcorn in a serving bowl and spray lightly with cooking spray. Sprinkle seasoning mix over popcorn to taste and toss. Store leftover seasoning mix in an airtight container for future use.
