Hot Honey Butter Popcorn (Printable version)

Crispy popcorn tossed in sweet honey butter with a spicy chili touch, perfect for sharing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Popcorn

01 - 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
02 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (canola or sunflower)

→ Hot Honey Butter

03 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 3 tablespoons honey
05 - 1 to 1.5 teaspoons hot sauce (e.g., Sriracha, Franks RedHot), to taste
06 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
07 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

# Directions:

01 - Warm vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 to 3 popcorn kernels and cover with the lid.
02 - Once test kernels pop, add remaining popcorn kernels in an even layer. Cover pot with lid slightly ajar to allow steam to escape and shake occasionally until popping slows to 2 to 3 seconds between pops.
03 - Remove pot from heat and pour the popped corn into a large mixing bowl.
04 - Melt butter over low heat in a small saucepan. Stir in honey, hot sauce, and chili flakes (if using) until combined and warm.
05 - Drizzle the hot honey butter sauce evenly over the popcorn and toss thoroughly to coat. Sprinkle sea salt over the popcorn and toss again.
06 - Serve immediately, adjusting seasoning or heat level as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms a pantry staple into something that tastes like it came from a gourmet popcorn shop.
  • The perfect balance of heat and sweetness means you'll actually stop before finishing the bowl (or maybe you won't).
  • Takes fifteen minutes from kernel to crunch, making it the ultimate last-minute crowd pleaser.
02 -
  • Remove the pot from heat the moment popping slows to 2–3 second intervals—those last few kernels are not worth burnt popcorn ruining your entire batch.
  • Pour the hot honey butter over warm popcorn, not cooled popcorn, because the heat helps it adhere and spread evenly throughout.
03 -
  • Use a heavy-bottomed pot with a tight-fitting lid; thin pots create hot spots that burn your kernels and cheap lids let too much steam escape.
  • Invest in decent hot sauce because the quality difference between a bright, fresh sauce and a tired one becomes immediately obvious once it hits warm popcorn.
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