4 Easy Homemade Popcorn Seasoning Recipes
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These 4 homemade popcorn seasoning recipes make the perfect holiday gift for the popcorn lovers in your life!
I love giving food gifts for the holidays. They are incredibly personal because they are so customizable. They also happen to be affordable and always well-received.
Popcorn seasoning is fabulous stuff. It gives you so many options for enjoying an easy-going movie night with family, friends, or your significant other. It’s such a fun way to spend time together!
You can sprinkle them on lightly for a delicate flavor or pile them on for a much stronger flavor. Whatever your taste buds prefer.
Giving Popcorn Seasoning As Gifts
I recommend providing a nicely written or printed set of instructions to go with them. Here’s what I would say:
How Do You Season Homemade Popcorn?
“Pop your popcorn kernels in a pot or a popcorn maker, pour some warm oil or melted butter over the popcorn and then sprinkle seasoning on as liberally as you like to taste. Toss popcorn to coat and enjoy!”
People always appreciate instructions, even if they are basic. The important part here is the oil or butter. These seasonings won’t stick if there is nothing for them to stick to.
Packaging And Shipping Suggestions
- TO GIVE: If you can find a spice jar set that comes with a rack or basket, you’re set! Just wrap some clear plastic around it and include some popcorn to go with it.
- TO GIVE: If you need to put it in a box (not for shipping), simply fill most of the box with tissue paper, lay the bottles down flat with the labels showing on top, and then cover with a bit more tissue paper. Just be sure to include some popcorn, and if you’re really feeling generous, toss in a movie you know they’ll like!
- TO SHIP: If you need to ship these, I highly recommend wrapping each bottle in bubble wrap separately. Include popcorn, and add peanuts all around to keep them from shifting. If you are tossing in a whole bag of popcorn, be sure to put it in a Ziploc bag in case the plastic package comes open en route. But regardless of whether the popcorn is in a plastic bag or a glass bottle, I recommend wrapping that individually in bubble wrap as well.
How To Make Homemade Popcorn Seasoning
This is about as basic as cooking can get. To make popcorn seasoning, you just stir or whisk together the spices listed in the recipe. Easy!
What’s The Best Spice For Making Spicy Popcorn?
Cayenne pepper! It truly does the best job and you can add it to any seasoning without altering the flavor too much.
Can You Add Seasoning To A Popcorn Maker?
I do not recommend it. The popcorn maker gets really hot and can burn your spices leaving you with flavors that aren’t enjoyable. And some makers can even clog up and eventually break. So your best bet is to just pop the popcorn and then add your butter and seasoning.
What Ratio Of Spices Do You Need?
While this is all a very personal choice (you can use as much or as little as you like), I have found that I use approximately 1 tablespoon of seasoning per half cup of popcorn kernels.
Can I Use Microwave Popcorn?
You can! You don’t have to make stovetop popcorn. Just pop it in the microwave and when it’s done (don’t burn yourself!), pour the hot popcorn into a large bowl, then pour on the butter or spritz it with an oil sprayer (I like to use coconut oil) before mixing in your seasonings. Stir well to combine everything!
More Healthy Popcorn Recipes
The snacks don’t end here! Check out this list of delicious popcorn recipes!
More Food Gift Ideas
- Hot Chocolate Mix (dry mix)
- Chocolate Syrup (for drizzling over ice cream or making clean chocolate milk.)
- Chocolate Turtles
- Homemade Fudge (Mint or Orange flavor)
Homemade Popcorn Seasoning Recipe Cards
Garlic & Herb Popcorn Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. celery seed
- 2 tbsp. dried parsley
- 2 tbsp. garlic powder
- 2 tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. turmeric
- 1 tsp. salt (fine grind)
Instructions
- Measure spices into a small to medium mixing bowl and stir well to combine. Pour into spice bottle and label appropriately. Sprinkle over popcorn as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Mexican Popcorn Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. ground cumin
- 2 tbsp. onion powder
- 2 tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 tbsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1 tsp. salt (fine grind)
- ¼ tsp. powdered Sucanat (optional, but good)
Instructions
- Measure spices into a small to medium mixing bowl and stir well to combine. Pour into spice bottle and label appropriately. Sprinkle over popcorn as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Spicy Curry Popcorn Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. curry powder
- 2 tbsp. garam masala
- 2 tbsp. garlic powder
- 2 tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. salt (fine grind)
Instructions
- Measure spices into a small to medium mixing bowl and stir well to combine. Pour into spice bottle and label appropriately. Sprinkle over popcorn as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Barbecue Popcorn Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp. garlic powder
- 2 tbsp. onion powder
- 1 tbsp. powdered Sucanat (I powdered min in my Ninja blender)
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. salt (fine grind)
Instructions
- Measure spices into a small to medium mixing bowl and stir well to combine. Pour into spice bottle and label appropriately. Sprinkle over popcorn as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
These recipes from The Gracious Pantry archives. First published 12/1/14.
Who me?
I'm Tiffany, a cookbook author, food lover, mom, and writer for MSN and the AP Newswire.
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Thank you so much for these seasoning ideas! I’m always looking for clean ways to liven up my evening popcorn snack. Currently my favorite is air popped popcorn with a little melted coconut oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. My non-clean-eating husband and daughter even ask for it! Thanks again, I can’t wait to try these recipes!
Stacey – My pleasure! Enjoy! 😀
I want to try them all! They sound delicious! Would be nice gifts for the ladies at the office.
What a unique and adorable gift idea! Thanks Tiffany, you really make clean eating enjoyable and fun!
Tina – Thanks so much! 😀
What a creative gift idea! I’d love to be on the receiving end of something like this!
What perfect gifts these would be…and yummy! Thanks:)
These sound awesome!
I just found our air popper again, and these look like perfect spice mixes to try! Thanks!
Popcorn is an all time favorite of mine! The barbque is the first i must try, they all sound tasty. Thanks Tiffany
Those all sound delicious! My son is always for cheese popcorn. Do you have any recipes for cheese corn?
Angela – Thanks! I do have this recipe if it helps: https://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-garlic-parmesan-popcorn/
I am obsessed with popcorn, these are great toppings & actually excited to give them as gifts aswell!!! Thankyou for a fab idea 🙂
Katie – My pleasure! Enjoy! 😀
Do you by chance have a ranch version?
Kimberly – Not yet, but I do have a recipe for ranch dressing. Maybe using the herb mixture from that recipe might do the trick? Not sure though, I’d have to try it out. https://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-ranch-dressing/