Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup popcorn kernels
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or any neutral oil)
- 1 teaspoon salt (optional, for a sweet-salty balance)
Instructions
- Heat the Oil:
In a large, deep pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add a few popcorn kernels to test the heat. Once they pop, the oil is ready. - Add Kernels and Sugar:
Add the rest of the popcorn kernels and sugar to the pot. Stir quickly to coat the kernels evenly with sugar. - Cover and Shake:
Cover the pot with a lid and gently shake the pot over the heat to prevent burning and to ensure even popping. Continue shaking until the popping slows down (about 2-3 seconds between pops). - Remove from Heat:
Once the popping slows, remove the pot from the heat. Carefully pour the popcorn into a large bowl and sprinkle with salt if desired. - Cool and Serve:
Let the popcorn cool slightly before serving to allow the sugar to harden into a light, crunchy coating.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Keywords: sweet popcorn, kettle corn recipe, homemade popcorn, caramelized popcorn, sweet-salty popcorn, stovetop popcorn recipe, movie night snack, gluten-free snack