Simple Peanut Butter Popcorn Recipe

Popcorn is an all-time favorite snack, and trying different varieties brings the treat to a whole higher level of deliciousness. Plain and simple, there's really no better snack. While popcorn may seem like a super basic food to many, there are several ways to dress it up. Caramel-covered popcorn happens to be one of the most popular types of popcorn, and of course, there's plain old-fashioned movie theater popcorn seasoned with salt and lots of warm butter. Some fans love kettle corn and white cheddar ... and the list goes on, and on, and on. If you love popcorn and peanut butter and would like to try something new and fun, we have the perfect recipe for you!

Recipe developer Jaime Bachtell-Shelbert of Wholly Nourished is the creative mind behind this tasty dish that combines classic popcorn with a sweet peanut butter mixture. "I love peanut butter, so basically, that's what I like about this recipe. But seriously, it's a fun and easy way to change up popcorn," Bachtell-Shelbert says. We think she hit the nail on the head! Keep reading to find out how to make this wonderfully sweet treat — it is sure to be a new favorite snack to whip up in your home.

The first thing you will need to do is list the ingredients necessary to whip up this fantastic popcorn. For starters, you'll need a package of microwave popcorn. This is the main base of your dish. The remaining ingredients make great toppings for this popcorn, giving it a lot of sweet flavor. Of course, you will also need some peanut butter, and then honey. To add another layer of sweetness, grab some vanilla. Last but not least, you will need to get peanuts. Once you have everything in front of you, it's time to begin.

Take the microwave popcorn, and open the box. You'll only need one single package, and all you need to do is follow the instructions on the back, and follow the specific cooking times and details. "Definitely plain, no-butter popcorn," Bachtell-Shelbert says of what kind of popcorn to use. "It could be lightly salted."

After you finish popping the popcorn, pour it into a large mixing bowl. Make sure it's large enough to fit the rest of your ingredients. (As a side note, be very careful when you handle the popcorn, as it will be hot and steamy when it comes out of the microwave.)

Put the popcorn bowl to the side, as you will need it in just a few minutes. In the meantime, you can take the steps to make the peanut butter mixture. 

Pull out a small saucepan, and put it on your stove. Add the peanut butter, honey, and vanilla to the saucepan. Turn the heat to medium-low until all of the ingredients have melted. "I stir constantly until smooth," Bachtell-Shelbert notes. It shouldn't take too long to make, but you can tell it's done when it's smooth and creamy.

Take the peanut butter mixture off of the heat once it reaches that wonderful and smooth consistency. Then, carefully pour the peanut butter mixture over the top of the popcorn. Using a spoon, stir the popcorn and peanut butter mixture together so that it gets evenly coated and there's a little bit of peanut butter on each piece of popcorn. "The peanut butter/honey is pretty sticky, so stirring is the best bet," Bachtell-Shelbert says. Now, you're one step closer to enjoying this tasty treat!

If you want to lock in the flavor, Bachtell-Shelbert says that you can bake the popcorn for 10 minutes at 300 F. Then, the last thing you need to do is add the peanuts. Now, you have gourmet popcorn ready to enjoy in the comfort of your own home! 

"This popcorn is enjoyed best the same day," Bachtell-Shelbert says. "If you wanted to take this recipe up a notch, you could mix in dark chocolate chips or candy pieces along with the peanuts. This is a great treat for parties or movie night!" We hope you love this popcorn as much as we do. It's such a fantastic and sweet treat!