Peanut Butter Popcorn is a quick and easy favorite treat at our house! Perfect for family movie nights or a yummy treat to take to a friend or neighbor.
Peanut Butter Popcorn
One of the all time best snacks in my opinion is popcorn. But not everyone knows just how versatile popcorn can be. Caramel popcorn still ranks as one of the best go-to treats, but this Peanut Butter Popcorn gives caramel a run for its money. It is so yummy! This quick and easy popcorn is a favorite around our house. Perfect for family movie nights or when I need a quick treat to take to a friend or neighbor.
How to Gift Popcorn
To make this a gift, just put in a clear plastic bag and tie on a cute ribbon! You can make it look fancier by melting a little chocolate and drizzling it over the popcorn after it has cooled. You can put it in a plastic baggie or a take-out style box from a craft store. If making for kids, you can press the popcorn into a ball and put it on a popsicle stick. So many possibilities here!
Fun Additions to Peanut Butter Popcorn
As mentioned above, you can drizzle some chocolate over the popcorn to give it some added flavor and to make it look pretty. Some other great additions are M&M’s, chopped candy bar (Butterfinger is awesome), or white or dark chocolate chips. Tastes so yummy with additions!
More Delicious Snack Recipes
- White Chocolate Popcorn: This White Chocolate Popcorn is easy to make, yet tastes gourmet! Like the popcorn from high-end candy shops or boutiques but for a fraction of the cost.
- Christmas Crunch: This Christmas Crunch is sweet and salty and EXACTLY what you need this holiday season! It takes less than 15 minutes to put together and it is SO tasty!
- Almond Joy Chex Mix:Do you love the dessert recipe muddy buddies? Then you are in for a treat with this amazing appetizer or dessert recipe; Almond Joy Chex Mix.
- Better than (you know what) Chex Mix: This Chex Mix is SINFULLY delicious! We took this to our Super Bowl party and it was completely polished before half-time. It is one of those treats that people take a little handful to start off with, then keep sneaking back for more because they can’t stay away.
- Game Night Chex Mix: This Game Night Chex Mix is the perfect snack for family get togethers. It is toasty, crunchy, savory, and addicting!
How to Make Peanut Butter Popcorn
Ingredients
- 2 bags microwave popcorn popped, I use light butter or plain
- 1 c. brown sugar
- 1 c. light corn syrup
- 1 c. peanut butter
Instructions
- Pop the microwave popcorn.
- Remove any unpopped kernels and place in large bowl.
- In medium saucepan combine brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring to boil over medium high heat stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and whisk in peanut butter.
- Pour over popcorn and stir until well coated.
Nutrition
Sondra says
Looks delicious. I think we’ll try this for movie night this weekend. I will definitely add some M&M’s. Chocolate and peanut butter, you can’t go wrong with that.
Anita says
The m&m’s sound like an great addition but I would also have to add pretzel sticks then! Sounds so yummy, I’m looking forward to making this!!
Deb says
Can you freeze this recipe?
Erica Walker says
We haven’t frozen this recipe before so I can’t say for sure. It might be really messy when you thaw it out, that would be my only concern. If you try it out, let us know!
Allison MacKay says
I used to have a similar recipe but it was baked for about an hour at 250 and had a great shelf life, about a month bagged up. I used Spanish peanuts mixed into the air popped corn. I froze it and it was still really good. Wish I had that old recipe and found yours! I haven’t tried it so hope to rate it once I have.
Thanks!
Allisonthebaker
Lynzie says
What if you don’t have corn syrup?
Favorite Family Recipes says
I’ve seen other recipes for Peanut Butter Popcorn without the corn syrup, but I haven’t tried any substitutions. The corn syrup, in my opinion, gives it the best texture. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
holly says
Yummy. I made these in a jiffy and put them into popcorn balls with bits of chocolate chips in them. The pb base is very similar to peanut butter scotcheroos. Popcorn is a genius move for this base!
Angie W says
This is nearly the same goo that my mom always poured over corn flakes. It was my favorite candy! Her version was a cup of sugar (not brown), cup of corn syrup, cup of peanut butter. Then corn flakes instead of popcorn. I like to press the whole mixture into a 9×13 dish lined with waxed paper and sprayed lightly with Pam. Now you have another way to eat it if you like, and I’ll try your way. 🙂
Cathy says
Your recipe reminded me that MY Mom used to make this with corn flakes! I had totally forgotten! It was at least 65 years ago, so it isn’t unusual to forget, so I’m happy that you gave me that memory back!!
Dina says
This looks delicious. I want to make my own popcorn, how many cups do you think I’ll need?
cheryl says
I would think 1/4 cup of popcorn would work.
Peggy says
Two of my favorite things–popcorn and peanut butter! I’ll have to give this a whirl!
Susan says
I love to make my own popcorn with my “Whirly Pop” on the stovetop. Any idea how much uncooked popcorn I’d need to cook up to yield about as much as two bags of microwave popcorn?
paintgurl40 says
This recipe is good, but it was a little too sweet for my taste. Next time I’m going to half the recipe and just drizzle over the popcorn. That way I get a little bit of sweet with the salty.
Mona says
What could I substitute for light corn syrup-granulated sugar?
Erica says
We haven’t used granulated sugar before… It might work but I can’t tell you for sure because we have never made it that way before. Sorry!
Debbie says
Do you have anything syrupy? lol Try the sugar and boil it down first into a syrup, let us know!
Kay says
Can honey be used in place of the corn syrup?
Erica says
We have never tried it that way so I don’t know how it will turn out, let us know if you try it!
Dayle says
Yes! Honey can be used in place of corn syrup! I do it in everything I make that calls for corn syrup. We made many batches of caramel corn at Christmas time using honey and it turned out amazing!
Cheryl says
How long do you boil the sugar and syrup?
Emily says
It just needs to be brought to a boil, I wouldn’t let it boil more than a minute.
Jen says
I made this, but happened to be out of corn syrup. I substituted 1 cup sugar mixed with 1/4 cup water. I don’t know if that was the cause ir what, but it turned out grainy and didn’t really stick to the popcorn very well. I am going to try again after going to the grocery store.
anit says
The corn syrup prevents the sugar from crystalizing (sic) you could add a 1/2 tsp cream of tarter dissolved in 1/4 cup of water to do the same thing
Paul says
Trick of the day: If you take plain un-popped popcorn (the kind you would cook on a stove top) and put about 1/4 cup in a plain brown bag (like a lunch bag) and fold over the top like 3 times and put it in the microwave on high it will pop and you will have PLAIN, UN-SALTED popcorn in about 3-5 minutes. NOW you MUST stay and listen to the popping as it slows down to 1-2 kernels a second because that’s the time to take it out as all microwaves are different but other then that, its cheap and it WORKS as I have tried it!
Kimberly says
Thank you thank you Paul we can’t wait to try this!
anita says
my only question is why put the unpopped kernels in a bowl. (LOL)
Rain Corr says
Puffed Corn works great in this too!
Melisa says
I just made this today and substituted pancake syrup for the corn syrup (didn’t have any). It turned out AMAZING!
Ambero says
Hmmm, I’m picturing tossing in some candy corn for a fall treat! Yum.
Echo says
Great idea! I’ve mixed in M&M’s and candy corn before and it’s turned out great. Thank you for visiting our site!
Michele says
I made this last night…the taste was fantastic, but it was impossible to mix into the popcorn. The peanut butter sauce was quite thick and sticky. It definitely didn’t look pretty like yours…any idea what went wrong? I’d love to get it right!
Emily says
It sounds like you need to let the brown sugar and corn syrup boil a little longer. When you bring it to a boil, try letting it boil for a minute or two before removing it from the heat.
Liz says
I am giving a baby shower of 56. How far in advance can I make this, still keeping it crunchy and yummy? Thanks!
Erica says
I wouldn’t make it too far in advance, in fact, it is best when served fresh!
Kari says
I have made popcorn balls and frozen them until I wanted to give them out. They like crackers and
chips etc. all freeze very well and don’t go stale or mushy!!!!!
Tricia says
Love this! Its become one of my holiday favorites! SO quick and easy! My co-workers love it too, its great for a potluck treat! Thank you!
Erica says
You are very welcome 😀
KATHY VALENTA says
like adding M & Ms and dry roasted peanuts or cashews
Marie says
I am going to try drizzling white or milk chocolate over the peanut butter popcorn as well. OR white choclate and toasted coconut !
Erica says
YUM those are great ideas. Especially love the toasted coconut idea. Thanks for sharing!
Marilyn Waters says
I have a craving for peanut butter popcorn. The problem is that I am diabetic so the syrup, etc. is out. Any ideas how to make this safe for a diabetic? I thought about just melting the pb and drizzling but I’m not sure how to go about that as it seems as though it needs something added. Any ideas for me? Thanks in advance.
Erica Walker says
Hi Marilyn- this is a great question. I wish I could be more helpful in my answer but since I am not very familiar with adjustments for diabetics I am afraid I won’t be able to help much. I think drizzling PB should still be really tasty!
Pamela Pulley says
I guess I’m the only one who had the popcorn get chewy. The flavor was good and I added peanuts which were the best part considering how the texture of the popcorn turned out. I followed the recipe exactly. Any ideas?
Emily Walker says
I would try boiling the mixture a little longer. Maybe give it a full minute at a full boil.
LISA BIGON says
Loved this quick recipe! I added salted peanuts to the popcorn, too. Mine was also sticky. It was too late to cook it longer, obviously lol, so I stuck in thefreezer. That worked until it thawed. So I turned the oven on 300° and put it all back on the cookie sheet. I baked it for 5 minutes then turned it all over. I did that twice, just long enough to get it all fairly warm again. I knew if I walked away the goo would burn. Took it out, almost burned my tongue because that stuff is so good and it was hot, but after it cooled, it was perfection. I will cook it a minute or two longer on the stove next time because we live in a very humid area and I think that’s why it takes a little longer. I do not share this stuff: mine, all mine! I love it! Ok. Maybe for Christmas gifts…maybe. lol. Thanks for sharing!! Divine!