Pumpkin Spice Popcorn

 This pumpkin spice popcorn recipe is a great Fall snack!

With only a few ingredients that you likely already have in your cabinets already, this pumpkin popcorn makes for a simple and tasty treat! This recipe  is delicious, easy, and a must for movie nights at home this fall. 

You get the flavors of fall with this perfect treat that starts with popcorn. You can get salty flavors paired with the delicate taste of pumpkin pie spices paired with it. It’s a sweet treat that young and old can all enjoy. 

Try this salt and vinegar popcorn for a savory version. Or this dark chocolate peppermint popcorn for a sweet holiday-inspired popcorn recipe. 

Why You’ll Love Maple and Pumpkin Spice Popcorn

• When the cooler days of Fall come along, my thoughts turn to almost anything pumpkin-flavored. This maple pumpkin spice popcorn fits the bill perfectly.
• It’s simple to make and easily customizable to your own taste, making it the perfect recipe for a quick autumnal snack!
• This easy recipe is great for a fall gathering or after-school snack. 
• Ready in a total time of 6 minutes, this snack is so quick and easy.
• You can pop your own popcorn or buy bagged to make it a simple treat that might become one of your favorite snacks. 
• You will get a tremendous gourmet popcorn vibe for this time of year. 

Ingredients

• microwave popcorn – you don’t need any kind of fancy popcorn to make this recipe, just your favorite microwave popcorn!
• cinnamon – provides your popcorn the signature sweet warmth that’s indicative of pumpkin spice. If you have lots of leftover cinnamon, you could also use it to make a delicious and Easy Apple Crisp.
• ginger – gives the spice blend a little bit of bite.
• nutmeg – adds even more warmth and a woody touch.
• salt
• maple syrup – balances the salt and spices with some added sweetness.
• butter – if your popcorn is already buttered, you may want to omit this ingredient (or use significantly less).

Instructions

1. Let’s start with popping your popcorn kernels and setting them in a large bowl. You can serve the spiced popcorn in this bowl or transfer it to a clean bowl before serving to your guests.
2. Want to make your own Pumpkin Pie Spice? Head over here for 3 variations on a Fall favorite for using in hot drinks or baking, like with these Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins.
   

   This homemade pumpkin spice blend is simple and foolproof!

3. Melt butter in the microwave and then add in the maple syrup. Pure maple syrup makes a big difference, so go quality on this ingredient!
   

   Melted butter and sweet maple syrup are the perfect popcorn coating!

4. Mix the butter and syrup together and pour this right over the popcorn. Toss the mixture together so as much of the popcorn is coated as possible.
5. Now, to add the topping! Sprinkle the spice mixture (salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg) all over the popcorn. Toss it around as you sprinkle, so as much of the popcorn gets covered with this deliciousness!
   

   This spiced up microwave popcorn is the perfect recipe for a simple and flavorful fall treat!

There you have it! A quick but tasty snack that will go perfectly with a tall glass of our Apple Cider Margarita, an Apple Martini, or this Butterscotch Schnapps Apple Cocktail!

Ways to Pop Popcorn 

Stovetop Method with Kernels Of Popcorn 

Add 2-3 tablespoons of oil to a large pot or Dutch oven. Once the oil is hot, add your popcorn. Add the popcorn in a single layer on the bottom of the pot. Shake with the lid on and allow it to begin to pop. Once done, season with salt or leave it off. 

Microwave Method 

You can use bagged popcorn or a microwave-safe bowl and plate. Add 1/4 cup of kernels to a medium bowl and cover with a plate. Then microwave for 2-4 minutes or until it begins to pop. Melt butter, drizzle over the top, salt, or leave it plain. 

Air Popper 

Add your kernels to the air popper and turn it on, following the directions on the machine. The hot air will pop, and hot popcorn will come out. Just let it cool a bit to room temperature before you add the pumpkin spice mixture. 

Tips

• Make this popcorn for the fall and winter holidays. Packaged up in individual bags, it makes an excellent handout for Halloween!
• For an even deeper flavor, after coating the popcorn with the spice blend, spread it out on a baking sheet and pop it into the oven for about 10 minutes at 300 degrees F. Be sure to stir it every few minutes to prevent burning and sticking.
• This homemade popcorn is great as a snack or alongside a Hot Buttered Rum or a Bourbon Eggnog—your cocktail companions will love it!
• Store any extras in an airtight container.
• Want to make a large batch? Pour popped popcorn onto parchment paper lined cookie sheets before covering with the toppings.

Homemade Popcorn Flavor Variations

• To make this popcorn taste like a pumpkin spice latte, add some espresso powder or instant coffee to the spice blend.
• Brown sugar is another option for adding sweetness and highlighting the warm, aromatic spices.
• If you like pumpkin spice, feel free to add even more seasoning.
• Real butter is great for drizzling on top of popcorn; this helps the pumpkin spice flavor stick to the popcorn.  A little sea salt will enhance all the flavors even more. 
• Drizzle melted white chocolate over your popcorn for an even sweeter treat! White chocolate or even dark chocolate is great for drizzling on top.
• Add some caramel sauce to turn this treat into easy caramel popcorn.
• If you don’t have bars of chocolate, you can just melt some chocolate chips to drizzle.

Popcorn FAQ

Can you flavor popcorn before popping?

If you’re popping from loose kernels, you can flavor them before popping, like choosing a specific kind of fat to pop the kernels in. But when it comes to seasonings, it’s best to wait until after popping so the seasonings don’t burn in the popping process.

What can I put on popcorn instead of butter?

To avoid melted butter, use neutral-tasting oil like vegetable, soybean, canola, or grapeseed oil instead. Coconut oil can be used but it will leave a light coconut flavor to the popcorn.

Why is my popcorn chewy?

When steam gets trapped during popping, popcorn can become chewy. However, if you’re using microwave popcorn, this shouldn’t be a problem, as the bag is designed to allow steam to escape.

Is Popcorn Healthy?

Popcorn itself is not unhealthy; in fact it is low in calories, high in fiber and has trace amounts of calcium and potassium. It’s also low in carbohydrates and has some protein. It’s the toppings that can be more unhealthy (sodium, sugar etc.)

Easy Homemade Popcorn Recipe

If you enjoy this recipe for homemade pumpkin popcorn, please be sure to rate it 5 stars below! And print this off or save it to your recipes folder!

originally published Sept 2021; latest update Oct 2024