Anyone who knows me knows that I am a POPCORN. FANATIC.
I have the best memories of my dad making stovetop popcorn every week when I was a kid, and I’m happy to report that I’ve carried the tradition on with my own family. (Of course, I get the biggest bowl, though.)
I could never give up popcorn. But instead of loading it with butter and cooking it in processed oils, I’ve changed it up a bit to make it a tad healthier, without compromising the taste. In fact, I think it tastes even better now.
Here is the recipe for coconut oil popcorn. (I didn’t originate the idea of using coconut oil with popcorn, but I’ve used it religiously since January and this is how I do it.)
- Plop some coconut oil into a stovetop pan of choice. I use a large one for obvious reasons. You want enough coconut oil so that it melts and cover the entire bottom of the pan at about an 1/8 of an inch thickness.
2. Keeping the cover off, let it melt down completely.
3. Once melted, add enough popcorn kernels to cover the entire bottom of the pan, so that the kernels are just covered in the oil. (I use organic kernels if I can.)
4. Place the cover and wait for the kernels to start popping, which should take about 2 or 3 minutes. Once they start popping furiously, give the pan a good shake or two to be sure all the kernels are saturated. Once the popping slows down to a few seconds between each pop, shut off the heat and let it sit on the stove for a minute.
5. Remove cover, pour into the largest bowl you own and sprinkle all over with sea salt. If you really love coconut, you could sprinkle unsweetened finely shredded coconut over it as well.
The coconut oil gives the popcorn a little bit of sweetness and a punch of added flavor. And, the ingredients used to make it are less processed and nutritionally better for you. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- coconut oil
- popcorn kernals
- sea salt
Instructions
- Plop some coconut oil into a stovetop pan of choice. I use a large one for obvious reasons. You want enough coconut oil so that it melts and cover the entire bottom of the pan at about an 1/8 of an inch thickness.
- Keeping the cover off, let it melt down completely.
- Once melted, add enough popcorn kernels to cover the entire bottom of the pan, so that the kernels are just covered in the oil. (I use organic kernels if I can.)
- Place the cover and wait for the kernels to start popping, which should take
- about 2 or 3 minutes. Once they start popping furiously, give the pan a good
- shake or two to be sure all the kernels are saturated. Once the popping slows
- down to a few seconds between each pop, shut off the heat and let it sit on the stove for a minute.
- Remove cover, pour into the largest bowl you own and sprinkle all over with sea salt. If you really love coconut, you could sprinkle unsweetened finely shredded coconut over it as well.
- The coconut oil gives the popcorn a little bit of sweetness and a punch of added flavor. And, the ingredients used to make it are less processed and nutritionally better for you. Enjoy!
Jen Senecal is a mom of three girls, blogger, writer and graphic designer. She is the co-founder of fitness blog The F Word, which will launch this month. Find her on Twitter and Instagram at @JenSenecal.
gina says
What temp heat do you have the stove set too? We have gas like you – would you do medium or high heat?
jen senecal says
Hi Gina! I set it to high heat. It seems to pop best that way! Enjoy!!
Marcy says
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I am just learning about the benefits of coconut oil and this will be a great way to get some of it in my kids!!! Thanks.
Kimmie says
Thank you for this recipe! I have recently switched to coconut oil for most oil needs and I LOVE popcorn, my kids do too 🙂 I’m curious if you used extra virgin coconut oil? I’ve noticed that is has a slightly sweet/coconutty taste as opposed to plain coconut oil (not labeled extra virgin), which seems almost tasteless. Thank you!!
AR says
Extra virgin definitely has a coconut taste but the refined has no taste. I use both, refined for savory foods unless it has coconut in it and extra virgin for everything else. As always, extra virgin is better for you because it’s minimally processed.
Chelle Chapman says
YUM! I have the Nutiva Coconut oil, bought some organic popcorn a few months ago & have NOT even tried this yet! BUT, now that I have not just a recipe but someone I know (of) & TRUST, I will make this tonite, after dinner for my much needed snack b4 nite time meds! GACK! My mouth is watering!! Maybe I will have this for dinner instead! 🙂 Thanks Bobbi for this recipe AND the mouth watering pix!!
Chelle Chapman says
Oops, I mean Thanks Jen!!!
Mary Ellen Witt says
I do this, but I use the microwave popper from Nordic Ware, it is yummy!
wendy says
does it end up tasting like coconut?? cuz I don’t like it.. 8)
wendy
Chris Peck says
Sounds great – I haven’t stovetop popped in ages… One thing I noticed back then was that steam buildup was the devil – I used to move the top a little bit crooked (or use one with vents) to allow the steam to escape. Sound reasonable???
I’ll be trying this out tonite, thanks!!!
Annette says
I also am a pop corn FANATIC!!! If you want to take your pop corn to the next level try a Whirley Popper from Wabash Family Farms. I have purchased many of these pans for gifts. I have found them at Cabelas ($40- $45, very expensive), Target (about $22) and some times at Ross ($12 – $13). Your pop corn experience will never be the same! I use coconut oil on my pop corn and love it.
Judy says
I use a hot air popper for my popcorn, them I melt coconut oil in the microwave, then drizzle over the popcorn then add sea salt. It is our favorite snack of choice for our house.
erica says
I have been making popcorn like this for awhile now except I sprinkle mine with True Lime. It is so yummy that way.
Mary1 says
I want to try it!
But with Cocozia Organic Virgin Coconut Oil..http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J1AE5EW/ref=s9_al_bw_g325_i4/182-2894261-6419234
Carol Kuehner says
Love your idea but what would you suggest as far as how hot the burner should be. That would really help. Thank you!
Angela Blancovargas says
I don’t see the nutritional information