Sparkly Popcorn

More About This Recipe

• Planning a viewing party?
  
  Make it a popcorn party (cuz we all know that popcorn is the ultimate finger food for watching the fall TV premiere of Glee 90210 that highly intellectual new documentary your favorite show.  Invite some friends over for a fab spread of popcorn with DIY toppings.
  
  Here’s how:
  
  Step 1: Pop the Corn
  
  The best way to pop corn for your popcorn party is to use a popcorn maker (I’m partial to air popper ones). You can prepare the popcorn maker to run (adding popcorn and oil if using a maker that calls for it) before the guests arrive. But wait until the party has started to actually run the machine. Popcorn only takes a few minutes to make and it’s kind of fun to see it happen.
  
  Step 2: Scoop It
  
  Lay out popcorn bags (you can find them online at stores like Etsy.com or sometimes in brick and mortar stores like World Market, Target and HomeGoods). If you can’t find the whimsical old-fashioned style bags, brown paper bags work well too. And they are super cost effective.
  
  Step 3: Spray It (optional)
  
  Now, if your guests are eating super hot, just popped popcorn, you can sometimes skip this step. But you might not want to. Giving the popcorn a little spray of cooking oil spray (olive oil spray works too!) helps the toppings adhere to it really well. And it doesn’t take a lot.
  
  Step 4: Season It
  
  You’ll want to set out a seasoning station for your popcorn loving guests. On the station include a variety of dry toppings for the popcorn such as:
  
  Grated parmesan
  Garlic salt and/or garlic powder
  Paprika
  Chile powder (such as chipotle powder or cayenne powder)
  Dried basil, oregano and/or Italian seasonings
  Truffle salt
  Lavender salt
  Sea salt
  Hot cocoa mix
  Cinnamon sugar
  
  Guests can pick and choose, creating their own cool and delicious topping combination. It’s a lot of fun!
  
  More Popcorn Recipes
  
  Here are a few more great popcorn flavors to try:
  
  Sparkly Popcorn
  Bacon Popcorn
  Herbed-Seasoned Popcorn
  Nacho Popcorn
  
  What combination would you choose first?
  
  Sarah W. Caron (aka scaron) is a food writer, editor and blogger who writes about family-friendly foods and raising a healthy family at Sarah’s Cucina Bella.