This yellow, intensely buttery homemade Movie Popcorn stays crisp FOR DAYS! Save a fortune at the movie theatre candy bar – just remember to take a giant bag so you can smuggle in loads of your own homemade Butter Popcorn….
Homemade Movie Popcorn (Butter Popcorn)
Today’s butter popcorn recipe is for everyone who’s blown a fortune at movie theatre candy bars.
In particular, for all fellow Aussies who remember enjoying cheap movie tickets on Tight-Arse-Tuesdays*, only to spend twice as much on popcorn and M&M’s.
I can’t help you on the M&M’s.
But I can help you with the butter popcorn!!!
This butter popcorn is intensely buttery – and it stays crisp for days!
* In Australia, movie tickets are (were??) discounted by most cinemas every Tuesday. We affectionally referred to it as Tight-Arse-Tuesdays. You’d be hard pressed to find an Aussie who isn’t familiar with this term!
How to make butter popcorn without it going soggy
The secret to stay-crispy popcorn that’s really butter is clarified butter, also known as ghee. This is just melted butter that’s simmered until the water in the butter evaporates – because butter is made up of fat, milk solids and water.
Once the water is evaporated, the melted butter is now pure butter fat. This has two benefits for butter popcorn:
Use to pop the popcorn – because it has a higher smoke point than normal butter. You CANNOT pop popcorn with normal butter, it just burns; and
Won’t make popcorn soggy when you pour the butter over it. In fact, it stays crispy for days and days and days….
Alternative to making clarified butter: Use store bought ghee. That’s what clarified butter is!
How to make clarified butter– the secret to “stay crispy” butter popcorn
This stuff is also known as liquid gold. The buttery smell is just insane!
And if that isn’t enough, another miracle is that clarified butter can be stored in the pantry for months and months. It’s liquid when warm and a soft butter consistency at room temperature (just microwave to melt).
You’ll find ghee is called for in almost every Indian recipe. Also, use it in place of melted butter in any recipe – clarified butter is just browned butter which is butter on steroids!
How to make Movie Theatre Butter Popcorn
So now you know the secret to stay-crispy butter popcorn, here’s how to make Movie Theatre Butter Popcorn that’s ultra buttery and will stray crisp for days! (I use the same technique in my Lightly Sweet ‘n Salty Popcorn, which adds a slightly sweet touch compared to this Butter Popcorn.)
Grind salt or blitz in food processor to make it a fine powder – it needs to be fine so it sticks to the popcorn
Melt clarified butter (ghee) in a pot – do not use normal butter
For optional movie theatre yellow popcorn colour – add tumeric and saffron powder (see section below for more info)
Add popcorn kernels, clamp lid on
30 seconds after popcorn starts popping, shake pot once
When popping stops, remove from pot and immediately transfer popcorn into large bowl
Douse liberally with more clarified butter and sprinkle with salt. Do not use normal butter, it will make it soggy!
How to make Movie Popcorn YELLOW!
For a truly authentic Movie Popcorn experience, this recipe includes an option to make your popcorn yellow!
After many many batches of popcorn, I’ve settled on a combination of imitation saffron and tumeric powder as the best way to add an authentic yellow colour to the popcorn. I dissolve it in a touch of water, then swirl it around in the butter before adding the kernels.
Caveat: You will get yellow fingers and tongue, just like when you indulge in Cheetos and Cheezels! There is also the slightest hum of warmth left on your tongue from the spices, barely noticeable. None of my friends noticed it – until I probed them repeatedly!!!
For fellow food nerds interested in how I landed on this: The spices have to be dissolved in a touch of water because they don’t dissolve or seep into fat. This was also the problem with normal yellow food colouring – it doesn’t dissolve in fat. I tried emulsifying it by shaking in a jar with the butter, grinding with salt and sprinkling. I also found that using both spices achieved the colour I was after – tumeric alone makes the popcorn a crazy neon yellow colour, while saffron comes out a cheddar orange colour.
Phew! Who knew I could write so much about popcorn??!!
I will tell you this though. Putting aside the yellow colouring, because that really is optional, Homemade Movie Popcorn is insanely addictive. It’s buttery in a way that just dousing with normal melted butter never will be. It’s lightly and evenly salted in a way that you can’t achieve just by using normal cooking or table salt.
And the best part?
IT STAYS CRISP FOR DAYS. As in – perfectly crispy.
Start thinking about how you’re going to smuggle this into the cinema. Because honestly, it’s almost criminal how expensive movie popcorn is to buy!!! – Nagi x
More Popcorn recipes
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Homemade Movie Popcorn (Stay-crisp Butter Popcorn)
Ingredients
Movie Popcorn:
- 3 tbsp Popcorn Butter or ghee (Note 1)
- 3/4 cup popcorn kernels
- 2 – 3 tbsp Extra Popcorn Butter or ghee (Note 1)
- 1 tsp Popcorn Salt
Popcorn Salt:
- 1 tbsp salt
Popcorn Butter (clarified butter / ghee):
- 250 g / 2 sticks unsalted butter
Yellow Colouring (optional):
- 1 1/2 tsp warm tap water
- 1/4 tsp saffron powder , imitation (Note 2)
- 1/8 tsp tumeric powder
Instructions
Movie Popcorn:
- Place 3 tbsp Popcorn Butter in a large 10L/10qt lightweight pot over medium heat (medium high if weak stove).
- When the butter is almost melted, pour in Yellow Colouring, if using. Quickly give the pan a shake to disperse the colouring across the base.
- Add kernels, shake quickly to spread across the base, then clamp lid on. The kernels will start popping after a minute or so.
- Shake briefly once after 30 seconds or so. When the popping stops, immediately pour popcorn into a large bowl.
- Melt Extra Popcorn Butter in microwave. Pour over popcorn, sprinkle over salt. Shake and toss well to disperse. Extra fantastic served warm but still irresistible at room temp.
.
Popcorn Salt:
- Place in a mortar and pestle and grind into a fine powder. OR use about 1/2 cup salt and blitz in food processor.
Popcorn Butter (video helpful):
- Place butter in a silver saucepan over medium low to medium heat.
- Leave to melt, it will start to sputter and spit, then foam.
- When you push the foam aside and you see brown bits on the bottom of the saucepan, remove from heat. Takes about 10 minutes.
- Line a strainer with 2 paper towels, then strain butter through – discard brown bits.
- Pour strained butter into a jar or container. It sets when it cools. Use in liquid or set form. Keeps in the pantry for months (it is now ghee / clarified butter).
Yellow Colouring (optional):
- Mix ingredients in a small bowl until spices dissolve.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Look what I found on my phone from the trip down south to Araluen last weekend! Just rolled out of bed, complete with ugg boots, trackies, bed hair, completely makeup-less, clutching Dozer.
Ooooh…. *light bulb goes off in head*…. I could be talking about any day…..
Diana Hanna says
Nagi – The price of popcorn at our cinemas ‘is’ criminal!! I have a habit of buying cookies from Coles or Woolies and we sneak them in. Sneaky and lovely.
The recipe looks fabulous and who doesn’t need ghee in the fridge handy?
Have a wonderful weekend- The photo of you and Dozer is beautiful. Diana 🙂
Nagi says
Glad to hear I’m not the only one who sneaks food into cinemas! I’ve been doing it for years – and always feel so guilty!! But we shouldn’t, should we!
Karlene Moses says
Hi where can u buy saffron powder from?
Great popcorn recipe can’t wait to try
THANKS
Nagi says
Hi Karlene! Just the herbs and spices section at supermarkets 🙂 Get the cheap stuff which has colouring added, not the expensive saffron powder which is pure gouger saffron!
J says
Hi Nagi! It made me laugh, just picturing all these women going to the movie theater with great big handbags or totes. The guys would have a backpack.
Your right, the popcorn is so crazy expensive! Hmm that would be a bit trickier replicating m&m’s! Lol.
You and Dozer have a great weekend!
Star rating works again!😀
Nagi says
I’m hoping to start a DIY Popcorn Movement!!!
Mary Ann Rollano says
What a great recipe! I can’t wait to try it. I stopped buying microwave popcorn a long time ago after I discovered how bad all the artificial ingredients were for your health. But I love popcorn and I don’t have a popcorn maker. This looks so simple to make.
Technical question: How do you make the process photo collages? What program do you use? Thank you!
Nagi says
Hi Mary Ann! I have a template in Photoshop, I’ll email it to you now! It’s a biggish file so I might have to send a dropbox link 🙂 N x
Mary Ann Rollano says
Nagi,
Awesome – thank you sooo much! That’s very generous of you. I really appreciate it.
Bev says
Hi Nagi,
You and Dozer look so happy together! Love it! Can’t wait to try the popcorn recipe – it looks great.
Nagi says
I swear, you can’t be in a bad mood when you have a dog. It’s impossible!! I got Dozer and the morning grumps were gone for good!
Bev says
Hi Nagi,
Truer words were never typed!
Gail says
MIOVIE TIME! 😂
I am loving the pic of you and Dozer. Looked like a cozy morning😊
Have an Awesome Sauce weekend! Hugs
Nagi says
There was snoozing in front of the fire place shortly thereafter…. it certainly was a cosy morning!!! Happy weekend to you too Gail, hugs back! N x
SandyToes says
Hi Nagi,
You always find the cutest photos of Dozer for us to coo over, it’s nice to see you sharing the spotlight. We’re both HUGE fans of popcorn here, Steve often pops a bag for lunch! Me, I’m all about the stovetop and this is going into my Make it Now! file.
BTW, I’m really impressed at how much popcorn you can grab with your baby hands! (ducking)
Nagi says
I grew up in a family where if you weren’t fast enough, you missed out. I’ve had lots of practice. Where there’s a will, there’s a way….no matter how small your hands are!
Nadine B. Adirondack Mountains, New York says
Nagi — HOW do you come up with the best food ideas every single day! I had just been thinking about going to the movie theater to get some popcorn and bring it home — we all love movie popcorn!
One question, though — what is imitation saffron powder? Are there different kinds?
I love the idea of making ghee too, the whole popcorn idea is making my mouth water!
Big hugs to Dozer, he looks so happy on vacation with you!!!
Nagi says
OMG this made me laugh! I LOVE movie popcorn but not even I thought to buy takeout from the cinemas!!! N x
PJ Miller says
Love the happy photo with you and sweet Dozer!
WOW – To work out how to make movie popcorn and make it last for more than one day is BRILLIANT!! Thank you, Nagi. My hubby & I love popcorn with lots of butter but I only make enough for one sitting since it goes to mush overnight. Bleh. Making this as a surprise for my husband on our Saturday home movie night.
Nagi says
I’m hitting the road shortly for a road trip and I have a giant bag of this to keep me company!!!
Naomi says
That popcorn looks delicious! I had no idea using ghee would solve the soggy buttered popcorn dilemma. You have the best ideas, and I can’t wait to show this one to my hubby.
Love the picture of you and Dozer. Y’all are just too cute!
Nagi says
I can’t take credit! I read about it somewhere, or saw it on TV 🙂 It works 100% perfectly! N x
Ron says
Haven’t had popcorn in years, but you take on it has me remembering a good bucket of buttered popcorn. I think you could make M&Ms. Just call then N&Ds.
You guys look great in the image.
Nagi says
N&D’s!!! BA HA HA! But more importantly – do you do the salty/sweet thing? Popcorn + M&M in one bite = 👌🏻
Rae says
Nagi, Thank you for tackling the popcorn. I as well had problems with soggy popcorn for years. Even went through a few popcorn makers trying to get that perfect movie popcorn. You and I have both been experimenting to get the best results at home. I achieved by different means and would like to share with you. But, am aware, the ingredients may not be available to you. Have not measured. This popcorn is as good 1 and 2 days out as it is after popping. Great Northern Popcorn..movie theater. Golden Barrel butter flavored coconut oil, and Flavacol, a butter flavored salt made by Gold Medal. All available on Amazon. Add generous amount of the butter flavor coconut oil to pot, then add Flavacol to oil, then popcorn. When popped, make sure and allow all steam to escape by dumping popcorn in large bowl. Sprinkle more Flavacol, to taste, to popcorn, as you would salt. The end product is that beautiful yellow color and flavor tastes like the movie theater. I poo pooed these ingredients because they weren’t the real deal butter. But, results are better. And, found that friend with a terrible lactose intolerence can also eat the popcorn. I will never go back to my old way of
Making popcorn. Now I don’t have to go to movies for the popcorn!
Nagi says
I read about Flavacol! I am curious to try it, I should order it. Apparently it makes it smell like real deal movie popcorn! I wonder what’s in it>>
Kelly | Foodtasia says
Brilliant Idea! I’m so addicted to popcorn – and here I’ve had that can of ghee in my cupboard all this time! We also have the half price movie tickets on Tuesdays in Virginia and Dubai. We didn’t give it such a cute name though 🙂 And yes, we always pay more for the popcorn than for the tickets. Love the pic of you and Dozer – so adorable!
Nagi says
Ghee is the BEST secret ingredient ever!! I use it in place of butter all the time 🙂 N x
Mike from Chili Pepper Madness says
The coolest recipe! I love this. Totally saving this for my next movie release!
Nagi says
YOUR next movie release?? Is there a movie star in our midst here?? 😂
Mike Hultquist says
Haha, not me. I’m just the screenwriter! =) =)
Marie says
Nagi, you’re a genius. I can’t believe you cracked the movie popcorn code. This is a great post
Nagi says
Ah, I can’t take credit. I’ve known about it for years, I read or saw it somewhere. The only thing I figured out is the yellow colouring! N x
Connie says
If anyone could make m&m’s, it would be you. You are the best! Love your recipes and stories.
Nagi says
Ha! Not candy 🙂 I’m no good at candy!
Mez says
OMG that’s amazing! I’ve been getting that microwaveable stuff because my mum likes it so much but i prefer air popped (in the popcorn maker) which is much healthier. It’s always missing that buttery taste though and adding butter just makes it all wilted and sad. I definitely need to try the air popped with the ghee butter and fine ass salt thing.
*Tight-arse Tuesday is still a thing but it’s still like $16 which is hardly a bargain D:<<<
Cheaper to use the optus app or try Cheapo Mondays at independant places.
Nagi says
Yes! Definitely try air popped with the ghee, it will work great!!! PS I barely ever go to the movies anymore because it’s so expensive!!
Ali says
I love to make popcorn in the microwave. I have a special silicone unit. But then I add melted butter and salt. I am going to try your popcorn butter instead. Looks awesome
Nagi says
You can totally still do that Ali! Just douse in this butter instead of normal butter 🙂 N x
Tracy says
Yum! I adore popcorn. My husband learned early on in our marriage that even after dinner at a restaurant followed by a theater movie….I am still going to want that refillable bucket ‘o popcorn! I share with him but only because he is then required to get the bucket refilled before the movie starts. See?! I told you I adore popcorn. I am all over your recommendation for using clarified butter. And I wish we had cheap weekday movie ticket options around my town. Last time we went to the movies is was $45 for tickets, bucket of popcorn and large soda. Sad, really. I’ve actually resorted to Target’s popcorn sold in their snack bars for my popcorn fix. Great warmed up in the oven ♥ But now I can make my own, thanks!
Nagi says
It’s like our 2nd stomachs reserved for desserts, hmm??
Kim says
Brilliant! Hate soggy popcorn but love me some butter!
Nagi says
I hear you Kim!!