Peanut Butter Popcorn

Peanut Butter Popcorn

I’m not actually a huge fan of popcorn. But I am a huge fan of peanut butter. Such a huge fan, in fact, that peanut butter can make me crave popcorn. This recipe, specifically. I have been making this since I was a kid, when I found the recipe in Klutz Press’s Kids Cookbook (which I still own and use, by the way). It is easy and it is tasty, and if you’re looking for a good movie watching snack, this one is perfect.

Now, you can use some plain microwave popcorn for this, if you want to, but real popcorn is so easy to make you might as well go for it. And it doesn’t stink up your kitchen the way the microwave variety can. You just need a good size saucepan with a lid and a handle you can get a good one-handed grip on. Pour about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in the saucepan, and add one or two popcorn kernels. Put the lid on the pan, and heat it over medium to medium-high heat. Once the kernels pop, you’re ready to add the rest: I usually use about 1/2 a cup of kernels. Pour them into the hot oil, replace the lid and cook the popcorn, shaking the pan continuously and holding the lid on. When the popcorn starts to pop vigorously, it will probably push the lid up (depending on how big your pan is). Just hold it down, and keep shaking, and don’t worry too much about a few escaping popcorn puffs. Once the popping has subsided and there are pauses of a few seconds between pops, your popcorn is ready.

I have found the best way to evenly add melted butter (or delicious peanut butter topping) is to dump all the hot popcorn into a large paper bag, pour in the topping, and shake the bag vigorously. The paper will absorb some of the extra grease, and you can shake well enough to coat all the popcorn evenly.

Peanut Butter Popcorn

And the peanut butter topping? Easy.

Peanut Butter Popcorn Topping

  • 3 T. butter
  • 3 T. peanut butter

Yes, that’s it. Just heat the butter and peanut butter together in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring continually until it’s melted and combined. Then just pour it over your popcorn and shake it up to make sure it coats every piece. Add salt to taste if you use unsalted butter or low-salt peanut butter.

If you’re looking for something new to snack on, definitely give this a try. I’ve been eating it for at least 20 years, and I never get sick of it. Even when the popcorn gets stuck in my teeth.

10 thoughts on “Peanut Butter Popcorn”

  1. I’ve started popping my own popcorn lately but find it a little boring, even though I like to put red chili peppers on it, then I saw this & got a little excited, the chili peppers are still going on it. Can’t wait to try it, probably will today. Thanks for sharing.

  2. The last time I popped popcorn on the stove, it ended in disaster! I wasn’t shaking it enough and the stuff on the bottom got really burned. HOWEVER, I do love stovetop popcorn so much better than microwaved. I will have to try your peanutbuttery kind some day.

    Another way to spice up stovetop popcorn? Drizzle with/shake on some green Tabasco. My friends would do this at their favorite pub all the time. It’s really quite zingy/delicious!

  4. I love that you have this recipe on here from THAT cookbook. I had this same cookbook when I was a kid and remember making and loving this! I decided I wanted to try Peanut Butter popcorn again based on that childhood experience and looked around on the internet for something as simple, but all the recipes involved much more than just the butter and PB that i remembered—marshmallows, honey, corn syrup, etc or extra baking time!

    Thanks for posting!

    1. I think this cookbook also has the best recipe for brownies. I was just looking at it again the other day. 🙂

    1. I’m glad you liked it! Some of my favorite recipes came from that funny kids’ cookbook. Might have to dust off this particular recipe this weekend…

  6. I have been searching for this cookbook for years, just for this specific recipe. I could never remember the name of the cookbook and it made it so hard to find. I’m so excited to find this recipe again!! Thank you for making my day.

    1. I’m so glad I put this recipe up here, then! 🙂 I, too, have a few cookbooks from my childhood that I’ve been searching for for years with no luck.

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