Maple Bacon Popcorn with Birthday Printables
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Skillet popped popcorn with the flavors of maple and smoky bacon. Package it up with a free printable for a fun birthday treat.
Author: Brielle
Recipe type: Snack
Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 5 pieces maple bacon (uncooked)
- ½ cup unpopped popcorn kernels*
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¾ teaspoon liquid smoke
- 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons maple extract
- ¼-1/2 teaspoon chili powder, depending on taste
- ½ teaspoon of salt
Directions
- Heat a large saucepan (make sure saucepan has a lid that fits for later use) over medium heat on stovetop. Add 5 pieces of maple bacon and cook for 15-18 minutes, turning after 8 minutes and each 1-2 minutes following to avoid burning. Cook until bacon is dark, but not burnt, in color. Remove bacon, leaving drippings in skillet, and allow bacon to cool on paper towels.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees and move rack to lower portion of oven.** Increase skillet heat to medium high, leaving bacon drippings in the skillet, and measure ½ cup popcorn kernels. Place one kernel in hot oil and wait for it to pop. Once kernel pops, dump the remaining kernels in the skillet. Immediately cover with lid and shake skillet over heat until the majority of the kernels have popped, about 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer popped popcorn onto large sheet cake pan and spread out evenly. Remove any unpopped kernels.
- In a small bowl heat butter in microwave until melted. Add brown sugar, liquid smoke, maple extract, ¼ teaspoon chili powder and salt. Stir until sugar dissolves. Taste and add more chili powder if desired (smoky flavor reduces with cooking, so don't be alarmed if it is a bit strong in flavor). Return to microwave for 20 seconds. Stir again.
- Drizzle mixture over popcorn and quickly toss and stir to lightly coat all kernels. Bake in oven on lower rack for 4 minutes, watching carefully so it doesn't burn. Stir popcorn and return to oven for an additional 3 minutes, watching carefully again so it doesn't burn.
- Allow popcorn to completely cool. Crumble cooked bacon pieces and add to popcorn. Serve immediately.***
Notes
*If you choose to use microwaveable butter flavor popcorn, follow the recipe as stated except use two bags of popped popcorn and replace butter with bacon grease and omit salt for the glaze. If you use microwavable kettle corn, use two bags popped popcorn and replace butter with bacon grease and omit salt for the glaze as well as reducing sugar to 1½ tablespoons.
**Make sure to remember to preheat the oven. If you wait to do this until after you have drizzled the popcorn, the popcorn will get soggy.
***If you want to store this popcorn until later, do not add the bacon crumbles. Keep the crumbles in the fridge and add them before serving.
**Make sure to remember to preheat the oven. If you wait to do this until after you have drizzled the popcorn, the popcorn will get soggy.
***If you want to store this popcorn until later, do not add the bacon crumbles. Keep the crumbles in the fridge and add them before serving.
Recipe by Breezy Bakes at https://www.breezybakes.com/maple-bacon-popcorn/