Popcorn toppings vary from savory to sweet and can be cultural or seasonal. Butter is a common topping, while cheese powders, flavored powders, and spices are also popular. Kettle corn and caramel corn are sweet options, while nutritional yeast is a healthy alternative to cheese flavoring. Movie theater popcorn can be high in fat due to the use of coconut oil and butter or margarine.
There are a wide variety of popcorn toppings in the world, from savory to sweet. Some popcorn toppings are only seen in certain cultures, some only at certain times of the year, and some are so ubiquitous it’s hard to imagine popcorn without them. While traditional popcorn toppings are still very popular, in recent years, with a widespread spread of specialty foods, some more exotic spices and accompaniments have appeared as popcorn toppings.
One of the most common popcorn toppings is plain butter. The melted butter on the popcorn adds a richness and saltiness that most people enjoy. For an even richer taste, one part butter can be mixed with two parts lard and additional salt can be added. In North America, popcorn is often served with salt and butter or salt and oil, and the sweeter popcorn toppings are seen less often. In the UK however, popcorn is equally often served with salt and sugar.
Many movie theaters in the US use coconut oil as a medium to pop popcorn and then add it with butter or margarine and salt. Due to the huge amounts of coconut oil used, as well as the large amounts of butter or margarine, movie theater popcorn can be incredibly high in fat. In fact, one study showed that a small popcorn had about 30g of saturated fat, or about three times as much as a Big Mac.
Various forms of cheese powders can also be used as popcorn toppings, to give popcorn a cheesy flavor. Cheddar, white cheddar, nacho, parmesan and jalapeño are commonly seen as popcorn toppings. Often these flavors are little more than dried milk with artificial flavors added, but the nicer establishments sometimes use real cheese, especially in the case of Parmesan.
Powdered popcorn toppings with artificial or natural flavors can come in nearly any flavor combination imaginable. Companies that sell these flavors often come up with exotic flavors to differentiate themselves. For the most part, powdered flavorings sold in the United States are savory, with flavors like sour cream and onion, ranch dressing, Cajun spice, dill pickle, and barbecue.
Kettle corn is a popular type of sweet popcorn sold in the United States and Europe. Kettle corn is popcorn sauteed in oil and coated in granulated sugar and salt. This gives it a nice combination of saltiness and sweetness, with less sweetness than caramel corn. Caramel corn is also quite popular and is made by coating popcorn in molasses or caramel. Caramel corn can also be flavored with additional flavors, such as chocolate, blueberry, strawberry, or coconut.
Popcorn seasonings can also include simple spices placed on the popcorn by themselves. Ground black pepper, for example, is popular in some groups. Paprika and cayenne pepper are also popular popcorn seasonings, adding a spice to popcorn. Nutritional yeast, or brewer’s yeast, is also a very popular condiment, and is also increasingly seen in traditional venues such as movie theaters. Nutritional yeast is high in many different vitamins, especially the B-complex, and is high in protein, making it a healthy alternative to things like cheese flavoring.
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