Easy Cinnamon Popcorn Recipe

I rarely eat snacks, preferring to splurge on either carbs or dessert during a meal. My snack train was derailed when I met Kim Baldwin. She, along with her husband, Adam, are the owners of Baldwin Farms in McPherson County, Kansas.  Are you thinking, “Pam, did they convince you to snack on healthy veggies?” No.  While they do grow healthy foods like soybeans and wheat, they also manufacture Papa Baldy’s Popping Snacks.  After she shared her Cinnamon Popcorn Recipe, I can’t stop eating it.
cinnamon popcorn

When I emailed Kim to let her know how much I was enjoying it, she told me she rarely made it because it is so addicting. You’ve been warned. They also have other family recipes under their website’s FAQs section.  I *might* need to try them all for ‘test tasting purposes.’  My next recipe will either be Cindy Baldwin’s much-requested Caramel Corn or Kettle Corn, both of which shouts fall snacks.

Cinnamon Popcorn Recipe:

This recipe takes around an hour and fifteen minutes to make, but most of it is not hands-on time. To save time, I used two bags of microwave popcorn instead of popping corn on the stovetop.  Remember to remove the kernels before you add the popcorn to the syrup mixture. The easiest way to do this is to pour the popcorn into a large colander. The kernels will sink to the bottom.
cinnamon popcorn

The syrup mixture takes around three to five minutes to prepare. You’ll need to stir this constantly to prevent a hard, sticky mess. I use a nonstick Dutch oven for easy cleanup.

If you want to “jazz up” the Cinnamon Popcorn recipe for the holidays, you could add edible candy eyes (available at most craft stores) to create “Bloody Eyeball Popcorn.” Add candy hearts for Valentine’s Day, or mold the candy into balls, place into a clear bag, and add a Santa belt ribbon for Christmas.
cinnamon popcorn recipe

Printable Recipe:

Easy Cinnamon Popcorn Recipe
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
A delicious way to enjoy the taste of gourmet cinnamon popcorn
Ingredients
  • 2 bags microwave popcorn, popped OR 11 cups popcorn
  • 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
  • 1/2 cup corn syrup
  • 1 (9 ounces) package Red Hots (note: It’s usually cheaper to buy two of the $1 boxes in the candy aisle)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
  2. Pop Microwave Popcorn. Remove any unpopped kernels.
  3. In a large nonstick saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
  4. Add the corn syrup and Red Hots.
  5. Continue to cook, stirring continuously, until the Red Hots have melted. This should take 3-5 minutes.
  6. Stir in popcorn, making sure the popcorn is evenly coated.
  7. Spread popcorn evenly on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray.
  8. Bake for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
  9. Remove from heat and allow to cool before eating.

Store the leftover popcorn in an airtight container or plastic storage bag. This Cinnamon popcorn is so good, plus it’s gluten-free.  It’s a good balance between sweet and salty and has a delightful crunch.  It truly is addicting!
easy cinnamon popcorn recipe

Do you have a favorite gourmet popcorn recipe?

You Might Like These Recipes:

Peppermint Crunch Popcorn for Christmas

Slime Popcorn Recipe for Halloween

Copycat Harry & David Moose Munch Recipe

 

22 Comments

  1. Delicious and easy snack recipe my kids love popcorn this red hot popcorn sure they will like it .

  2. We love doing flavored popcorn! We haven’t tried Cinnamon, but this is perfect for the halloween season!

  3. Cool! I’ve always loved popcorn especially since the husband and I watch a lot of movies and tv shows at home. I think this is a pretty fun idea to switch up the usual popcorn!

  4. Hmm….Never thought of cinnamon on popcorn but I bet this tastes a lot like a candied apple. A very different flavor and bet people would be surprised when they bite into ti.

  5. That looks so good! My family and I love popcorn! I love the cinnamon flavor!

  6. my son loves cinnamon and popcorn. I bet he would flip for this recipe, I’ll have to try it out!

  7. Now this is what I would love to have. I am a huge fan of the cinnamon flavor. This would be something I know I could enjoy.

  8. I was just talking to my husband about his cinnamon flavored cereal. He loves cinnamon big time. He’s going to love that, for sure.

  9. Interesting flavor of popcorn! I love trying out different flavors because we like popcorn as a snack treat!

  10. This looks so good! I love cinnamon candies like red hots, so I bet this would be a fun treat for me.

  11. Cinnamon on popcorn is a yes for me! I would add nuts to it to give it more crunch.

  12. Yum! This Cinnamon Popcorn looks really delicious. I’m sure this will be a new favorite in the house!

  13. This definitely reminds me of Red Hots, which I love! Sounds delicious and a lot of fun to make too!

  14. We love flavored popcorn, so now I am going to need to try this recipe this weekend, we are having a movie night

  15. I used to love eating Red Hots, they were one of my favorite candies! Cinnamon popcorn is new to me does it get really hard since it is baked in the oven?

    • Hi Latricia,
      No, it doesn’t. Some of the pieces get a little more crunchy than normal, but it doesn’t get hard. The time in the oven just keeps the cinnamon coating from getting sticky.

  16. This popcorn sounds delicious and I’m going to have to give it a try. Popcorn is a staple snack in our house and my son would eat it daily if I let him. I’m a fan of white chocolate covered popcorn but I’m going to give the cinnamon a try next.

  17. I love cinnamon popcorn! And it’s much healthier than most other popular snacks.

  18. i will def be trying this out for a movie night with girlfriends- a lot of them are huge cinnamon fans!

  19. I will be trying this out during our next movie night. I bet the kids will love it. I’ve always enjoyed cinnamon stuff!

  20. What a fabulous popcorn recipe for Movie Night! Yum. Yum. I’m a huge fan of flavored popcorn, so I’m super excited to try this recipe.

  21. That sounds like such a yummy treat. I love flavored popcorn and I think this one would be a huge hit in my house.