SUBSCRIBE BY EMAILI love popcorn but I haven’t eaten it much lately. My popcorn munching goes in spurts, but I think these 3 DIY Brown Paper Bag Microwave Popcorn Treats will tide me over for a while. You’ll find a sweet, salty, and spicy option to satisfy everyone.
Buffalo-Ranch Popcorn
My mom used to make popcorn on the stovetop in a heavy cast iron skillet. You just cannot beat it for a simple, satisfying snack, right?
Straight from the microwave is a little more convenient than the stovetop version, but not by much. If you prefer your popcorn from a pan, pop it up and do your happy dance! You can still season it with the three options here.
For you microwave types, did you know you can easily make microwave popcorn without much more than a brown paper lunch bag and, well, popcorn kernels?
Yep. Just toss the kernels in a bag and pop. It doesn’t get much easier. Add the kernels to a standard-size brown lunch bag, fold it over a few times, and pop on the “Popcorn” setting on your microwave. Just be sure to keep an eye on things so neither the popcorn nor the bag burns.
Unicorn Fun Popcorn
When I started to think of the ways I could make 3 DIY brown paper bag microwave popcorn treats, my options grew, and grew, and grew. The list of seasonings and flavors is pretty much endless.
Speaking of options, you might like to try my St. Patrick’s Day Mint-Chocolate Popcorn snack (good any time of year in my opinion), or my Sesame and Nori Popcorn.
For this post I came up with sweet, salty, and spicy versions: Unicorn Fun popcorn (I can’t believe I jumped on the unicorn train!), Parmesan Pepper popcorn, and Buffalo-Ranch popcorn.
These are fun and flavorful treats to whip up on your own. No fuss required, and you only need a few ingredients. The sweet version — Unicorn Fun — is definitely sweet, and kids will love its color and candy coating.
Parmesan Pepper Popcorn
The salty option — Parmesan Pepper — is simple and pretty much perfect in my book. A few shakes of Parmesan and a couple twists of the peppermill and you’ve got a more grown-up popcorn treat.
For a bit of spiciness, try the Buffalo-Ranch popcorn. It tastes like your favorite wings, and not nearly as messy. I tried to make this with Buffalo sauce but it didn’t work for me (soggy popcorn – ick). I found a packet of dried Buffalo seasoning at the store in the spice aisle that worked perfectly. You’ll also need a seasoning packet for Ranch dressing.
The next time you’re craving popcorn, consider one of these 3 DIY Brown Paper Bag Microwave Popcorn Treats. They make for a fun snack option!
Patricia Conte/Grab a Plate
Yields 6 cups
Save RecipeIngredients
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels, divided in half
- 3 tablespoons melted butter, divided
- 2 tablespoons Ranch dressing dried seasoning mix
- 2 tablespoons Buffalo wing dried seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels, divided in half
- 1 (8-ounce) bag white candy melts, divided in half
- Blue and pink (or red) food color
- Candy sprinkles
- Aluminum foil
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels, divided in half
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- 6 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon, more to taste, ground black pepper
Instructions
- Divide the kernels between 2 brown paper lunch bags. Fold the top of each bag down a few times. Add one bag at a time to the microwave, standing up.
- Microwave for a few minutes (I used the “Popcorn” setting on my microwave, which worked well) until the kernels stop popping. Keep a watch on the popping corn so it (and the bag) doesn’t burn. Pop the remaining corn.
- Divide the popcorn between two separate bowls. Drizzle the melted butter over each and toss to coat.
- Add the Ranch dressing mix to one bowl of popcorn and toss to combine. Add the Buffalo wing mix to the other and toss to combine.
- Mix the two together in a large bowl.
- Pop the corn as described above.
- Place foil on 2 baking pans and set aside.
- In two separate bowls, melt the candy in the microwave. Once melted, add a few drops of the blue coloring to one, and the pink to the other. Stir to combine.
- Divide the popcorn between two bowls. Drizzle one bowl of melted candy over one bowl of popcorn and gently mix well to coat.
- Transfer the popcorn to one of the baking pans, spread it out across the pan. Shake the sprinkles over the top. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
- Do the same with the remaining popcorn and candy.
- Remove from the refrigerator and break up the clumps of popcorn.
- Toss both colors of the popcorn together into a large bowl.
- Pop the corn as described above.
- Transfer the popcorn to a large bowl. Drizzle the melted butter over the popcorn and toss to coat.
- Sprinkle the Parmesan and pepper over the popcorn and toss to combine.
Notes
Be sure to keep an eye on your microwave when popping your corn so neither the corn nor the bag burns. I used my "Popcorn" setting on my microwave, and it worked well, but all microwave power varies.
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