How to make chai popcorn - a quick and simple vegan snack combining homemade chai spice with just enough sugar and freshly popped popcorn for a sweet and warming snack perfect for your next movie night! (or any time of the day!)
Popcorn is budget-friendly, easy to prepare, and can even be healthy when made at home. Even better, with the addition of homemade chai spice, this vegan chai popcorn is packed with warming spices and just enough sweetness for a healthy but more-ish snack!
When it comes to popcorn toppings, the options are practically endless. Of course, you have your usual salted, sweet and salty, and caramel – of course - but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’ve already shared agave butter popcorn, but this time we’re making things warm and cozy with this simple vegan chai spice blend. These spices on popcorn are sure to become a new favorite for any lover of chai lattes, gingerbread, pumpkin spice, and other warming spice blends!
The results are a perfect fall-based snack with enough warming spices to keep you satisfied, whether fireside or in the comfort of your home, snuggled under a blanket and binging on the latest TV show. So enjoy this simple vegan popcorn as a healthy snack any time of the day – and even for lunchboxes! And, if you love chai spices as much as us, you might also enjoy this persimmon pumpkin chai smoothie or homemade chai concentrate.
Best of all, this popcorn can be made on the stovetop or in the microwave with minimal fuss and clean-up required. You can even meal-prep it in advance! Plus, you can even whip up a large batch of the chai spice and use leftovers to make delicious treats like chai hot chocolate, oatmeal, overnight oats, a chai latte, added to apple pie/apple crisp, in quick bread/cake, cookies (like these coconut oatmeal cookies), pancakes, waffles, and more! You can even gift it as a fun (and low-budget) gift!
Let us know in the comments if you’d like us to share more simple, vegan-flavored popcorn recipes and popcorn toppings!
Keep scrolling to the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions.
Stovetop popcorn: Heat a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium with 1-2 kernels inside and a lid on (optionally add 1 tablespoon oil). When they pop, add the remaining kernels in a single layer on the bottom of the pan and remove it from the heat for 40 seconds. Then, return the pan to the hob over medium-low heat and wait for the kernels to start popping, shaking gently to avoid burning. When the popping slows to once every few seconds, remove the pan from the heat. As the popcorn pops, keep the lid slightly ajar to stop steam building up and making soggier popcorn.
Microwave popcorn: Combine the popcorn with one teaspoon of oil (optional), then place it in a brown paper bag (or a heatproof bowl covered with a plate). Fold over the top of the bag 2-3 times to seal the contents. Then place in the microwave, upright, and microwave at full power for between 2-4 minutes, or until the popping slows to every few seconds.
There will be some unpopped kernels. However, if you cook them for longer, you’ll end up burning some – so it’s better to end up with a few unpopped. You could also use a popcorn maker if you have one.
You can prepare a large batch of chai spice and store it in an airtight container for several months.
When it comes to storing popped popcorn, there are several ways to do so. You can keep this flavored popcorn recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, in the refrigerator for around 2 weeks, or even in the freezer for 2-3 months. Ensure that you remove as much air from the container as possible and that it’s airtight to keep out moisture.
Alternatively, you can browse through our complete collection of snack recipes for more inspiration!
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
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