Popcorn Topping Ideas
Last updated on Dec 16, 2024Corrinn McCauleyStep right up and get your gourmet popcorn! Popcorn is a staple snack at fairs, carnivals, sports stadiums, and movie theatres. While classic buttered popcorn is timeless, consumers are increasingly interested in unexpected and elevated flavors. Gourmet popcorn provides a unique opportunity; it is easy to make in bulk and can be sold at a high profit margin. We’ve rounded up the most popular sweet and savory popcorn toppings so you can stock your concession stand with premium popcorn.
Shop All Popcorn Seasonings1. Caramel Popcorn
Caramel popcorn is a delightful treat that combines the crunch of popcorn with the sweetness of caramel. This popcorn variation is coated with a glaze that offers a sweet, authentic caramel flavor. To make caramel popcorn, simply add caramel glaze to a regular popcorn machine along with popcorn kernels and oil. As the machine heats up and pops the kernels, the caramel glaze will coat the popcorn, resulting in a delicious caramel-flavored treat that is sure to be a hit with customers. In addition to being a standalone snack, caramel popcorn can also be used as an ingredient in creating unique and delicious popcorn mixes. By combining caramel popcorn with other toppings such as nuts, chocolate drizzle, or cheesy seasonings, businesses can offer customers a wide range of flavor options to suit different preferences.
Caramel popcorn tasting notes: Sweet, rich, salty, corn
Best caramel popcorn mixes: Caramel and cheddar popcorn mix (aka Chicago mix), caramel and Cajun popcorn mix, caramel and cinnamon sugar popcorn mix
2. Cheese Popcorn
Cheese popcorn is made with a specially formulated cheese paste that melts and coats each piece of popcorn. The concentrated consistency of the cheese paste is designed to cling to each kernel, creating a uniform taste experience with every bite. This ensures that each piece of popcorn is infused with the rich cheese flavor, delivering a satisfyingly cheesy snack every time. In addition to popcorn, cheese paste for popcorn can also be used to coat other snacks such as nuts and pretzels, making it a versatile ingredient for creating a variety of cheesy treats. While parmesan cheese paste and other types of cheese are used, the most popular cheese flavor used in cheese popcorn is tangy, sharp cheddar cheese.
Cheese popcorn tasting notes: Sharpy, tangy cheddar
Best cheese popcorn mixes: Cheese and caramel popcorn mix (aka Chicago Mix), cheese and truffle popcorn mix, cheese and Cajun popcorn mix
3. Chocolate Popcorn
Chocolate popcorn is a delectable treat made with a chocolate popcorn glaze that frosts crunchy popcorn in indulgent chocolate flavor. This delightful snack is perfect for satisfying your customers' cravings for something rich and unique. To create chocolate popcorn, simply allow your popcorn oil to heat up for 2-3 minutes before adding your popcorn kernels. Once the popcorn is popping, add the chocolate glaze for a deliciously decadent finish. This easy-to-use method ensures that the chocolate flavor is evenly distributed throughout the popcorn, creating a mouthwatering treat that your customers will love.
Chocolate popcorn tasting notes: Sweet, frosted chocolate flavor
Best chocolate popcorn mixes: Chocolate and Oreo popcorn mix, chocolate and peanut butter popcorn mix
4. Peanut Butter Popcorn
Peanut butter popcorn is a creamy and indulgent treat for concession stands, movie theaters, and snack bars. To make peanut butter popcorn, coat freshly popped popcorn in smooth and creamy peanut butter sauce. Make sure to drizzle evenly and mix thoroughly to ensure that each kernel is evenly coated. Peanut butter popcorn can be served as a standalone snack or combined with other toppings such as nuts, marshmallows, and chocolate chips to create a popcorn trail mix. It also makes a delicious baked good topping for chocolate peanut butter cupcakes and peanut butter pie.
Peanut butter tasting notes: Nutty, salty, savory, slightly sweet
Best peanut butter popcorn mixes: Peanut butter and chocolate popcorn mix, peanut butter and Oreo popcorn mix, peanut butter and caramel popcorn mix
5. Oreo Popcorn
Oreo popcorn is typically made by coating freshly popped popcorn with a mixture of crushed Oreo cookies, white chocolate sauce, and a touch of salt for the perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors. The process of making Oreo popcorn is relatively simple and requires only a few ingredients. Start by popping a batch of popcorn. Next, crush Oreo cookies into small pieces, being careful not to crush them too finely to maintain some texture in the final product. To make this process easier you can purchase pre-crushed Oreos. Combine the crushed Oreo cookies with the white chocolate sauce, stirring until well mixed. Drizzle the Oreo and white chocolate mixture over the freshly popped popcorn, ensuring that the popcorn is evenly coated. Allow the mixture to cool and set before serving.
Oreo popcorn tasting notes: Sweet white chocolate, crunchy and chocolatey Oreo cookies, salty popcorn
Best Oreo popcorn mixes: Oreo and peanut butter popcorn mix, Oreo and chocolate popcorn mix, Oreo and cinnamon sugar popcorn mix
6. Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn
Cinnamon sugar popcorn adds a sweet and aromatic flavor to the classic snack. You can create cinnamon sugar popcorn by sprinkling a mixture of your favorite type of ground cinnamon and granulated sugar over freshly popped popcorn. This popcorn topping is a cost-effective and easy-to-make option for businesses looking to offer a unique and flavorful snack to their customers with ingredients they likely already have on hand. Alternatively, you can purchase a specially formulated cinnamon sugar popcorn topping that evenly coats your popcorn. In addition to its delicious taste, cinnamon sugar popcorn also offers a visually appealing presentation with its light brown color and specks of cinnamon throughout which can help draw in customers and increase sales.
Cinnamon sugar popcorn tasting notes: Warming spices, sweet, salty
Best cinnamon sugar popcorn mixes: Cinnamon sugar and caramel popcorn mix, cinnamon sugar and Cajun popcorn mix, cinnamon sugar and chocolate popcorn mix
7. Truffle Popcorn
Truffle popcorn is a gourmet twist on a classic snack. This indulgent treat boasts a rich, earthy truffle flavor, providing a deep umami taste that elevates the popcorn experience. One popular way to make truffle popcorn is by using truffle zest, a versatile seasoning made from real truffles that can be easily sprinkled on hot buttered popcorn. The combination of the nutty truffles with the buttery goodness of popcorn creates a delicious and indulgent treat that is sure to impress guests and elevate any popcorn experience. It is an approachable and affordable way to introduce luxurious truffles onto your menu, offering a sophisticated flavor profile that will impress your customers. Truffle popcorn is perfect for wine-pairing menus, elegant tapas, or party favors at catered events.
Truffle popcorn tasting notes: Rich, earthy, umami
Best truffle popcorn mixes: Truffle and salt and vinegar popcorn mix, truffle and cheese popcorn mix, truffle and nutritional yeast popcorn mix
8. Salt and Vinegar Popcorn
Salt and vinegar popcorn is a popular snack that combines the tangy acidic flavor of vinegar with a hint of salt. The vinegar flavor adds a unique twist to traditional popcorn, creating a bold and satisfying taste experience. One key feature of salt and vinegar popcorn seasoning is its very fine particle size. This fine texture is specifically designed to cling to the kernels, ensuring that every bite is coated with the seasoning. This uniform distribution of flavor enhances the overall taste of the popcorn, providing a consistent and enjoyable snacking experience. Salt and vinegar popcorn is a creative twist on the classic salt and vinegar chip; consider serving it alongside your sandwiches to reimagine the expected pairing.
Salt and vinegar popcorn tasting notes: Acidic, tangy, salty
Best salt and vinegar popcorn mixes: Salt and vinegar and truffle popcorn mix, salt and vinegar and cheese popcorn mix, salt and vinegar and nutritional yeast popcorn mix
9. Nutritional Yeast Popcorn
Nutritional yeast popcorn offers a dairy-free and vegan alternative to traditional cheese popcorn. Nutritional yeast, often referred to as "nooch," is a deactivated yeast that is rich in essential nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and minerals. It has a savory, cheesy flavor that makes it a popular ingredient in vegan cooking. When sprinkled on popcorn, nutritional yeast adds a deliciously cheesy and umami flavor without the need for dairy products. Nutritional yeast is also low in fat and calories, making it a healthier alternative to traditional cheese popcorn. Whether you're vegan, lactose intolerant, or simply looking for a healthier alternative to traditional cheese popcorn, give nutritional yeast popcorn a try for a flavorful and satisfying snack.
Nutritional yeast popcorn tasting notes: Savory, cheesy
Best nutritional yeast popcorn mixes: Nutritional yeast and garlic powder popcorn mix, nutritional yeast and Cajun popcorn corn mix, nutritional yeast and salt and vinegar popcorn mix
10. Cajun Popcorn
Cajun popcorn adds a flavorful, spicy kick to your popcorn experience. This popcorn seasoning features a combination of the bold and zesty flavors beloved in gumbo and jambalaya, including paprika, cayenne, garlic, and pepper. These spices come together to create a robust and savory taste that sets Cajun popcorn apart from traditional buttered or salted options. Cajun popcorn seasoning boasts a very fine particle size, which ensures that the seasoning evenly coats the popcorn and delivers a consistent and full-bodied flavor with every bite. Whether you're looking to spice up your concession stand menu or offer a unique snack option at your bar or restaurant, Cajun popcorn is a versatile and exciting choice.
Cajun popcorn tasting notes: Paprika, cayenne, garlic, and pepper
Best Cajun popcorn mixes: Cajun and caramel popcorn mix, Cajun and nutritional yeast popcorn mix, Cajun and cheese popcorn mix
Popcorn Topping Brands
Choosing the right popcorn toppings brand is key to creating delicious gourmet popcorn mixes for your customers. There are many brands out there offering a wide variety of flavors to satisfy both sweet and savory cravings. Whether you’re starting a concession stand or expanding your happy hour menu, here are some of the best popcorn topping brands to consider.
1. Carnival King
Carnival King popcorn seasonings offer a wide range of sweet and savory popcorn topping flavors. Their popcorn salts and seasonings are specifically crafted to cling to each kernel, creating an even and rich flavor distribution. Carnival King is known for providing a high-quality taste at affordable price points and easy-to-use applications.
- Popular Flavors: Popcorn salt, sweet and salty popcorn seasoning, salt and vinegar popcorn seasoning, cinnamon sugar popcorn seasoning, Cajun popcorn seasoning, salt and pepper popcorn seasoning, spicy cayenne pepper popcorn seasoning, smokehouse popcorn seasoning
- Average Price Per Ounce: $0.55
See what our customers are saying about Carnival King popcorn seasonings!
2. Great Western
Using Great Western popcorn glazes is an easy way to increase popcorn profits, as they can turn any ordinary serving of popcorn into a sweet treat that customers will love. Great Western is a leading concessions brand, offering a range of high-quality products that are designed to enhance the flavor of popcorn. One of the standout features of Great Western toppings is their ability to perfectly coat each piece of popcorn, ensuring that every bite is bursting with delicious flavor.
- Popular Flavors: Caramel, chocolate, cherry, grape, blue raspberry
- Average Price Per Ounce: $0.14
See what our customers are saying about Great Western popcorn glazes!
3. Red Star
Red Star is a well-known brand in the world of popcorn toppings, offering premium nutritional yeast that is perfect for vegan, dairy-free, and health-conscious consumers seeking a cheesy popcorn alternative. Red Star is a joint venture between the Lesaffre Group and Archer Daniels Midland Company. Both companies have been at the forefront of baking products and technology since 1853, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. When you purchase Red Star products, you can be confident that you are getting high-quality toppings that have undergone years of research and development.
- Popular Flavors: Fortified nutritional yeast, inactive yeast powder
- Average Price Per Ounce: $0.38
See what our customers are saying about Red Star popcorn toppings!
4. Sabatino Tartufi
Sabatino Tartufi is a premium brand that offers truffle zest, making it an excellent choice for creating gourmet truffled popcorn. Known for its deep umami taste and delicate, powdery texture, Sabatino Tartufi truffle popcorn seasonings perfectly coat the popcorn, imbuing it with luxurious flavor. As a family-owned purveyor of truffle products with a history dating back to 1911, Sabatino Tartufi brings a rich tradition of quality and expertise to the world of truffle-infused snacks.
- Popular Flavors: Truffle zest, truffle sea salt, truffle zest and cheese seasoning, truffle and rosemary sea salt, truffle zest hot seasoning, truffle and parsley sea salt
- Average Price Per Ounce: $4.16
See what our customers are saying about Sabatino Tartufi truffle popcorn seasonings!
Consider adding sweet popcorn to your candy store offerings as an inexpensive way to boost sales around the holidays or incorporating savory gourmet popcorn to the pairing menu in your wine-tasting room. No matter how and where you choose to sell it, use our list of popular popcorn toppings to build your gourmet menu and ensure you serve what customers crave. Get creative and increase your revenue potential by mixing different flavored popcorn varieties and adding other mix-ins like candies, nuts, and pretzels to promote your specialty popcorn offerings.
