Move over regular popcorn, caramel popcorn, and even cracker jacks because I’ve got a recipe that’s going to steal the show. This glazed popcorn & cashew mix might just be one of the best snacks I’ve ever had…and I don’t say those things lightly. It all started when I was working on those fun little “non-cookie” holiday gift ideas last week. I thought glazed pecans or nuts would be a very tasty gift, but then I took the idea a step further and added popcorn to the mix. Bag up some of this stuff, tie on a bow, and you now have the perfect gift for neighbors, teachers, and even the mailman. Don’t forget to attach a recipe card so the recipient not only enjoys every last bite, but also knows it doesn’t contain a bunch of junk and additives (like those highly processed tubs of caramel popcorn). Just be sure you make some extra so you can enjoy it yourself…yum!
Cinnamon Glazed Popcorn Mix
Ingredients
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
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In a small pot over low heat melt the butter and honey together. Mix in the cinnamon, ginger, and salt.
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Put the cashews in an extra large mixing bowl. Coat them with about a tablespoon of the butter/honey mixture.
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Spread the coated nuts onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and bake for 6 minutes.
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Meanwhile, in the same large bowl evenly coat the plain popcorn - minus any unpopped kernels - with the remaining butter/honey mixture.
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After the cashews have been in the oven for 6 minutes, take out the tray, add the popcorn to it, and mix it all up together. Stick the tray back in the oven and set the timer for 4 minutes.
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After 4 minutes open the oven and stir or shake the mixture around on the baking sheet. Set the timer for 2 more minutes.
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Once again open the oven and stir/shake the mixture so there are no hot spots that could get burnt. Set the timer for 1 more minute at which point the mixture will once again need to be checked/stirred.
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Repeat the process of checking/stirring the popcorn mixture every minute then take it out of the oven once it turns a dark brown (it can burn easily toward the end!). My total bake time was 6 minutes for the nuts then an additional 7 or 8 minutes once I added the popcorn.
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The popcorn and nuts will be slightly wet right out of the oven, but will harden as they cool.
Recipe Notes
We use The Popcorn Trick for easy, plain popcorn.
Parchment paper recommended for baking.
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
This looks awesome. We have lots of food allergies. Most of the year coping is not a big deal, but when there are forbidden cookies everywhere you look, I need to be prepared with attractive alternatives. This seems like a simple recipe to add to my bag of tricks :)
how do you store it? how long do you think it would last?
In an airtight container at room temp…I think it would last at least 5 days and maybe even longer (although we keep eating it too fast for me to see!)
This sounds yummy! And perfect timing, too. My family is planning some goodies to give for Christmas, and this recipe sounds just right!
I can’t wait to make this! It looks so so yummy! :)
Mmmm….this looks really delicious!
Would you know the nutritional value for this since I have to watch what I eat? Thanks
P.S.
I mean the total carbs for a serving. Thanks
I don’t know (we don’t track those things on purpose)…sorry!
Can you use peanuts instead of cashews or not put any nuts in it? If it’s best with nuts, would lightly salted nuts work or does it have to be unsalted? Thanks!
This would definitely work w/o the nuts (or with different nuts)…just put a little extra popcorn instead of nuts if you want and skip the extra cooking time. Also if you use lightly salted nuts just put a little less salt into the recipe to make up for it.
I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to bring to a Christmas party tonight. This will be perfect!
I usually have enough trouble resisting just butter and honey cooked until it’s a gooey caramel, then tossing the popcorn through it. This would be my undoing for sure!
I make something similar to this but I am loving the addition of cashews. Thanks for the inspiration.
Do you have to have plain popcorn? Will it work if you pop the popcorn in oil?
If your popcorn already has oil on it then I’d use less butter. I haven’t tried it like that myself so let me know how it works out for you!
I pop my popcorn in coconut oil, and it worked great in this recipe.
I made some today and it is all gone already!!!!! Thanks for a great treat!!!!!
I cannot get the printing link to work. Is anyone else having this problem? Maybe it is because I am on a Mac? When I click the print this recipe at the top left corner, I do get the new page with just the recipe and then when I hit print nothing happens. Any ideas? Thanks!
Stacie – I have a mac and it seems to be working okay for me. Can you just hit file/print at that point or copy and paste to word? Sorry for the trouble!
I made a triple batch, minus the cashews, and it was great. I am going to make a double batch tonight and try to sub raw almonds for cashews and pass out for teacher gifts tomorrow.
I think almond slivers would have worked better than whole almonds. Very Yummy regardless. :)
Hi, did you use the same cooking times for a triple batch? Did you cook them all at the same time? Thanks!
I made this popcorn minus the nuts for myself and girls to try out. It is gone already! I had to make it and try it before I made some as gifts!!! We do not have a microwave and cook our popcorn on the stove in coconut oil. I made the sauce just like the recipe and it turned out great. Thanks for the recipe.
For years I have given my dad popcorn for Christmas but last year I decided to start making his popcorn instead of buy in it from the store. I made this recipe tonight to try it out and my husband ate it all! My dad is difinitely never getting store bought popcorn again! Thanks for sharing!
I just finished making this recipe and it is awesome! Thanks for sharing! I made it with regular nuts because I didn’t have cashews, and it came out good!
Can you use ground cinnamon or is dried cinnamon something different?
I use dried ground cinnamon (it’s a powder).
I couldn’t find raw cashews in the store. Do you know how I would substitute for that? I’d like to use cashews if possible.
Regular roasted cashews will probably work if you cook them for less time…try putting them in the oven at the same time as the popcorn.
We’re starting our real food journey with the new year, so I’ve been scouring your site for ideas. I made this tonight for our tree trimming snack. The kids loved it and my husband said– and I quote– “If this is how we’re going to be eating I think you should start now!”
This was a delicious recipe we made lots for friends and family and will be snacking on this Christmas day with family. Always on the look for treats without sugar and a lot of processed stuff this was great!
I just made this for our family tonight and it is delicious!! Thanks for the great recipe!
This is so good. Only problem is I can’t stop eating it. Love your site. :-) Thanks.
This recipe is so good. thank you for sharing. It makes an excellent and satisfying snack. I also added about a 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper to mine because I love the sweet and spicy Congo.
I have had this recipe in my “to try” pile since you posted it, and I just made it with the kids today as a snack while we’re on spring break….deeee-lish!!! Why did I wait so long? So nice to have a homemade treat…so much better than any “cracker jack” junk! Thanks for all of your tips and recipes…you’ve opened my eyes SO much!
ps. We put the cashews in a ziploc and just pounded them into big pieces (just a little pounding) so kids were more inclined to try them!
I made this last weekend for my daughter’s birthday party as one of the snacks. It was a carnival theme so this went perfectly. It was a HIT! So yummy! I heard lots of ‘Mmmmm’s’ and ‘yummmm’s’ and ‘did you make this??’. Success, yet again!
Thought about trying a kettle corn, w/o the cinnamon and ginger and adding a little more salt. Have you tried that? Love the cinnamon though!!! Great snack and my 3year old loves it too!! Love findong wholesome snacks that I feel good about giving her and that she will eat and like!
we also used Almonds because I didn’t have any cashews on had – they worked fine.
Just made this for the first time and LOVED it. My parents loved it too. My mom said it was the best popcorn she’s ever eaten and my dad said it was better than the original! We ate it all in like 10 minutes. =)
If I were gonna give this to my kids’ teachers at school (complete with a movie ticket on top, of course), what should I use to keep it from becoming stale? Plastic bag? I have the plastic popcorn cups that you get from the Dollar Tree/Target Dollar Spot and was going to either fill them with microwave popcorn and movie candy, but homemade and healthier sounds wayyyyy better. Now to just keep it fresh for a day. Any ideas?
Hi Ceri. I found some really cute plastic bags at the Container Store that I put mine in. They worked out great. Jill
This looks delicious! I would like to make this nut free. Should I add more popcorn or just cut back on the butter and honey?
I made mine without nuts and didn’t adjust anything. It worked just fine. Side note: this is not a sweet treat whatsoever. Good, yes, but not sweet.
Thanks Tanya. I’ll give it a try.
Hi Jeannette. I think I would add more popcorn. Jill
I will try this tomorrow. Thanks.
How long will this last if kept in an air tight container? It’s on my list of goodies to make, but I don’t want to make it too soon. Most of my recipients won’t be receiving it until after Christmas.
Hi Christan. I usually seal mine in a bag and it’s fine for a few days before I give it as a gift. Jill
This recipe is amazing – was looking for a fun appetizer to bring to a Christmas party in a few days and decided to try this out. Did a “test run” tonight and can’t believe how easy and yummy it is! Thanks for another great recipe and Merry Christmas :)
This was good but not sweet like I thought it would be. May have to make slight adjustments to the second batch.
Made a trial batch last night using smart balance light butter (it’s dairy free and I cant do dairy). This popcorn is amazing. It was gone within an hour. Making more tonight for gifts to give neighbors. Thanks so much for this awesome recipe! It was super simple!
Just made this again tonight, except I used organic Olivio coconut spread in place of the butter. I’m new to using coconut oils/butter. Popcorn was awesome, and did not have a coconut flavor.
Well, I made this as I was making my regular carmel corn. I goofed up the recipe and put 16 cups of popcorn in a 9×13 pan. I also put the cashews on top of the popcorn. Oops! I didn’t follow the directions. I quadrupled all the ingredients and put it in the oven, checking/stirring every 5 mins., until I thought it looked done. Personally, sometimes doing 2 things at once turns out to be pretty tasty!! Can’t wait to share on Christmas day! (If it lasts until then…) :)
Made this and it tasted great and was a hit! Thanks for sharing! Little time consuming and a lot of steps to get the quantity I wanted, but I’m also a pretty simple, basic cook. Thanks!
Used this today with mini shredded wheat cereal that my kids would not eat for breakfast anymore…hopefully it renews it for them! YUMMY!
Just made this and it is DELISH! I used mixed nuts instead of just cashews because I hand it on hand but it is still wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Just made this for a Super Bowl party. It is so good. I did not add nuts because kids at the party are allergic, but will in the future. Thank you!
This is so addicting! Perfectly sweet and crisp. The popcorn does soften up after it sits, but I just put the mixture back in the oven for a bit on 170, and that does the trick. Thank you!
I wanted to let you know how I inspired I have been by all of your recipes & love that this is a better option than any caramel popcorn I could buy
Ummm…this might be the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten. Thank you!!!
I have not tried this yet but thinking when I do to add sunflower seeds. You can probably add any type of nut though some nuts wouldn’t work as outlined in the oven but can still add them. I love cinnamon and love popcorn, so i will try within a week.
Thinking I’ll make this to bag up for end-of-year teacher gifts! Thanks!
Just made some today! Ah-ma-zing!😋 Only I increased the honey x2 and used 1/2 the butter & no salt still Yummy! Then I made a second batch using cocoa powder instead of cinnamon & ginger (no salt). Perfect!
Oh my gosh… cocoa! That sounds wonderful!!
I just made this for my kids’ afternoon snack. Since my son is allergic to butter, I used Earth Balance Almond Spread. I think next time I’ll use half the required amount of salt as it seems a bit too salty. To counteract this flavor I sprinkled cinnamon over the top and shook it one last time. Seemed to sweeten it up. I used shelled peanuts instead of cashews and it smells/tastes delicious!!
I have made this several times and I crave it. I have tried other varieties of spices and each one is scrumptious especially: cinnamon, cayenne and dark cocoa.
Made this last week. I didn’t find it very flavorful. Next time, I’ll double the honey, cinnamon and ginger and see if that gives it the edge it needs.
Sounds good, but where do you get the NON GMO corn to make the pop corn?
Trader Joe’s has organic popcorn kernels.
Hi Yuki. Most grocery stores will carry at least one organic popcorn. ~Amy
This is an awesome idea! I love making my own popcorn! (: It would be fun to sneak into the movie theaters as well!
I also have the Trader Joe’s organic popcorn but does that make in Non GMO? The packaging does not say that it’s non GMO so I wasn’t sure about it. Thank you!
Someone told me that if it is organic then it must be non-GMO. Is that true?
Hi there. Buying organic is the best way to avoid foods that contain GMOs. Jason recently did a post that will help explain: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/05/02/what-to-buy-organic/. ~Amy
I don’t know about Trader Joes, but I get a popcorn onlline that is awesome and GMO free! Its called “Tiny but Mighty popcorn”. Google it and you’ll find it!
It tasted so good. I cant wait to pack this for school!
Oh I had a longing for Cracker Jacks today at the grocery store for our road trip next week. It must be fate that you posted today! haha! I have really young kids so I don’t think the cashews would be a good idea…maybe just the popcorn??
Hi Jamie. Just the popcorn would work, too. :)
“Buying 100% Organic, Certified Organic, and USDA Organic-labeled products is usually the easiest way to identify and avoid genetically modified ingredients.” Source:http://gmo-awareness.com/2011/05/05/is-organic-always-gmo-free/. PLEASE: Keep in mind, there are loop-holes in every law and standard and even unintentional contamination. Take a look at gmo-awareness.com for more information. This is the best we can hope for right now.
Oh my! These are AMAZING!!! I am not a big popcorn fan, but could not stop eating these, from the moment that I poured the honey butter on them, to while they were baking, to when they cooled, I just kept tasting them. Thanks for a great recipe.
Omg amazing. I used I tablespoon of honey and one of maple syrup, because I did not have the patience to squeeze another tablespoon of honey out of the almost finished bottle. It is amazing. I can’t wait to make it again and try with the cocoa powder! My daughter is inhaling it now. I trying to save some for my husband to come home from work, but it’s not looking good at the moment.
I made this today but used extra virgin coconut oil instead of the butter, and let me just speak for my while family when i say AMAZING! I also did not have raw cashews so we used pre sliced raw almonds, they roast wonderfully and have a nice crunch to them, YUM!
My boys and I made this last week and have really enjoyed it. It will be one we come back to over and over again. I didn’t cook ours quite long enough so next time I will make sure to do so. Thanks for providing these to us for free. It’s a huge blessing!
I finally made this for an afternoon snack. So yummy just with the honey/butter/spice glaze poured right on top. Snagged a bite just out of the oven and “Oh my goodness” came right out of my mouth! Can’t wait for it to cool, this is a success! Thanks for the wonderful snack recipe!
We LOVE this recipe! Sometimes we make it with just the popcorn & glaze and the double batch is gone before it can cool off!
I just made these and it was fun! I’ve never made popcorn in a brown bag like that, how neat! After tasting it I have a great idea for next time. My boyfriend has a jar of cinnamon honey that I didn’t even think to use, so I have a feeling I’ll be making this again very soon (like tomorrow) using that!
Used this as a glaze on my pumpkin seeds. Roasted at 300 degrees for about 50mins. Soooo yummy!! I usually do a savory flavor in them but after trying this, I’m hooked!!
Finally got around to making this and I can’t believe how good it is! It would for sure make an excellent gift! I do think the taste is a bit more adult than child-perhaps slightly less spice and slightly more honey would make it more kid friendly but regardless it’s amazing!
I am working in the kitchen today getting ready to make some caramel corn that my nieces love! I saw this recipe and was intrigued so I am making 2 batches of that now. Batch 2 is in the oven! I am going to share this on my website! I did make some changes, instead of cinnamon I used my homemade pumpkin spice mix!
Where did you buy the bags to make the gifts? Also wondering what size? I am searching, but not having much luck.
Thanks
Hi Jodi. You can find them easily online in various shapes and sizes. Target often has them in their “one spot”. Here is a link to a similar one: http://www.amazon.com/Unique-Industries-59023UNQ-Popcorn-Boxes/dp/B001K360PK. ~Amy
There are a lot of popcorn bags and boxes for sale on the web. Just do a search – “shopping popcorn bags” – everywhere from ebay to amazon to you name it, sells them! HTH!
Awesome recipe, and so much easier than anticipated. I doubled the batch and added some raw almonds in with the cashews. I also added just a dash of cayenne for a little kick. The texture after cooling was perfect – crunchy and delicious! Taking tomorrow to in-laws along with more traditional sides to provide a tasty snack for in-between meals, lol. Love your site!
I made it with maple syrup instead of honey for an easier comparison with a store bought bag of Cinn-brown sugar popcorn. The kids liked the store bought better. We dont eat much popcorn anyway, so it’s a fun treat.
How long will this stay fresh if you keep it in a sealed container? I am wondering how far in advance I can make and give out as Christmas gifts.
Hi Cindy. It should be okay up to a week. ~Amy
Do you think it will freeze ok?
Hi Erin. I really don’t know. I found conflicting answers when I searched. Sorry. ~Amy
This looks good!! We usually just make our popcorn, butter it, and toss it in a bag with cinnamon and coconut sugar.
This looks delicious!!!!
Do you the the Earth Balance spread would be okay instead of butter to be vegan friendly?
Hi. Our dairy free butter replacement is typically coconut oil. ~Amy
Hi! How much does this make? Just curious as to whether or not I should double/triple the recipe for our family coming in town. Thank you!!!
Hi there. It makes 4 cups. ~Amy
This is AWESOME!!!! I hope I can get it to the bags before my husband eats it all!!
Why would anyone only make one batch of this? I made a double batch but used pecans instead of cashews. Yum!
Another awesome recipe Lisa! I made this for my family on Christmas Eve and everyone raved about it! Delicious! Thank you for all you do!
I just made this minus the spices, plus a teaspoon of Sriracha. OMG. Deelicious.
This is going on our snack table for Super Bowl!!
Yum! Great without nuts!
I LOVE your website.
For a delicious popcorn seasoning, I add sea salt and squeeze half a lemon all over it, and mix it up. It is great in lieu if butter, and so delicious! My kids eat it up.
Turned out really well, didn’t nearly look as good in real life as in the picture, though. I was very skeptical to try it because I don’t like cashews, but that was my favorite part.
OMG I’m HOOKED! I made this tonight so I can have a snack while I am around festival food all day long tomorrow. Yeah, I’m not going to care one bit! This might even be a road trip snack in the near future!
Seems like whenever I’m looking for a new recipe, your page always comes up! Which make me very happy! I’m working on cutting the junk from our house and your site helps so much! Although I’m not doing it 100% yet I will get there. Thanks so much for all you do!!!!!!
One word…delicious!! I made this for our afternoon snack (along with some apple slices) and the kids are gobbling it up!
So glad to find one without corn syrup! I’m very allergic to it, but love caramel corn. Will have to try this!
Would it be alright if I used pecans? I have a whole shelf full at the moment and would love to use them up!
Sure! :)
Hi! I was wondering if anything could be substituted for the butter? (Have a child with milk protein intolerance). Thanks !!
Hi Ashley. Out typical dairy free suggestion is coconut oil. Here is more info: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/02/07/how-to-cook-with-coconut-oil/.
This is delicious! I vegan-ized it by subbing earth balance for the butter & vegan honey. It turned out great!
Fresh ginger or dried? Or will either work? Thanks!!
Follow up–used fresh ginger and it worked great. This is a great recipe! Thanks!
:)
Omg! Just made a double batch of this…..so yummy! Too bad it won’t make it into my Christmas goodie bags, we’ve already eaten half of it! Guess I can make more. ;)
I just made this tonight (without nuts due to nut allergies & replaced butter with vegan soy free butter due to dairy allergies) & it was soooo good! My husband, 2 daughters & I just loved it. So much healthier & delicious than regular caramel corn. I got your cookbook for Christmas & am loving it so far.
I made this last night and loved the flavor. However, I had a problem with the popcorn deflating when I poured the honey/butter mixture on it. It still tasted great but I thought the popcorn should have been fluffier. Did I do something wrong or is that normal?
Hi Joan. It is normal for the popcorn to shrink a little when you add the mixture.
We love this! Thanks for a great recipe. I made it several times dr a variety of reasons over the holidays. It’s quickly becoming a go-to snack/gift!
I just made this using only 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil and then 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and almonds and my kids loved it. Thanks!
Hi, just wondering, how far ahead can you make and bag this popcorn in treat bags? I want to prepare ahead of time, but I want to be sure it stays fresh. Thank you!!
Hi Emily. I often pack popcorn in lunches the night before and it is fine the next day.
Comical that you call this real food. Its not.
It’s real food meaning it’s not processed. It is made at home with real ingredients, not in a lab with chemicals. Even desserts can be real food.
Can I sub coconut oil for butter and maple syrup for honey for a vegan version?
Hi. that should work.
What would be the modified recipe if I just wanted cinnamon coated almonds in a semi healthy version (meaning calories).
How far ahead could I make a batch for a party? How do you recommend storing it? I’ve nde many times – but we always eat it immediately
Hi there. As long as you keep it in a airtight container, it stays fresh for a week or so. Be sure it cools completely before you put it in a storage container.
Very good. Will make again.
I very much loved this. It tasted delicious, often tastes better when you add a hint of cinnamon.
Love this recipe! It has been our family tradition the last few years to include bags of this honey glazed popcorn in our stockings. We can’t have corn but have used broken up pieces of plain rice cakes and popped sorghum with great success! Our whole family loves it!