This delicious Churro Popcorn is coated with a sweet buttery syrup and flavored with a warming cinnamon sugar mix. It’s perfect for making last-minute snacking, and the whole family will love it!

Top view of Churro Popcorn piled high in a white bowl surrounded by othe rchurro popcorn pieces on the worktop.


Table of Contents
  1. Why We Love This Recipe
  2. What You’ll Need
  3. How to Make This Recipe
  4. Recipe FAQ’s
  5. Tips for Success
  6. Substitutions and Variations
  7. More Delicious Candy Snack Recipes
  8. Churro Popcorn Recipe

I’m obsessed with the cinnamon-sugar flavor of churros. We love making our favorite copycat Disneyland churro toffee to share with friends and neighbors and when I’m feeling ambitious I will even make homemade churros from scratch. But this churro popcorn lets me get my churro fix the easiest way possible in just about 10 minutes!

This Churro Popcorn has the perfect combination of buttery, sweet, salty, and spiced to level up your snacking at the holidays! Classic homemade popcorn is always a winner for snacking during the holidays, on family movie nights, and on game nights too. My friend Marianne brought this yummy churro popcorn to a party and she graciously shared the recipe with me.

If you’re looking for more popcorn ideas, check out this Twix Caramel Popcorn or my Peppermint Bark Carmel Corn which are perfect for the holiday season. This colorful Lucky Charms Snack Mix is so much fun and makes the perfect sweet treat for any occasion too!

A jar filled with churro popcorn as a serving suggestion.

Why We Love This Recipe

  • Easily customizable to make your own type of popcorn.
  • It uses simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
  • This recipe is quick and easy to make with barely any mess!

What You’ll Need

Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

  • Popped Popcorn – If you have popcorn kernels, make Stovetop Popcorn first.
  • Brown Sugar – Light or dark brown sugar will work here.
  • Corn Syrup – Light corn syrup is best, you can also use honey but it will turn out a bit sweeter.
  • Butter – Use salted butter for enhanced flavors. You can use coconut oil to make it dairy free.
  • Salt – Kosher Salt will further enhance the flavors and give a great sweet and salty contrast.
  • Baking Soda
  • Vanilla Extract – for a subtle added warmth.
  • Sugar – White Granulated Sugar is good for this recipe.
  • Cinnamon – Use ground cinnamon for a warm spiced flavor.

How to Make This Recipe

Make syrup mix. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in a large bowl that is microwave-safe. Cook on high for 1 minute to melt butter. Stir, then cook for another 1 minute. Repeat 3 more times for a total of 5 minutes until the sugar mixture is hot and bubbling.

Add baking soda and vanilla. Stir in the baking soda and the vanilla extract, mixing them together well. The mixture will foam a bit, then subside.

Top view of glass mixing bowl filled with caramel mixture with a wooden spoon in it.

Coat popcorn. Fill a large paper grocery bag with the popped popcorn, then pour the caramel over the popcorn in the bag, stirring a bit to coat. Don’t worry about coating every piece of popcorn perfectly, just mix the caramel around a bit.

Cook. Fold the bag over, then place it in the microwave and cook on high for 1 minute.

Mix. Shake the bag well without opening it, then cook for another 1 minute. Shake again, then cook for 30 seconds, shake, and cook for 30 seconds more.

A brown bag full of popcorn.

Make cinnamon sugar. Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a jar and shake well to mix. Then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the caramel popcorn inside the bag. Shake the bag again to coat it, then pour the popcorn onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to cool before serving.

Top view of churro popcorn covering a flat surface.

Recipe FAQ’s

Can I use honey instead of corn syrup?

Yes! Generally speaking, honey is a good substitute for corn syrup, but especially as we’re not really baking this recipe, it won’t make much of a difference. Your popcorn will turn out a bit sweeter, but it will still be delicious!

How do I make popcorn from corn kernels?

Personally, I think the best way to make popcorn at home is to make it on the stovetop. It tastes significantly better made this way, than air-popped popcorn or microwave popcorn. Use my Stovetop Popcorn recipe for best results!

How do I store leftover popcorn?

Store leftover churro popcorn in a sealed container or Ziploc bag in a cool place for up to 6 days. The popcorn may soften over time.

Close up of churro popcorn piled high in a jar.

Tips for Success

  • Spices. Add more or less cinnamon as you like it. Ginger and nutmeg are great flavors for this too.
  • Freshly made. Make this popcorn right before you plan to serve it. Freshly made popcorn is always best, plus the warm spiced aromas will be so comforting for your night in!
  • Serving. Serve popcorn in small bowls or jars for individual portions, or make paper cones lined with parchment paper for a disposable option!

Use freshly popped popcorn!

Fresh popcorn is best for this recipe as it has a superior texture and flavor to already-popped popcorn. You can easily make it yourself on the stovetop or in the microwave. Use storebought popped popcorn in a pinch. You can use leftover popcorn to make Churro Popcorn, but it will be softer this way. Do not use popped popcorn that is over 3 days old.

Close up of a white bowl piled high with churro popcorn with a hand reaching in and grabbing some pieces.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Make White Chocolate Churro Popcorn by drizzling the popcorn in melted white chocolate, and letting it set before serving.
  • Add white chocolate chips, mini pretzel pieces, Candied Almonds, or Candied Walnuts to the popcorn mix and serve as a Churro Trail Mix.
  • Remove some cinnamon if you prefer a milder cinnamon flavor, or substitute some of it for nutmeg or ginger instead.

More Delicious Candy Snack Recipes

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.

Stay in the know

Churro Popcorn

5 from 5 votes
Amy Nash
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
This delicious Churro Popcorn is coated with a sweet buttery syrup and flavored with a warming cinnamon sugar mix. It's perfect for making last-minute snacking, and the whole family will love it!

Ingredients
  

  • 15-16 cups popped popcorn plain
  • 1 cup brown sugar light or dark
  • ¼ cup light corn syrup
  • ½ cup salted butter
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high for 1 minute.
    1 cup brown sugar, ¼ cup light corn syrup, ½ cup salted butter, ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Stir, then cook for another 1 minute. Repeat 3 more times for a total of 5 minutes until the sugar mixture is hot and bubbling.
  • Stir in baking soda and vanilla, mixing well. The mixture will foam a bit, then subside.
    ½ teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Fill a large paper grocery bag with the popped popcorn, then pour the caramel over the popcorn in the bag, stirring a bit to coat. Don’t worry about coating every piece of popcorn perfectly, just mix the caramel around a bit.
    15-16 cups popped popcorn
  • Fold the bag over, then place it in the microwave and cook on high for 1 minute.
  • Shake the bag well without opening it, then cook for another 1 minute.
  • Shake again, then cook for 30 seconds, shake, and cook for 30 seconds more.
  • Combine the granulated sugar and cinnamon in a jar and shake well, then sprinkle over the caramel popcorn. Shake to coat, then pour the popcorn onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to cool.
    ½ cup granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons cinnamon

Notes

Adapted from Your Home Based Mom by way of my friend Marianne, who shared the recipe with me.
  • Store: Store leftover churro popcorn in a sealed container or Ziploc bag in a cool place for up to 6 days. The popcorn may soften over time.

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 259mg | Potassium: 122mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 404IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @HouseOfNashEats or tag #houseofnasheats!

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About the author

Hi, I'm Amy

I enjoy exploring the world through food, culture, and travel and sharing the adventure with mostly from-scratch, family friendly recipes that I think of as modern comfort cooking.

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Reader questions and reviews

  1. Carolyn says:

    Hi can you tell me if this can be frozen after it is cooled off?

    1. Amy says:

      Yes you can freeze it. I have never tried it but I am sure it would work. Just make sure its wrapped in an airtight container with as little air as possible to prevent freezer burn and moisture.