This post is sponsored by Barlean's.  In exchange for writing this post, I received compensation and the products used to develop my recipe.  As always, all content and opinions are my own. 

Popcorn is my snack food of choice: a tub at the movies, a bag of kettle corn to nibble on at the farmer's market, a box of Cracker Jack at the baseball game.  But most of the time, I enjoy my popcorn as a snack at home, and I'm in a flavor rut--all I ever do is add salt.  Barlean's recent challenge to develop a recipe with Barlean's Butter Flavored Coconut Oil and a nifty Lékué Popcorn Maker was the perfect opportunity to add some creativity to my favorite snack.

When I used Barlean's Butter Flavored Coconut Oil in my vegan chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies, I discovered that opening the package smells exactly like walking into a movie theater--so it's perfect for melting and serving over popcorn.  In addition to being vegan, Barlean's Butter Flavored Coconut Oil is organic, non-GMO, free of trans fats, sustainably sourced, and flavored naturally with botanical extracts.  Since coconut oil has a low melting point, it only takes about 15 seconds to melt a tablespoon or two in the microwave. 

I usually make my popcorn in an air popper, but for this challenge I tested out the Lékué Popcorn Maker.  It's basically a silicon bowl with a lid: add the popcorn kernels, cover, and microwave for 2-3 minutes (the magic number for my microwave was 2 minutes and 15 seconds).  In my tests, nearly all of the popcorn kernels popped each time, and I love that the popcorn maker is dishwasher-safe and collapses for easy storage. 

Since my popcorn default is to salty, I used this challenge as a chance to go sweet for a change of pace.  I started with coconut sugar and then added cocoa powder for some bittersweet depth, a touch of cinnamon for warmth, and unsweetened shredded coconut for extra flavor.  I tested this recipe with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, for a more intense, buttery flavor, feel free to use 2 tablespoons.  I like the slightly caramelized flavor that coconut sugar adds, but if you don't have any on hand you could certainly substitute granulated sugar.

Want to try this recipe at home?  I'm giving away a container of Barlean's Butter Flavored Coconut Oil and a Lékué popcorn maker to a randomly selected reader--enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of this post by midnight on May 28, 2017 (U.S. residents only).

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut
• 2 teaspoons coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup popcorn kernels
• 1-2 tablespoons Barlean's Butter Flavored Coconut Oil, melted

Combine the shredded coconut, coconut sugar, cocoa powder, and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix until well-combined.

Pop the popcorn in a Lékué popcorn maker or air popper.  Drizzle with half of the coconut oil and toss with half of the shredded coconut mixture.  Repeat with remaining coconut oil and remaining shredded coconut mixture and toss until popcorn is evenly coated.

Serve immediately.

a Rafflecopter giveaway