Delicious Black and White Popcorn Recipe for Movie Nights

Discover the recipe for a delicious black and white popcorn treat perfect for your next movie night.

Inspired by a famous recipe from a local Seattle theater, this dish is a crowd-pleaser.

“The chocolate popcorn served at Cinerama in Seattle is iconic. My brother urged me to recreate this treat, and after years of attempts, I finally experienced the real thing. The taste confirmed my brother's insistence.

This recipe comes from numerous trials, with plenty of missteps along the way. At Cinerama, you can choose entirely chocolate popcorn or a mix of chocolate and plain. My personal favorite is the mix, so that’s what I’ve crafted here. I also add a touch of brown butter, which elevates the flavor even further.”

Print
Print Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup unpopped popcorn (yields about 6 cups popped)
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, plus extra for finishing
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup finely chopped chocolate

Instructions

Pop the popcorn and split it between two large bowls.
Preheat your oven to 250°F / 120°C. Prepare a sheet pan by lining it with parchment paper.
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat until it is bubbling. Once the milk solids in the butter start to brown and it releases a nutty aroma, pour 2 tablespoons into a small bowl and set aside. To the remaining butter, add brown sugar, cocoa powder, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, and baking soda. Bring this mixture back to a boil, whisking continuously until the sugar dissolves, which should take about 1 minute.
Pour this mixture over one bowl of popcorn and stir well to coat. Spread the popcorn onto the prepared sheet pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After baking, transfer the chocolate popcorn back to its bowl and mix in the chopped chocolate. If you prefer some pieces to remain chunky, chop the chocolate coarsely and wait until the popcorn cools slightly before mixing.
Let the chocolate set on the popcorn for about 20 minutes, or refrigerate it for a quicker option. After about 10 minutes, the chocolate will firm up.
Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons of brown butter over the plain popcorn. If it has solidified, microwave it for about 20 seconds until melted.
Season the plain popcorn with sea salt to taste.
Combine the chocolate and plain popcorn, then get ready for a movie night!

Excerpt with permission from the cookbook.