Perfect Popcorn for His + Hers Movie Night

These delicious recipes for Lemon Cheesecake Popcorn and BBQ Bacon Popcorn have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PopIntoSAMS #CollectiveBias

Sometimes the best way to reconnect with your significant other is to just snuggle up on the couch, watch a movie {or two} and share a bowl of popcorn {or two}. That's usually the date-night of choice for my husband and I - it's easy, inexpensive and doesn't involve finding a sitter for the kids. I recently decided to jazz up our movie night routine and make each one of us our own special popcorn. I tried to come up with popcorn flavors that would be a good match to our favorite movie genres and I think it was a great success! We paired BBQ Bacon Popcorn with my husband's action/adventure movie choice and Lemon Cheesecake Popcorn with a chick flick I had picked out.

And I wasn't joking when I said that movie night movie + popcorn is our go-to date night - we even buy the big box of ACT II popcorn from Sam's Club so that our favorite movie snack is always on-hand. {they even had it on demo this past weekend!} If you are an Ibotta member, there is currently a $2 off coupon for ACT II popcorn at Sam's Club {while supplies last}.

The flavors of these two popcorns were amazing. Like hold-the-phone amazing! Both my husband and I were in love with both mixes. The bold smoky flavors of the BBQ Bacon Popcorn were perfect for a fast-paced action movie, while the Lemon Cheesecake Popcorn was perfect with the sweet ending of a girly movie. I am totally inspired to try more flavor combinations know that I see how easy it can be!

Lemon Cheesecake Popcorn
{PRINTABLE RECIPE}
yields approximately 9 cups
Ingredients
9 cups popcorn, popped {I used ACT II Butter Lovers}
½ cup fresh lemon juice
2 cups powdered sugar
zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons cheesecake pudding mix {just the powder}
¼ cup crushed graham crackers
Directions
1. Over medium-high heat, in 2qt saucepan, stir together lemon juice and powdered sugar. Bring to boil, whisking occasionally. Stir in lemon zest, reduce heat and let boil for 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Remove from heat and let stand for about 5 minutes.
2. Place popcorn in large bowl. Pour lemon mixture on popcorn in several batches, stirring the popcorn in between the pouring - making sure to evenly coat popcorn. Sprinkle in cheesecake pudding mix and crushed graham crackers, stir popcorn again. Spread out onto flat surface, I used a cookie rack, and let set for about 30 minutes or until cooled.
3. Enjoy!

BBQ Bacon Popcorn
{PRINTABLE RECIPE}
Ingredients
9 cups popcorn, popped {I used ACT II Butter Lovers}
½ cup bbq sauce
⅓ cup honey
¼ cup bacon bits
Directions
1. Over medium-high heat, in 2qt saucepan, heat bbq sauce and honey. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and let simmer for 7 minutes, stirring periodically. Remove from heat, stir in bacon. Let sit for 5 minutes.
2. Heat oven to broil.
3. Place popcorn in large bowl. Pour bbq mixture on popcorn in several batches, stirring the popcorn in between the pouring - making sure to evenly coat popcorn.
4. Evenly spread popcorn onto baking sheet and broil for 2 minutes. Let cool for at least 30 minutes.
5. Enjoy!