It's award season which means that some of the year's best movies are in movie theaters now. Whether you are in the mood to watch a comedy or a drama, there's one thing that ever movie-goer loves and it's movie snacks. While at home you can consume an entire meal while enjoying a movie night, things are a bit different in the theater. Buttery popcorn is the king with giant jugs of soda. Thinking about that bag of your favorite candy at the concession stand? Better have saved up some extra cash!
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Movie theater snacks are priced as if you were the star of the show. Instead of spending an arm and a leg, why not bring your own snacks and appetizers? While it is looked down upon, here are a few of our favorite snacks that will fit snugly in your purse or bag. We did the hard work of sorting through Pinterest for you. You might have to bring your own soft pretzels, though. Also, some of these snacks are best brought in Tupperware, but we know you can manage to sneak them by.
Our Favorite Homemade Movie Snacks
1. Caramel Marshmallow Popcorn
Why settle for buttered popcorn at the movie theater when you can whip up a batch of your own caramel popcorn at home? This recipe uses microwaved popcorn then gets it's stickiness from melted marshmallows.
We recommend storing this in little plastic bags to bring along with you. And, oh ya, lots of napkins.
Get the recipe here from Lil' Luna.
2. Mexican Street Corn Nachos
Artificial cheese sauce this is not. Unlike the concession stand nachos that seem like they've been out for way too long, these Mexican street corn nachos are delicious.
Crunchy tortilla chips are topped with corn, cheese, cayenne pepper and lime making this a salty snack you cannot resist.
Find the recipe here from Closet Cooking.
3. Churro Popcorn
Churros have to be one of my favorite treats so when I saw this recipe I knew I had to jump on it.
The popcorn is first coated in cinnamon then doused in a sugar coating, making this treat extra sweet.
Find the recipe here Homemade Hooplah.
4. Easy Pretzel Hot Dogs
A combo of pretzels and hot dogs are always a winner in my book. The dough is made from thawed frozen dinner rolls, which means that the recipe is super easy to prep.
And let's not forget it's handheld, making this instantly the best movie theater snack. We recommend making this right before going to the theater and wrapping it in a layer of tin foil to keep the snack piping hot.
Get the recipe here from Dash of Sanity.
5. Pretzel Chip Caramel Popcorn
If you love combining sweet and salty snacks (I am a huge fan of goldfish crackers and dark chocolate, no judgement please) this no-bake snack with minimal prep time is for you.
In this recipe you cook up the popcorn, make a sticky caramel sauce with sweetened condensed milk and brown sugar, then mix in pieces of chocolate covered potato chips and pretzels. Heaven I tell you.
Get the recipe here From Lime Mother Like Daughter.
6. Sharp Cheddar Cheese Popcorn
If a simple bowl of popcorn is more your style, you've got to make up a batch of this sharp cheddar cheese popcorn. The trick to getting super finely shredded cheese is using something like a microplane or the smallest holes on your box grater. Who needs movie theater popcorn, sour patch kids or junior mints when you have this?
Make this for a family movie night snack and take this to the theater in a brown paper bag hidden in your purse. Shh!
Get the recipe here from Houseful of Handmade.
7. Homemade Turtle Candies
Made with only 4 ingredients (5 if you add the optional sea salt), these chocolate candies make a great snack to munch on. The recipe recommends using lightly roasted and salted pecans instead of raw. You can find them in the store or even roast these sweet treats yourself.
Pack a few of these in a small plastic bag and carry them in your pocket for easy snacking.
Find the recipe here from The Idea Room.
8. Homemade Butterfingers
As classic a movie theater candy can be, butterfingers will always take the cake. I never knew you could make homemade butterfingers before I came across this recipe which contains candy corn and peanut butter. Is that really what's in a butterfingers bar?
Get the recipe here from Pip and Ebby.
9. Homemade Caramallows
A perfect match between caramel and marshmallows, Caramallows would be a perfect snack to eat alongside your bucket of popcorn. We recommend making this candy a full day before to ensure the marshmallow has had time to set up.
Find the recipe here from Sprinkle Some Sugar.
10. Venison Nachos
Wide Open Eats
If you are seeing a Western, we highly recommend chomping down on a big plate of these Venison Nachos served with jalapeños and cheese. This dish really benefits from homemade chips or "restaurant-style" chips found in the grocery store.
11. Chocolate Covered Cinnamon Bears
Whenever my sister and I are in a candy store these are the only candies that she buys. Spicy with a coolness of chocolate, these gummy bears will keep your breath fresh while enjoy your favorite movie.
Find the recipe here from Le Creme de la Crumb.
12. Cheesy Pizza Sticks
If pizza is your go-to movie theater snack, I highly recommend making up a batch of these bad boys before the previews start.
Made with Pillsbury pizza dough and mozzarella sticks, this pizza roll is a snack to put together.
Get the recipe here from I Wash You Dry.
Editor's Note: Products featured on Wide Open Country are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
