If you’re in need of a recipe for an upscale, gourmet homemade food gift that won’t break the bank but has the taste of a black-tie affair, then a batch of Truffle Popcorn is the answer. Among some of the world’s most expensive ingredients, the truffle is a fungus found primarily in small regions of Italy, France and China. Difficult to locate underground, farmers actually have to rely on the sensitive noses of highly trained pigs or dogs in order find them. Thankfully, this recipe calls for a small amount of truffle oil, which is readily available in most grocery or specialty stores at a fraction of the cost of real truffles. With this key ingredient, you’ll be able to magically transform a bland batch of popcorn into something fit for royalty!

PS: To help you elevate the status of this pish-posh gift, I’ve even made you a FREE set of downloadable art-deco style labels! Read on for more information

Truffle Popcorn

Yield: 2 cups

Active Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

1/3 c. dried popcorn kernels
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
4 tbsp. truffle oil*
4 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, finely grated
1/8 tsp. salt

1) In a large pan, combine the dried kernels and vegetable oil, and cook over medium heat with the lid partially on allow the steam to escape. Once the popping slows down, remove from heat. ALTERNATIVELY, prepare one bag of microwaveable popcorn according to the instructions. You will need 2 cups of popped corn.
2) In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients together and toss. If not consuming right away, store in a cool dry place for up to 3 days.

* Chef’s Tip:  Because truffles are extremely costly and rare, most truffle oils are actually just a combination of olive oil and synthetic truffle flavoring. In fact, restaurants that offer truffled dishes will often use these truffle oils too (even if they add any real truffle shavings to it). The bright side? The flavoring in these oils are surprisingly accurate and provide a cost-effective alternative to the real thing. But, if you do have a real truffle kicking around your cupboard, do enjoy it by shaving few pieces on top of your popcorn!

Gifting Idea:

Since the truffle flavor is the star of the show, be sure to make this well-known when giving it away. Try gifting this in a popcorn box dressed up it in a black tie with a fancy label. To get the same “red carpet look” as mine, here’s what I did:

Popcorn Boxes: I used these ones by Wilton, which are available at most craft stores.

Paper Bow Tie: Check out this tutorial and template by Jessica Jones at How About Orange, and print it out at 50% in size on black craft paper. Cut, assemble, and glue it onto the upper half of the popcorn box.

Label: Download my free Truffle Popcorn Labels template here, print and cut. Glue onto the lower half of the popcorn box.