This time of year is perfect for get-togethers and nights in with friends and family. The weather is colder, the days are shorter, and it’s a great time to cozy up. One out-of-the-box way to get everyone together for a warm evening in? A DIY holiday popcorn party!

Popcorn is an easy, affordable and tasty treat that can be a blast to make. You can even get fancy with the toppings to find flavors that will satisfy the whole family. It’s the perfect way to host a memorable holiday gathering or a movie-night in, and requires very little prep. Cooking the popcorn is also a great activity to do with your family and loved ones, bringing everyone together with a snack that’s as fun to make as it is to eat!

Making popcorn on the stove is a lot easier than you think, and the result is so, so good. All you need is popcorn kernels, a good, heavy bottomed pot with a lid, oil and salt. Start by heating up the oil at a medium heat — too high can burn the oil, so make sure to avoid cranking it up. Test a few kernels in the oil first. Once they pop, you know the oil is hot enough. Turn off the heat and put the rest of the kernels in the pot, placing the lid on top. Give it a little bit of a shake to distribute the kernels evenly, and then wait about sixty seconds. After a minute, put the pot back on the stove at medium heat, shaking it occasionally, and listen to those pops! You’ll want to take everything off the heat once the pops slow to one pop every few seconds.

Give them time to rest, and then shake your popcorn out into a bowl and add salt. Now, it’s time to get fancy. Here are some of our favorite ideas to add to your popcorn bar selection!

Cinnamon Honey Butter Popcorn

For fans of sticky-fingered goodness, cinnamon honey butter popcorn may be a new craving to add to your list. Whisk two tablespoons of melted butter with maple syrup or honey, along with some cinnamon, and pour over your popcorn.

Chocolate Lover’s Popcorn

For the chocolate lovers, this one is an easy fan favorite. Melt white, milk and dark chocolate and pour out your popcorn onto a baking sheet. Then, drizzle your chocolates over and wait to cool. It’s a multi chocolate snack that’s sure to please any sweet tooth.

Cheddar Cheese Popcorn

For the more savory crowd, cheddar cheese popcorn is super easy to make. Many stores sell cheddar cheese powder or dust. All you need to do is mix popcorn, salt, butter and cheddar cheese dust together and voila! Homemade cheesy popcorn, right at (and on) your fingertips.

Popcorn Station

Once your popcorn is made, it’s time to serve it. Add a little extra preparedness pizzazz to your popcorn party with serving trays, carts or other places to set up a popcorn station. If you’re doing a movie night, that means your guests can get up and refill their popcorn bowls without pausing the movie or missing a scene. Don’t forget to include the napkins, and plenty to drink!

And just because a popcorn party is an easy holiday get-together doesn’t mean you can dazzle it up a bit. Add a little festivity to your popcorn bar. Get your guests in the holiday spirit by decorating your home, using seasonal bowls, cups and trays, and by setting the mood during cooking time with a holiday playlist. It is the season, after all!