an honest review..

Does popcorn really need protein? The newest (and sort of interesting) take on popcorn has arrived. Khloud popcorn is Khloe Kardashian’s venture into the world of food snacks. Recently launched on April 29th, this snack is all everyone is itching to to try. No only have the snacks launched online via the Khloud website, but they launched in one of the biggest retailers – Target (and more recently, Sprouts).

I flocked like everyone else to Target and grabbed these bags before they sold out – yes, they’re that much in demand. It’s still unbelievable how much influence celebrities and culture can have on our wallets, but that’s for another discussion. I honestly just wanted to munch on these and add our unsolicited, unfiltered opinions to the bunch.

background info

3 Flavors: Olive Oil & Sea Salt, Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn, & White Cheddar.
Main Ingredients: Nebraskan Corn, Olive Oil/Coconut Oil (no seed oils), & Khloud Dust
Khloud Dust: Their blend of milk protein isolate

The most talked-about – and polarizing – element in reviews has been the Kloud Dust. Marketed by the brand as a “blend of milk protein isolate,” it’s essentially protein powder. You don’t typically associate that chalky, shake-ready powder with popcorn, but here, it’s reimagined and incorporated into a snack format. It’s an unexpected twist that has sparked strong opinions on both sides.

Some ask: why popcorn? But the answer is super clear. Popcorn is one of the few snacks that hasn’t traditionally carried a “nutritious” or “guilt-free” label. Think about it – cookies, chips, brownies, breakfast bars – these are the usual products lining grocery aisles, all reinventing themselves as better-for-you options.

Ironically enough, plain popcorn (especially dry or sea salt varieties) is already a great alternative to greasy, over-processed snacks. While isn’t a shortage of popcorn brands out there, very few have leaned into health in a meaningful way – enough to make us flip the bag over and actually read the nutrition label mid-snack.

So, let’s try that nutritious snack with a protein boost.

My thoughts..

  • Olive Oil & Sea Salt: Historically the closest to dry, unflavored popcorn. It’s the opposite in this case. I can’t seem to escape the Khloud dust on every bite, so much so, that this shouldn’t be referred to just Olive Oil & Sea Salt. To put it quite plainly: I could do without the dust.
  • Kettle Corn. Notable for being a sweet flavor, and the one I was most excited to try – probably the most unflattering to the whole brand. Aside from the occasional popcorn that’s more-so coated in sugar rather than the Khloud dust, it’s nasty. I found myself digging around the bag for the sugar-coated Kettle Corn popcorn I’ve come to know & love while leaving the remaining at the bottom of the bag. Not for me!
  • White Cheddar: The cheese powder and Khloud dust are definitely competing with each other, but cheese powder wins. Unlike the previous flavors this is actually really good. A bit of that cheese powder/chalky taste you’ll have eating traditional cheddar popcorn or Cheez It’s, it’s good enough to reach back in for another bite. Keep a wet wipe near, as there’s a powdered residue left on your hands. But totally worth it!

My take on the flavors aligns with the general consensus – they’re solid tasting snacks. While it’s still early to predict the long-term trajectory of this snack, I wouldn’t be surprised if it follows in the footsteps of brands like Halo Top or SmartSweets: both reworked their formulas to better satisfy customers seeking healthier options, without sacrificing the taste they were used to.

Only time will tell..

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