Irresistible Lemon Pie Popcorn: Your New Favorite Award-Winning Sweet Treat!
Prepare to be enchanted by my **lemon pie popcorn recipe**, an award-winning delight that’s not only incredibly easy to make but also packed with vibrant flavor and delightful textures. This gourmet candied popcorn features a zesty lemon coating, a luscious white chocolate drizzle, and a playful sprinkle of crunchy mini graham crackers and fluffy mini marshmallows. It’s a treat that captures the essence of a classic lemon meringue pie in a fun, shareable snack format.
Perfect for any occasion, from cozy movie nights to festive holiday gatherings and birthday celebrations, this lemon popcorn is a true crowd-pleaser. Package it in decorative jars for a charming homemade gift, or simply keep it all to yourself – we won’t tell if your family devours it before it even makes it into a gift bag!
“Excellent job! Texture is fantastic and ranges from crisp to squishy. Super color and flavor. A very fun recipe! Great job!”
– Judge at the Big E
The Story Behind the Blue Ribbon: A Champion Lemon Popcorn Recipe
This delightful **lemon popcorn** wasn’t just another snack for me this year; it was my special entry at the prestigious Big E regional fair. I’m incredibly proud to announce that it didn’t just win a blue ribbon, but also clinched the coveted Best of Department award! Winning such an honor was truly exciting, and it fuels my enthusiasm to share this incredible recipe with all of you today.
Imagine the joy of creating a treat that’s not only delicious but also recognized for its outstanding quality and unique appeal. This recipe is a testament to how simple ingredients can come together to form something truly extraordinary. My hope is that you and your loved ones will enjoy making and tasting this award-winning **lemon pie popcorn** as much as my family and I do.
🍋 Essential Lemon Pie Popcorn Ingredients
Gathering the right ingredients is the first step towards creating this fantastic lemon pie popcorn. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to make this vibrant, sweet, and tangy candied popcorn:
- 6 cups popped popcorn: The foundation of our snack. Ensure it’s plain and air-popped or stovetop-popped for best results.
- ½ cup sugar: Forms the base of our candied syrup, providing essential sweetness.
- 2 tablespoons water: Helps dissolve the sugar and corn syrup to create a smooth, consistent candy coating.
- ½ tablespoon light corn syrup: Crucial for preventing sugar crystallization, ensuring a smooth and glossy candy coating.
- Pinch of salt: A small but mighty ingredient that balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
- ⅛ teaspoon lemon extract: Delivers that intense, bright lemon flavor that defines this popcorn. Opt for a high-quality extract for the best taste.
- Dab of yellow gel food coloring: Gives the popcorn its signature sunny lemon hue, making it as visually appealing as it is delicious. Gel coloring provides a more concentrated color without adding excess liquid.
- ¾ cup white almond bark: Also known as vanilla candy coating, this provides the creamy white chocolate drizzle and helps bind the toppings. (For my brand, this was about 3 cubes).
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest: Adds a fresh, aromatic burst of lemon, elevating the “lemon pie” experience. Always use fresh zest for maximum impact.
- 1 cup Teddy Grahams mini graham crackers: These mini crackers contribute a delightful crunch and a subtle graham flavor, reminiscent of a pie crust.
- ½ cup mini marshmallows: Provides a soft, squishy texture that contrasts beautifully with the crisp popcorn and crunchy grahams.
You’ll find a comprehensive, printable recipe card with all quantities and detailed steps at the end of this post, making it super easy to follow along!
Pro Tips for Perfect Popcorn Preparation
The quality of your popcorn makes a big difference in the final product. I personally prefer to pop plain popcorn in the microwave using a brown paper bag or a silicone popcorn popper for a quick and oil-free base. However, you can certainly use a classic stovetop method for a more traditional approach, or even try my detailed directions for air fryer popcorn if you own one. The key is to have freshly popped, unseasoned popcorn ready before you begin the candying process.
When it comes to coloring, I highly recommend using gel food coloring for this recipe. Gel colors are highly concentrated, meaning you only need a tiny dab to achieve a vibrant, beautiful lemon-yellow hue without adding excess moisture to your syrup. If you only have liquid food coloring on hand, feel free to use a few drops, but be mindful that it might slightly alter the syrup’s consistency. Always add it gradually until you reach your desired shade.
For a seamless and successful popcorn-making experience, ensure you have these essential pieces of kitchen equipment prepared: a small saucepan for the candy syrup, an instant-read kitchen thermometer to accurately monitor syrup temperature (this is critical for proper candying), and a generous sheet of parchment paper, which will be used to spread out the coated popcorn for drying. Having these tools ready before you start will make the process much smoother and more enjoyable.
➕ Step-by-Step: How to Make Award-Winning Lemon Popcorn
Creating this award-winning lemon pie popcorn is a fun and rewarding process. Follow these detailed steps to ensure a perfect batch every time, filled with that irresistible sweet and tangy lemon flavor.
Crafting the Candied Lemon Syrup
Begin by combining the sugar, water, light corn syrup, and a pinch of salt in a small, heavy-bottomed pot. Place the pot on your stovetop over medium heat. Stir the mixture frequently to help the sugar dissolve evenly and prevent it from sticking to the bottom. The most crucial step here is to monitor the temperature carefully using your instant-read kitchen thermometer. Bring the syrup mixture precisely to **270°F (132°C)**. Achieving this specific temperature is absolutely essential for the syrup to properly candy the popcorn, creating that desirable crisp and sweet coating. Don’t rush this step, as precise temperature control is key to success.
Infusing Flavor and Color
Once the syrup reaches the target temperature of 270°F (132°C), immediately remove it from the heat. Working quickly, whisk in the lemon extract and a small dab of yellow gel food coloring. The extract will infuse the syrup with a bright, tangy lemon flavor, while the food coloring will give your popcorn its cheerful, characteristic lemon hue. Speed is important here, as the syrup will begin to cool and thicken once off the heat.
Coating and Cooling the Popcorn
Immediately pour the hot lemon syrup over your popped popcorn. Stir quickly and thoroughly to ensure every kernel is coated with the vibrant lemon candy. Remember, the syrup hardens very fast, so work efficiently to get an even coating. Once coated, spread the popcorn out in a single layer on a large sheet of parchment paper. Allow it to cool and dry completely. As it dries, the syrup will harden, creating a crisp, candied texture. This step is crucial for preventing sticky popcorn and achieving that delightful crunch.
Melting the White Chocolate Drizzle
While your lemon-candied popcorn is drying, turn your attention to the white almond bark. Melt the almond bark according to the package directions. Typically, this involves microwaving it in a microwave-safe bowl. For the brand I use, I found it best to start with 1 minute and 30 seconds on high power, then stir thoroughly. Continue heating in 15-30 second intervals, stirring well after each, until the almond bark is completely melted and smooth. Be careful not to overheat it, as white chocolate can seize and become unusable.
Adding the Final Touches and Textures
Once the candied popcorn is dry and the almond bark is melted, it’s time to bring all the “pie” elements together. Drizzle the melted almond bark generously over the lemon popcorn. While the bark is still wet and pliable, immediately sprinkle on the fresh lemon zest, mini Teddy Grahams, and mini marshmallows. The wet bark will act as a delicious adhesive, ensuring all your delightful toppings stick firmly to the popcorn. Distribute the toppings as evenly as possible for a perfect bite every time.
Final Dry and Enjoy!
Allow the popcorn with all its toppings to fully dry and set. This typically takes about 15-30 minutes, depending on the humidity in your environment. Once completely dry, the white chocolate will have hardened, and the popcorn will form delightful clumps. Gently break it into smaller, bite-sized pieces, and it’s ready to be savored! Enjoy your homemade, award-winning lemon pie popcorn – a truly unique and delicious snack.
Storing Your Lemon Pie Popcorn for Lasting Freshness
To keep your lemon pie popcorn fresh and delicious, proper storage is key. Store it in airtight containers such as glass mason jars or food-safe plastic bags with as much air pressed out as possible. This helps maintain its crispness and prevents the delightful flavors from fading.
If you plan on storing the popcorn for more than a day or two, especially in humid conditions, I recommend adding a moisture absorber packet to the container. This simple trick will help prevent the graham crackers from becoming soft and ensure your popcorn maintains its amazing textural contrast. This popcorn recipe does not require refrigeration. Always keep it at cool room temperature. Exposure to excessive heat will cause the almond bark to melt, making the popcorn sticky and less enjoyable.
Watch How to Make It!
Lemon Pie Popcorn Recipe (Award Winning!)
By Summer Yule
My lemon pie popcorn recipe is an award-winning treat that couldn’t be easier to make.
★★★★★ (5 from 1 vote)
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Cook Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 490 kcal
Ingredients
- 6 cups popped popcorn
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- ½ tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1 pinch salt
- ⅛ teaspoon lemon extract
- 1 dab yellow gel food coloring
- ¾ cup white almond bark (this was 3 cubes for the brand I used)
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup Teddy Grahams (mini graham crackers)
- ½ cup mini marshmallows
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Instructions
- Put the sugar, water, corn syrup, and salt in a small pot. Bring it to 270°F (132°C) on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring frequently. It’s important to get the syrup to the right temperature in order to candy the popcorn.
- After it reaches the right temperature, take the syrup off the heat and quickly whisk in the lemon extract and food coloring.
- Quickly stir the syrup into the popcorn (it hardens fast), spread the popcorn out on parchment paper, and let it dry.
- While the popcorn is drying, melt the almond bark according to the package directions.
- Drizzle the melted almond bark over the popcorn and sprinkle on the lemon zest, grahams, and marshmallows while the bark is still wet. Let the popcorn fully dry, break it into clumps, and enjoy.
Equipment
- Pot
- Kitchen Thermometer
- Parchment Paper
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 3 recipe (weight maintenance and active lifestyles). Popcorn, on its own, is a wonderful low-calorie, high-volume, whole-grain snack. However, for this indulgent treat, I’ve added a variety of sugars in different forms (almond bark, corn syrup, marshmallows, white sugar). While it’s absolutely delicious, this recipe is certainly more of a celebratory treat than an everyday health food. It’s designed to be shared and enjoyed with enthusiasm!
Nutrition information is for one serving. Please remember that dietary needs vary from person to person. The provided nutrition data is an estimate and can differ based on specific brands and ingredients used.
Nutrition Info Disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food.
Nutrition
Calories: 490 kcal
Carbohydrates: 82.9 g
Protein: 1.3 g
Fat: 19.3 g
Saturated Fat: 12.3 g
Fiber: 1 g
Calcium: 5 % DV
Iron: 3 % DV
Keywords
lemon pie popcorn, lemon pie popcorn recipe, lemon popcorn recipe
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🍋 More Zesty Recipes Using Lemon You’ll Love
If you’re a fan of the bright, refreshing flavor of lemon, you’re in for a treat! Lemon is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can elevate both sweet and savory dishes, as well as refreshing beverages. If you enjoyed this lemon pie popcorn, be sure to explore more of my lemon-infused creations:
- Fermented Lemons: Discover the ancient art of preserving lemons, perfect for adding a complex, umami-rich citrus note to Mediterranean and North African dishes.
- Diet Lemonade Recipe: Quench your thirst with this sugar-free, low-carb lemonade. It’s a guilt-free way to enjoy a classic summertime drink, bursting with fresh lemon flavor.
- Honey Lollipop Recipe: While not purely lemon, this recipe can be easily adapted with a touch of lemon extract or zest for a soothing, tangy, and sweet homemade candy.
These recipes offer diverse ways to incorporate lemon into your cooking, showcasing its adaptability and the delightful zing it brings to any culinary creation. Enjoy experimenting with these fresh and flavorful ideas!