Irresistible White Chocolate Lemon Popcorn

Someone please take this popcorn from me, I can't resist it =)! How I love specialty popcorn. This is definitely one of my new favorites. It taste like lemon cream pie, in sweet, crunchy, popcorn form. Basically, it's literally irresistible.

The method of preparing this popcorn recipe may seem a bit odd. That is due to the way the oils and acidity of the lemon juice and zest react with the white candy melts. I made four different batches, knowing ahead of time what I was getting into. I thought the lemon juice probably would cause the white candy melts to seize up after melting and they did. I wasn't sure if the lemon zest would do it too, but it did. So, I found the best method was as listed. I coated the popcorn in the plain white candy melts without mixing the lemon juice and zest into the candy melts. Then while the coating over the popcorn was still moist I added the lemon zest so it would stick well, then I let the coating dry a bit before adding the juice so it would kind of create a shell over the popcorn so the lemon juice wouldn't make it soggy and stale, and just be absorbed into a few pieces of popcorn. Then lastly, I baked it to create a perfect crunch, and again to get rid of the of any stale-like popcorn. 

The entire family loved this popcorn! I'm definitely going to be trying it in a lime version too. Enjoy!

Oh and I thought I better mention, I took these photos just before baking the popcorn (because I didn't decide to bake it until after taking the pictures) so the finished product should look a bit more golden.

White Chocolate Lemon Popcorn

Ingredients:
1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernals
12 oz. white candy melts (such as Wilton)
2 1/2 Tbsp lemon zest
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Directions:
Pop popcorn in a popcorn popper, according to manufacturer's directions, into a very large bowl. Melt white candy melts in a microwave safe bowl, on 50% power, in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth. Pour melted white candy melts over popcorn and toss with a rubber spatula until evenly coated. Sprinkle lemon zest over popcorn and toss until evenly distributed. 
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Allow coated popcorn to dry at room temperature, about 10-15 minutes, then drizzle lemon juice over popcorn and toss well to evenly coat. Spread popcorn onto a rimmed cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven for 15 - 20 minutes until lightly golden. Allow popcorn to cool completely, store in an airtight container or large ziploc bag (note: this is best enjoyed the day it's made or one day following).

Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

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Cookies and Cream Popcorn

What do you make when your in a crunch for time but want a wowing, incredible and highly addictive treat?  Cookies and cream popcorn mix.  I don't know if there's a  better way to celebrate Oreos 100th birthday than by making a batch of this perfect, intensely delicious popcorn.   I didn't have time for a time consuming post today, so this was the perfect thing for me to make.  I made it in under 10 minutes!  It is one of my new favorite treats!  I couldn't stop eating it and even though it was 10:00 in the morning =).  Be warned, once you start munching it is going to be hard to stop.  I'd recommend wrapping some up in treat bags, tying them with a ribbon and gifting them to friends, neighbors or coworkers.  Enjoy!

If you love this popcorn then you may also like to try Cookies and Cream Rice Krispie Treats or Funfetti Popcorn.

Cookies and Cream Popcorn

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels, or 2 bags tender white popcorn

1 (12 oz) bag Vanilla Candy Melts, such as Wilton

24 Oreo cookies, chopped into pebble size pieces (about 3 cups)

Directions:

Pop popcorn kernels in popcorn popper into a very large bowl, according to manufacturers directions (or alternately in microwave if using microwave popcorn bags).  Remove any unpopped kernels.  Toss chopped Oreos into popped popcorn.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt Vanilla Candy Melts in 30 second intervals,  stirring after each interval until melted and smooth.  Drizzle half of melted candy melts over popcorn mixture.  Toss several times with a rubber spatula then drizzle remaining melted candy melts over popcorn mixture and toss mixture gently for about 30 seconds - 1 minute until evenly coated.  Pour mixture into wax paper to allow mixture to cool and candy melts to set.  Store Cookies and Cream Popcorn in an airtight container.

Recipe Source: adapted from Sing for Your Supper

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Orange Creamsicle Popcorn

Oranges and cream is such a dreamy combination isn't it?  I love orange creamsicles and last week I made a recipe for Oranges and Cream Cookies so I wanted to create another recipe for people to have a second use for the orange extract if you purchased it.  Everyone loves this popcorn.  It would be a great snack for parties, movie night or the upcoming super bowl.  I played around with the recipe, the first time I made it I did an alternate method which you can find at the bottom of the recipe. It dried after a while whereas the listed recipe didn't.  It stayed nice and sticky, which I prefer.  Both ways were delicious so take your pick but either way I hope you try this recipe =).  This recipe makes a ton of popcorn so be prepared to share.
Also, check out Sweet as Sugar Cookies, sweets for saturday.  It's a great blog!

Orange Creamsicle Popcorn


Ingredients:
1 cup unpopped popcorn kernals
1/2 cup butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup cream
1 cup granulated sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 Tbsp orange zest
4 cups miniature marshmallows
1 tsp orange extract


Directions:
Pop popcorn into two very large mixing bowls, set aside.  Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Stir in sweetened condensed milk, cream, sugar, salt and orange zest.  Bring mixture to a boil, stirring frequently.  Boil mixture one and a half minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Add in marshmallows and stir until melted.  Mix in orange extract.  Divide warm mixture evenly over two bowls of popcorn and toss with a spatula to coat.  Allow to rest 20 minutes to set.


For an alternate method:
I have also made this popcorn in a dry version.  Omit the cream, then when you stir in marshmallows also stir in 1/3 cup white chocolate chips. 

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Fancy Caramel Popcorn

 Alas, I have finally decided what treat to gift this year (it’s about time,  I seriously spent way too much time stressing about what to give).  Here it is, Fancy Caramel Popcorn.  This popcorn is my favorite caramel popcorn and my new favorite holiday treat!  I think I ate about 10 cups of it in one sitting, so be warned, it’s addictive.  And you wouldn't believe the caramel is made in the microwave, so it’s very simple to make.   You've got to love that!  I combined the ideas of many recipes to create just what I was looking for.  This is the perfect last minute treat to give to family, friends or neighbors.  It’s also the perfect crowd pleasing snack for parties (it’s likely you won’t see one piece of this delicious caramel covered popcorn left in the bowl at the end of the party =).

I love the combination of flavors in this popcorn.  You get salted crunchy pretzels, lightly salted nuts and chewy popcorn covered in sweet, silky , not too gooey caramel and it’s finished off with a generous drizzling of decadent melted milk chocolate and white chocolate.   Yeah, all that in one, it would have to be incredible, right =)?  Try this popcorn out and I believe it’s likely to become one of your new favorite holiday treats as well.  Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!  I hope one of my recipes makes it to your holiday table, bringing your family and friends together =).  Merry Christmas!

Pretty enough to make a styrofoam bowl look fancy =)

Fancy Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients:

1/3 cup un-popped popcorn kernels

2 ½ cups mini pretzels, broken into pieces*

1 cup lightly salted peanuts or chopped almonds

½ cup salted butter

1 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar

½ cup light-corn syrup

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp baking soda

½ cup milk chocolate chips

½ cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

Pop popcorn kernels in a popcorn popper into a very large bowl.  Be sure to remove any un-popped kernels (so no one breaks a tooth).  Add in crushed pretzels and peanuts and gently fold mixture together, set aside.  In an large microwave safe bowl, melt butter, it should take about 50 seconds.  Stir in brown sugar, light corn syrup and salt.  Mix well.  Microwave mixture for 2 minutes, then stir and immediately return to microwave and cook 2 more minutes.  Remove from microwave, add in vanilla and baking soda and stir until frothy, about 10 seconds (don’t be tempted to dip your finger in and taste test, it is HOT).  Pour caramel over popcorn mixture and gently stir until evenly coated.  Pour caramel coated popcorn mixture onto a parchment or wax paper covered cookie sheet (if you don’t have either paper you could even just butter the cookie sheet).

Melt milk chocolate in a microwave safe bowl, on 50% power in 30 second intervals stirring after each interval until melted and smooth.  Pour melted chocolate into a piping bag or ziploc bag and cut the tip off and drizzle melted chocolate over popcorn.  Repeat this step with the white chocolate chips.

Place chocolate covered popcorn in refrigerator until chocolate hardens, about 20-30 minutes.  Remove from refrigerator and break popcorn into pieces.  Store popcorn in an airtight container.

*I just take a handful of the pretzels and crush them in my hands, the size is probably one pretzel broken into 3-4 pieces, in case you were wondering =).

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Old Fashioned Pink Popcorn

I cannot express to you how excited I am to finally have found this recipe!!  Do you remember this popcorn?  My Grandmother made this countless times for us.  She would bring a recycled ice cream pail full of it to family gatherings, parties or she'd just have some prepared for us grand kids when we'd come to visit.   My sweet Grandmother passed away many years ago and I haven't been able to find the recipe... until yesterday!  I have tried several other recipes I've found on the web and non of them produced the result I was looking for.  One of them even produced a wet coating similar to caramel corn (this is that amazing popcorn that dries and tastes like candy =).  If you, like me, ever ate this as a child then this popcorn will take you back in time.  There are so many memories attached to this recipe.  For those of you who haven't tried it before, now is the time!  It is for kids and adults alike.  I'm pretty sure I ate at least half the bowl in one sitting =).  This is the perfect treat for a party, gift giving, holidays (as you can choose the color), movie watching and just any time you need a delicious addictive treat!  I hope you become as excited as me about this recipe!  You'll be fighting for the flakes straggling behind in the bowl (those are my favorite =).

Old Fashioned Pink Popcorn

Ingredients:

2/3 cup popcorn kernels, popped

2 cups granulated sugar

2/3 cup half and half

1 Tbsp light corn syrup

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

6 drops red food coloring (or any other color you'd like)

Directions:

Pour popped popcorn into two very large mixing bowls, set aside.  In a large saucepan whisk together sugar, half and half, corn syrup and salt.  Cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly until sugar has dissolved.  Heat mixture to 232 degrees, stirring occasionally.  Immediately remove from heat and pour in vanilla and food coloring.  Drizzle mixture over popped popcorn.  Gently stir popcorn until mixture is evenly coated and coating begins to dry (you'll notice the popcorn kernels separating).  Pour mixture onto waxed paper and allow to dry about 20 minutes.  Store in an airtight container.

Recipe adapted from here.

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