Key Lime Pie Popcorn at a Glance
A good key lime pie does two things at once: it puckers your lips and makes you reach for another bite anyway. It’s the same deal with this key lime pie popcorn, minus the pie plate. Lime zest brings the pucker, white chocolate calms it down, and crushed graham crackers handle the crust duties.
Just follow the steps below and let your Popper do its thing:
Key Lime Popcorn Ingredients
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½ cup popcorn kernels
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2 tablespoons coconut oil
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1 cup white chocolate chips
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1 teaspoon coconut oil (for thinning the drizzle)
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¼ teaspoon lime extract
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1 tablespoon lime zest, divided (about 4 key limes or 2 regular limes)
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4 graham cracker sheets, crushed into small pieces (about 1 cup)
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Pinch of flaky salt
Key Lime Pie Popcorn Directions
Step 1: Zest the Limes and Crush the Crackers
Zest the limes and set aside. Crush the graham crackers into a mix of crumbs and small chunks.
PRO TIP: A zip-top bag and a few whacks with a rolling pin will give you the right texture. You want some pieces big enough to crunch.
Step 2: Preheat Popper
Set your stove to medium heat and allow your Popsmith to preheat for 1 to 2 minutes.
Step 3: Add Oil and Kernels
Add the coconut oil, let it heat up, and drop 3 test kernels. Pour in the rest after the first one pops, then cover the Popper.
Step 4: Turn and Pop
Keep cranking your Popsmith while the kernels pop to prevent burning. You don't need to do this the entire time. A few cranks every couple of seconds will do the trick.
Step 5: Transfer
When popping slows to 1-2 seconds between pops, take the Popper off the heat and spread the popcorn evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 6: Melt the White Chocolate
Microwave the white chocolate chips with the teaspoon of coconut oil in 30-second bursts, stirring well between each, until smooth. Stir in the lime extract and half the lime zest.
GOOD TO KNOW: Skip the urge to add lime juice to the chocolate. Even a small splash makes white chocolate seize into a grainy paste. The zest carries all the lime flavor you need.
Step 7: Drizzle and Decorate
Drizzle the lime-flecked white chocolate over the popcorn with a spoon, working back and forth across the whole sheet. Then scatter the graham cracker pieces while it’s still wet and finish with the remaining lime zest and the flaky salt.
PRO TIP: Work fast. If you wait for the chocolate to cool, nothing’s gonna stick to the popcorn.
Step 8: Set and Serve
Leave the sheet at room temperature for about 20 minutes to let the key lime popcorn set, or pop it in the fridge for 10. Then break into clusters and serve.
More Key Lime Popcorn Tips
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Key limes vs. regular limes. Key limes are smaller, more floral, and more tart, but they're also a pain to zest and not always at the store. Regular limes work great. Nobody is failing this pie.
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Zest before you're tempted to juice. You only need the zest here, so save the naked limes for limeade, tacos, or the margaritas this popcorn pairs suspiciously well with.
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Crush, don't pulverize. Graham cracker dust disappears into the chocolate. Aim for pieces the size of a pencil eraser so every cluster gets real crunch.
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Store leftover popcorn in an airtight container and consume within 3 days.
Easy as Key Lime Pie
The best part of key lime pie was never the fork. It was the part where the tang hits, and everybody at the table goes quiet for a second. This key lime popcorn just skips the baking. All it takes is your Popper, a drizzle of white chocolate, some limes, a handful of graham crackers, and about 20 minutes.
Want more where this came from? Browse our popcorn recipes or keep summer rolling with our piña colada popcorn recipe and beach snack ideas.
