What’s better than apple pie? Apple pie popcorn! OK, maybe it’s not better. We have a lot of love for apple pie. But we’ll say that it’s at least as good. Plus this yummy treat is way easier to make since there’s no fussy crust involved. Our recipe is both an autumn favorite and a must-make for Pi Day, too. All the goodness that goes into pie like brown sugar, butter, ground cinnamon and apples plus our crunchy popcorn. Instead of the fresh apples you find in pie, we used dried apple chips for extra crunch. And, to go one better for that authentic pie flavor, we also toss in some crumbled graham crackers. Bake for a few minutes and it comes out all warm and crunchy. A snack and a dessert, all in one and your house will smell like pie because of the cinnamon and apples.
You can buy the apple chips, of course. But they’re so easy to make that, once you try, we’re guessing you’ll never buy them again.
What is your favorite autumn, or even Pi Day movie to watch? For us, we like watching holiday classics in the fall and science-focused films when we’re celebrating a math-pun holiday. (If that makes sense.)
Easier than apple pie but with lots of flavor. This recipe for apple pie popcorn combines brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, apples, crumbled graham crackers and our crunchy popcorn.
Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Wash and dry the apples. Core them but no need to peel. Slice them as thinly as you can (about 1/8" is ideal) with a sharp knife or a mandolin. Place the slices on the baking sheets in a single layer and sprinkle with the ground cinnamon. Bake for 1 hour, turn each slice over and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes. Check to see if you like the crispness and continue to bake and check every 15 minutes.
To Make the Popcorn:
Add enough canola or vegetable oil to a lidded pot to coat the bottom and add four popcorn kernels. Cover the pot and place over medium heat.
When the kernels pop, VERY CAREFULLY (because that oil is blazingly hot and can burn you!) add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of popcorn kernels per serving and re-cover the pan.
Shaking the pan constantly to ensure that the kernels don’t burn, while the popcorn pops. Once the pops are 3 to 5 seconds apart, remove the pot from heat.
Sprinkle with a couple pinches of salt over the hot popcorn and allow to cool.
Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
Add the water, vanilla, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, ground cinnamon and salt to a pot. Cook on medium low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the popcorn.
Spread the popcorn out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 10 minutes. Stir thoroughly and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes. Stir in the crumbled graham crackers and apple chips. Serve warm and store any leftovers in an airtight container on the counter.
Recipe Note
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