Artificial Food Coloring Free Orange Ginger Popcorn
Bright, citrusy, and just a little bit spicy, this glazed popcorn is the kind of snack that disappears faster than you'd expect. The color comes entirely from real orange zest and juice, so that vivid golden hue is completely natural — no synthetic dyes hiding anywhere in the ingredient list. Store-bought flavored popcorns are notorious for sneaking in artificial colorings to boost their visual appeal, which makes homemade versions like this one such a relief. Maple syrup and butter form the base of a glossy caramel-style glaze that gets cooked to the soft-ball stage, ensuring it sets into a satisfying crunch once the popcorn comes out of the oven. Ground ginger adds warmth and a subtle bite, while a pinch of cayenne (totally optional) gives adventurous snackers a gentle kick at the finish. The baking soda trick makes the glaze light and airy rather than sticky and dense, so every kernel gets a crisp, even coating. It's the kind of snack bowl you'll want to keep on the counter all weekend.
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Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
For the popcorn
- ⅓ cup popcorn kernels
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
For the glaze
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp fresh orange zest (from about 1 large orange)
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1 ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp fine salt
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
Pop the popcorn kernels: heat the coconut oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 2–3 test kernels, cover, and wait until they pop. Add the remaining kernels in a single layer, cover, and shake the pot gently every 30 seconds until the popping slows to 2–3 seconds between pops. Transfer the popped corn to a large mixing bowl, discarding any unpopped kernels. You should have about 9–10 cups of popped corn.
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