Pipoca doce
Pipoca doce: festa junina popcorn coated in crackly caramelised sugar, often tinted pink
Pink, sticky and crunchy, sweet popcorn is the smell of a São João fairground and of the pipoqueiro carts outside schools and squares all year. The popcorn pops directly in a sugar syrup, so every kernel gets a thin, glassy, crackly shell; a few drops of red colouring turn it the classic festival pink. It takes about 10 minutes, so it is a favourite to make with kids watching from a safe distance. Use a plant-based red colouring if you want it vegan, as some red colourings are made from insects. Many cooks add too much colouring or sugar, which makes a sticky clump that never goes crisp. Chef's tip: shake the pan constantly once the popping slows, then tip it out immediately onto a tray and separate the kernels with two forks while still hot.
- Total time
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Line a large tray with baking paper. Mix 4 oz sugar, ¼ cup water, 4 drops red food colouring if using, and 1 pinch salt in a cup.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp neutral oil in a large, deep pan with a lid over a medium-high heat. Add 3 test kernels; when they pop, the oil is hot.
2 minStep 3: Add the rest of the 3 ½ oz popcorn kernels and the sugar mixture, stir once and put on the lid.
Step 4: Cook, shaking the pan back and forth over the heat almost constantly, until the popping slows to one pop every 2–3 seconds, about 4 minutes.
4 minStep 5: Take off the lid, stir for 30 seconds over the heat until the syrup crystallises around the popcorn and the kernels look dry and glossy; it burns quickly after that.
1 minStep 6: Tip onto the tray at once and separate the kernels with two forks. Leave 5 minutes to cool and crisp. The sugar is very hot: keep children away until it has cooled.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 240 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pipoca doce take?
- About 12 minutes in total: 2 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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