S’mores Popcorn in the Instant Pot

Popcorn is a delicious treat for any occasion. And when you mix this salty snack with sweet ingredients, like chocolate and marshmallows, you have a decadent treat that’s perfect for a party. With this easy s’mores popcorn recipe, you can enjoy all the flavors of a campfire s’more at home. And the best part is that you can cut your prep time in half with the help of your Instant Pot!

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What Do I Need to Make S’mores Popcorn?

This sweet and salty treat is made with classic s’mores ingredients, along with freshly popped popcorn. To prepare this delicious treat, you’ll need:

• Popcorn kernels
• Butter
• Salt
• White chocolate melting wafers
• Mini marshmallows
• Mini milk chocolate chips
• Graham cracker crumbs

How Do I Make S’mores Popcorn?

When you use your Instant pot, you can whip up chocolate covered popcorn with just a few minutes of prep work. Follow these simple steps for making homemade s’mores popcorn in your Instant Pot:

Step One: Pop the popcorn in the Instant Pot

To prepare popcorn in your Instant Pot without oil, start by setting your pressure cooker to sauté mode. When the pot is hot, add the butter and allow it to melt completely. Once the butter is fully melted, pour the popcorn kernels into the pot and stir well to coat all the kernels in the melted butter. Lightly season the popcorn with salt, then place the lid on your Instant Pot to help seal in the heat. Listen carefully as the popcorn cooks so you don’t burn the popcorn. When the popping has stopped for at least 20 seconds, remove the lid from the pot.

Step Two: Add the White Chocolate

Transfer the popped popcorn to a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Take a look at the sheet and remove all the unpopped popcorn kernels from the pan. Melt the white chocolate wafers in the microwave in 30 second intervals. After each interval, remove the bowl from the microwave and carefully stir the chocolate with a spoon. Continue heating until the chocolate is fully melted, then spread the melted chocolate evenly over the top of the popcorn. Carefully toss the popcorn in the white chocolate until it’s fully coated.

Step Three: Decorate with S’mores Toppings

Working quickly before the white chocolate hardens, sprinkle the s’mores toppings over the top of the popcorn. Evenly distribute the mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and graham cracker crumbs over the melted white chocolate, then lightly toss the mixture to evenly coat all the pieces of popcorn with the topping ingredients. Once the popcorn and s’mores ingredients are fully mixed, allow the mixture to cool completely, then transfer the snack to a serving bowl and enjoy.

S’mores Popcorn Tips & Tricks

This delicious popcorn recipe is packed with flavor thanks to the mix of sweet and salty ingredients. And once you see how easy it is to prepare popcorn in your Instant Pot, you’ll never want to make it any other way. With these recipe tips and tricks, you can whip up this simple snack in no time!

• Chill the popcorn for faster cooling. You can allow the popcorn to cool on the counter at room temperature, but if you would like to enjoy it more quickly, just place the pan in the fridge. The cool air in the refrigerator will help the white chocolate harden more quickly, cutting down on the cooling time significantly.
• Store the popcorn at room temperature. While you can speed up the cooling time by placing your chocolate covered popcorn in the fridge, it’s best to store leftover popcorn at room temperature to keep the chocolate coating from getting too hard. Place leftovers in an airtight container or zip-top bag and store it in a cool, dry place and the popcorn will stay good for up to three days.

Why Won’t My Popcorn Pop in the Instant Pot?

If you’re having trouble getting your popcorn to pop while you cook it in your Instant Pot, don’t worry! There are a couple of easy fixes to help get your popcorn kernels popping so you can make this delicious sweet and salty recipe. 

• Use butter or coconut oil. While using vegetable or canola oil is a popular method for cooking popcorn on the stovetop, this type of oil may not work well in your Instant Pot. Since these oils have a high smoke point, they can easily cause your popcorn kernels to burn before they’re ready to pop when cooked over the high heat of your Instant Pot. Instead, try popping your popcorn with butter or coconut oil while cooking it in your pressure cooker.
• Lower the temperature. Another simple way to keep your popcorn from burning before it pops is to lower the temperature on your Instant pot. A lower cooking temperature will give your oil more time to heat up without burning, allowing your popcorn kernels to thoroughly and evenly cook. Try heating the popcorn on the Normal setting instead of the Heat setting.
• Use fresh popcorn. If your popcorn is old, it may be too dried out to fully pop in the Instant Pot. Check the expiration date on your bag to make sure the kernels aren’t outdated. And make sure to store your fresh popcorn in an airtight container to help keep them from drying out in the future.
• Soak the kernels. If you only have old popcorn on hand, try soaking your popcorn kernels in water for around 10 minutes. After soaking, transfer the kernels to a clean towel and pat them dry. Then, add the soaked kernels to the pot and cook them according to the recipe instructions.