Candied Haskap Berry Popcorn

This Candied Haskap Berry Popcorn is a fun way to indulge on a sweet snack but also include haskap berries, a natural source of antioxidants into your diet! This popcorn recipe is so easy to make and is perfect for parties!

Popcorn with benefits is the best kind of popcorn if you ask me 😉 This Candied Hasp Berry Popcorn is sweet and packs all the health boosting antioxidants, so it’s kind of a win win! This delicious snack is so easy to make and only requires water, sugar, haskap berry powder and popcorn kernels! That’s it! You’ll pop the popcorn in a tablespoon of oil, or alternatively you can use an air popper if you have one, then you’ll make a simple syrup using the water, sugar and haskap berry powder, toss the popped popcorn in the syrup to coat it well and then spread it out on a parchment lined baking sheet to dry. The candied coating will harden as it cools! This Candied Haskap Berry Popcorn is the perfectly easy sweet treat for any occasion.

What are Haskap Berries & Their Benefits?

Ok, sounds great, right?! But what is Haskap? What in the world are haskap berries? Let me introduce you to one of the most nutritious berries out there that has been gaining popularity because of its many health benefits. Here’s a little background on this gorgeous berry.

☆ Haskap berries look a little like elongated blueberries but have 3 times the amount of antioxidants.

☆ The haskap berry, also known as the honeyberry, is an edible berry, native to northern hemisphere countries including Canada, Japan and Russia.

☆ Haskap berries are one of the most healthy plants in the world! These super berries are loaded with polyphenols, anthocyanins & bioflavonoids, meaning it is full of antioxidants, immunity boosting, and inflammation fighting benefits! In Tibet the leaves are used to steep in broth and serve medicinally and in Japan the berries are known as “berry of long life and good vision.”

Anthocyanins give haskap berries their intense dark blue/purple color. Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants you’ll find in blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, elderberries, raspberries, pomegranate, açaí, and gogi berries, for example. Haskap berries have 6 TIMES the anthocyanins of blueberries! This superberry is a must-have in your daily ritual and is so tasty too!

☆ Haskap berries are a good source of vitamins C and E, as well as carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin.

☆ Haskap berries have a unique flavor that is both tangy and sweet! They taste like a mix between a blackberry and raspberry, or like a fruit rollup!

Other benefits of Haskap berries include:

☆ Improved heart health. The antioxidants work to improve heart health by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are directly linked to cardiovascular disease. Additionally, haskap juice also contains flavonoids, which have been shown to protect the heart from cellular damage. Haskap juice contains compounds that can help naturally lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels and reducing inflammation, reducing the risk of heart disease.

☆ Improved brain health. The antioxidants present in haskap juice can help to protect the brain from damage and improve cognitive function.

☆ Improved energy levels. Haskap juice is rich in iron, which is essential for energy production. Iron helps to carry oxygen to your cells, which gives them the energy they need to function properly. So if you’re consuming a vegan diet, haskap berries are a great way to include more plant-based iron.

☆ Increased endurance. A lot of studies have been conducted lately with runners consuming haskap juice and their performance. A study conducted by Frontiers in Nutrition found that participants who consumed high doses of anthocyanin had improved running performance and increased VO2 max (a measure of aerobic fitness). Haskap juice also contains compounds like polyphenols and anthocyanins, which have been shown to increase energy levels and endurance.

☆ Improved digestion. Consuming haskap berries regularly can keep you digestive system working optimally. Because haskap juice is a good source of antioxidants, it can help improve your digestion by protecting your gut cells from damage. Additionally, haskap juice is a natural probiotic that can help support gut health.

My Go-To Haskap Berry Powder

So now that I’ve introduced you to the berry, let’s talk about where you can get your hands on this antioxidant-filled superfood. While it’s not widely available in stores (yet!), you can find it on Amazon and online. My go-to haskap berry powder is from Sweet Prairie Haskap. I love their haskap berry powder and juice because they don’t add anything to it, it’s just pure haskap berries! In this Candied Haskap Berry Popcorn I used their berry powder which is HIGHLY nutrient dense in anthocyanins, polyphenols and bioflavonoids. Sweet Prairie Haskap also makes a juice that is delicious as well.

They create this gorgeous powder by drying the skins of the berries and then grinding it into a powder. All you need is 1 teaspoon a day, so it lasts for a whole month giving you that great immune support, especially as we head into the colder months. I also love it because of it’s gorgeous purple-maroon color! This powder makes a great alternative to dye-filled food coloring for dye-free desserts! Take a look at my Haskap Berry Cheesecake for example!

Be sure to head over to Amazon to purchase:

I am so happy to share this antioxidant-filled sweet snack with you today! I definitely think it’ll be a crowd pleaser with benefits 😉 Be sure to leave a comment below down below in the comments section, as well as giving it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating  so that others can discover this fun, pretty, easy popcorn recipe! Tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!