Popeyes is a popular fast food chicken restaurant chain that is well-known for its Louisiana-style fried chicken. In addition to their signature fried chicken, Popeyes also offers a variety of sides and desserts, including strawberry pies that can be topped with strawberry syrup.
Quick Answers
Popeyes uses a strawberry syrup that is thick and rich with a sweet, fruity strawberry flavor. The brand of syrup is made specifically for Popeyes by Dawn Food Products. The ingredients in Popeyes strawberry syrup include: corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, water, cellulose gum, natural and artificial flavors, salt, citric acid, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives, red 40 lake color, and yellow 6 lake color.
About Popeyes
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen was founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana by Al Copeland. The fast food restaurant chain is now headquartered in Miami, Florida and has over 3,000 restaurants worldwide. Popeyes is known for specializing in fried chicken dishes inspired by Louisiana cuisine such as chicken tenders, fried chicken sandwiches, and chicken nuggets. Their menu also features seafood, red beans and rice, mashed potatoes, Cajun fries, biscuits, and desserts.
The Popeyes brand was acquired by Restaurant Brands International in 2017, the parent company of Burger King and Tim Hortons. Popeyes continues to grow in popularity for its distinguished flavors and seasoning techniques that set it apart from other fast food fried chicken chains.
Popeyes Strawberry Pies
One of the signature dessert items at Popeyes is their freshly baked strawberry pies. The pies have a flaky, golden pastry crust filled with sweet strawberry filling. Customers have the option to top the strawberry pies with a drizzle of rich, strawberry-flavored syrup.
The strawberry syrup has a thick, gel-like texture and intense strawberry flavor. According to Popeyes, they designed the syrup to complement the taste of their strawberry pie filling. The sweet syrup provides an extra strawberry flavor burst that enhances the dessert.
Nutrition Information
Here is the nutrition information for Popeyes strawberry pies and strawberry syrup (per serving):
| Item | Calories | Total Fat | Total Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberry Pie | 260 | 12g | 34g | 2g |
| Strawberry Syrup | 60 | 0g | 15g | 0g |
As you can see, the strawberry syrup is high in sugar with 15g total carbs per serving, but contains no fat or protein. The pie offers some protein and more balanced nutritional value. Those watching their sugar intake may want to limit their syrup portion or enjoy the pie on its own.
Popeyes Strawberry Syrup Brand
Popeyes specially sources their proprietary strawberry syrup from Dawn Food Products. Dawn Foods is a food manufacturing company that produces bakery products, sweeteners, syrups, glazes, and fruit fillings for restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and food service businesses.
The custom strawberry syrup blend Dawn makes for Popeyes was formulated to meet the Popeyes culinary team’s specific flavor profile, texture, and appearance standards. The syrup matches the properties of the strawberry pie filling to provide an optimal strawberry dessert experience.
Dawn Food Products
Dawn Food Products is headquartered in Jackson, Michigan and has over 40 manufacturing plants worldwide. They produce mixes, bases, icings, glazes, fillings, frozen dough, pancake mixes, and syrups for thousands of restaurant chains, bakeries, and in-store bakeries.
Some major brands that source products from Dawn include Cinnabon, Wendy’s, Cracker Barrel, Krispy Kreme, Cheesecake Factory, and Jack in the Box. For over 100 years, Dawn has been a leader in developing high quality, customized food products made for the foodservice industry.
Popeyes Strawberry Syrup Ingredients
While the exact recipe for Popeyes strawberry syrup is proprietary, Dawn Foods product specification sheets list the following ingredients:
- Corn syrup
- High fructose corn syrup
- Water
- Cellulose gum
- Natural and artificial strawberry flavor
- Salt
- Citric acid
- Potassium sorbate (preservative)
- Sodium benzoate (preservative)
- Red 40 Lake color
- Yellow 6 Lake color
The main ingredients that give the syrup its strawberry flavor are the natural and artificial strawberry flavors. Cellulose gum is used as a thickening agent to give the syrup a thick, viscous texture. The red 40 lake and yellow 6 lake colors provide the vibrant reddish pink color.
High fructose corn syrup is used as the main sweetener, along with corn syrup. Preservatives like potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate allow the syrup to be shelf-stable and have a longer shelf life. Water, salt, and citric acid balance out the sweetness and flavor of the syrup.
No Artificial Dyes
While Popeyes strawberry syrup does contain some artificial colors, it does not contain any artificial dyes. Artificial dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 have faced controversy for potential health risks. Popeyes avoided these synthetic petroleum-derived dyes and instead uses lake colors like Red 40 Lake and Yellow 6 Lake.
Lake colors are derived from natural sources like fruits, vegetables, and minerals. They provide vibrant colors without using controversial artificial dyes.
Where to Buy Popeyes Strawberry Syrup
Popeyes strawberry syrup can only be purchased at Popeyes restaurant locations. It is not available for retail sale in stores or online. The syrup is manufactured exclusively for Popeyes and comes in large containers to refill the syrup dispenser machines at the restaurants.
Customers can only get the Popeyes strawberry syrup on top of the strawberry pies sold at Popeyes. Some locations may sell the syrup in a small sides cup for customers to use on other menu items if requested.
To enjoy the Popeyes strawberry topping at home, the closest option would be to purchase a retail strawberry syrup or fruit sauce product and use it to mimic the Popeyes flavor. Brands like Smucker’s, Hershey’s, and Torani make strawberry syrups for home use.
Copycat Recipe
Those who wish to recreate the Popeyes strawberry syrup at home can try this copycat recipe:
Popeyes Copycat Strawberry Syrup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 1/4 cup strawberry puree or jam
- 1/4 tsp strawberry extract
- Red and yellow food coloring as needed
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan, combine the corn syrup, strawberry puree, and strawberry extract.
- Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- Once simmering, remove from heat and stir in food coloring as needed to achieve a rich red color.
- Let cool slightly before pouring into a squeeze bottle or jar. Store refrigerated.
- Drizzle over strawberry pie or other desserts.
Other Popeyes Dessert Sauces
In addition to strawberry syrup, Popeyes also offers other sweet sauces for topping their fried desserts:
Honey Sauce
Popeyes honey sauce is a creamy, butter-flavored sweet dipping sauce. It is often paired with Popeyes sweet potato pie and beignets.
Cinnamon Apple Sauce
For seasonal apple pies, Popeyes offers a warm cinnamon apple sauce for drizzling over each slice. It has a thick, syrup-like consistency.
Sweet Cream Cheese Icing
Popeyes biscuits can be topped with a rich, sweet cream cheese icing for an additional charge. The soft, creamy icing adds sweetness to the flaky biscuits.
Nutrition Info for Popeyes Desserts
Here is a nutrition comparison of Popeyes popular fried desserts and sauces:
| Dessert Item | Calories | Total Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Pie + Cinnamon Apple Sauce | 330 | 16g | 46g | 2g |
| Sweet Potato Pie + Honey Sauce | 500 | 22g | 66g | 4g |
| Beignets + Honey Sauce | 670 | 25g | 97g | 5g |
| Biscuit + Cream Cheese Icing | 330 | 16g | 41g | 3g |
As shown, beignets topped with honey sauce are the highest in calories, fat, and carbohydrates. Apple pie with cinnamon sauce is the lightest option. Those watching their sugar intake may want to enjoy the fried pies and biscuits on their own or with a very light drizzle of sauce.
Recipes Using Popeyes Strawberry Syrup
While Popeyes strawberry syrup is only sold in Popeyes locations, some food bloggers have recreated the sauce and offered recipes to use it at home:
Strawberry Syrup Chicken and Waffles
Use Popeyes copycat strawberry syrup to add sweet flavor to chicken and waffles. Brush both the fried chicken and waffles with syrup for an extra layer of strawberry taste.
Strawberry Syrup Milkshake
Blend Popeyes strawberry syrup into vanilla ice cream and milk for a creamy, strawberry milkshake.
Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wings
Toss fried chicken wings in a mix of Popeyes strawberry syrup and hot sauce for a sweet heat flavor.
Strawberry Syrup Fruit Dip
Thin out Popeyes strawberry syrup with water and use as a dip for fresh fruit or fruit skewers for a quick dessert.
Conclusion
Popeyes uses a signature strawberry syrup for topping their popular strawberry pies. The rich, fruity syrup is custom made for Popeyes by Dawn Food Products to perfectly pair with the strawberry pie filling. With ingredients like corn syrup, strawberry flavors, and red food coloring, it delivers the ideal sweet strawberry taste. While the exact recipe is proprietary, copycat versions can be whipped up at home for use on desserts, chicken dishes, and more.
Strawberry sauce lovers agree this Popeyes special syrup takes their strawberry pies to the next level. Its thickness and intense strawberry flavor profile complement the pie filling so well. Whether drizzled sparingly or poured generously, this syrup makes for a delicious fried fruit pie treat.
