My Grandma’s Candy Popcorn is a must-make every Christmas! It’s fun and colorful and the kids love it ? Choose any colors to switch things up for game day, a birthday party or any other holiday. SO easy! Includes a step by step recipe video.
This post has been updated from November 3, 2015
I’m going to be completely honest.
As soon as September rolls around, I’m waiting for Christmas.
It’s not that I want to rush the snow, or the cold, or the snowsuits and icy roads. But I think Christmas is my favorite time of year.
I feel like such a child saying that, you know? I promise you it’s not all about the Lego waiting under the tree. It’s just that there’s nothing else we prepare for so far in advance. By the middle of November, for sure, I’ve got the Christmas tree and decorations up and am well into my Christmas shopping.
I love buying, wrapping and giving gifts.
I love a holiday that requires weeks of baking in advance (No Bake Christmas Trees or Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies anyone?).
I love the lights, the first snowflakes, and s’mores over the fire (inside!).
This is my Grandma’s Candy Popcorn recipe, and it’s one I’m sure I’ve eaten every Christmas since childhood except the last.
Since my Grandma passed away last November, I find myself becoming more emotionally attached to family recipes.
For some people, maybe that’s strange. But for you fellow food lovers, maybe you can see the significance of cooking or baking the same things that your parents and grandparents made years — or decades — earlier. I hope to store up a good number of them here!
A simple air popper and a few other basic ingredients are all you need to make this fun treat that I promise the adults will love as much as the kiddos ?
This recipe is really simple, and can easily be customized. You could add flavored extracts if you wanted, change up the colors for any birthday, game day, or holiday, or mix in things like sprinkles, nuts, candies, etc. The options are endless!
Watch the recipe video and see how easy it is to make!
25 cups
adjust servings
Grandma’s Candy Popcorn and a Giveaway!
5 mins
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
0:15
Total Time
Candy Popcorn is an easy holiday treat that is perfect for gift giving! My Grandma’s recipe ?
Ingredients
-
1
1/3 cups popcorn kernels, popped (about 25 cups popped popcorn) -
2
cups granulated sugar -
1/2
cup water -
1
tablespoon butter -
1
teaspoon food coloring -
1/4
teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place popcorn in a large bowl (you’ll need room to stir the candy mixture in!)
- In a medium pot over medium-high heat, bring sugar, water, and butter to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and boil, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Stir in food coloring and salt and pour over popcorn, stirring to coat (make sure you work quickly!). Spread on baking sheets lined with wax paper and let dry for 1-2 hours until no longer sticky.
- *This popcorn lasts a long time at room temperature in an air tight container! It’ll be good for at least 1-2 weeks.
Recipe Notes
*I divided my popcorn in 3 to get 3 different colors. I divided my sugar mixture (after boiling) into 3 bowls, then stirred in ½ teaspoon food coloring in each bowl, and pour that over ⅓ of the popcorn each.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 90kcal Calories from fat 7 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 1mg | 0% |
| Sodium 24mg | 1% |
| Carbohydrate 21g | 7% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 4% |
| Sugars 16g | |
| Protein 1g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
