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This Pink Popcorn is almost as fun to make as it is to eat! It is super versatile and you can make it any color or flavor you like! It is a childhood classic.
Pink Popcorn is a perfect treat for Valentine’s Day but you can make it year round. Change out your food coloring and extract flavor according to the holiday and your mood. I thought a batch of red and a batch of green mixed together would be fun for Christmas too and how about red, white and blue for the 4th of July! Just imagine the possibilities!!
What is Old Fashioned Pink Popcorn Recipe?
This sweet treat always takes me back to my childhood. It is a crunchy popcorn that is coated with a sweet vanilla flavored coating. Adding in a few drops of food coloring makes for a festive treat. You can even add some sprinkles on top if you like. It tastes a little bit like a birthday cake in popcorn form!
This recipe was given to me by my husband’s Aunt Elaine and she called it Mother Goose Popcorn, not sure why but it’s a cute name. We call it pink popcorn because I usually make it pink.
Ingredients Needed
- Popcorn. I use unsalted, unbuttered popped corn. I make mine in the air popper or you can do it on the stove top. You can use microwave popcorn but it will change the flavor because of the butter and salt. Be sure and remove all the popcorn kernels after popping. No one likes to bite into one of those! Place your popcorn in a large bowl.
- Sugar. Granulated Sugar. This recipe does not use corn syrup
- Butter. I use salted butter.
- Vanilla Extract. You could use any favorite flavoring extract you like. Coconut would be yummy!
- Pink or Red Food Coloring. I use pink food coloring but you can use any color you want.
How to Make Colored Popcorn
- On the stove top, over medium heat, combine sugar, water, butter, food coloring and your flavoring into a sauce pan.
- Bring mixture to a boil. There is no candy thermometer needed.
- Pour the mixture over the popcorn and stir to coat.
- Spread the popcorn out in a single layer on some parchment paper or a baking sheet and let it dry. The popcorn is then ready to enjoy.
Tips from Leigh Anne
- Use different colors of food coloring for different occasions or holidays. Or if you prefer, you can totally leave the food coloring out. It will still taste delicious.
- I love to package it up in little cellophane bags tied with a ribbon and share with friends and neighbors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will colored popcorn last?
I have found that pink popcorn is best eaten the day you make it. If you put it in an airtight container it may last another day but it tends to get a bit soggy and lose it’s crunch after a day. So I recommend making it and enjoying it all in the same day.
Can I use different flavor extracts?
I think coconut or strawberry would be delish or even orange. You could even make two batches and do them two different flavors and then combine them. Do one batch vanilla and one batch orange for a creamsicle flavored popcorn!
How should I pop my popcorn?
You can use microwave popcorn if you like but you will get a salter, more buttery version. I like to use unbuttered, unsalted popcorn so I use my air popper. You can also pop the popcorn on the stove top. You will need 16 cups of popcorn.
Pink Popcorn Variations
- After adding syrup, sprinkle the top of the popcorn with sprinkles or even chopped nuts.
- Drizzle the top of the popcorn with chocolate.
- Change up the food color you use to match the holiday or occasion.
- Use other extract flavors such as orange, coconut, strawberry or even almond.
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Pink Popcorn
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 Tbsp water
- 6 Tbsp butter
- 2 tsp vanilla
- food coloring
- 16 cups popped popcorn unbuttered, unsalted
Instructions
- Put all ingredients except for popcorn in saucepan and bring to a boil
- Pour over popped corn and stir until well coated and it goes sugary
- Spread the popcorn out in a single layer on some parchment paper or a baking sheet and let it dry. The popcorn is then ready to enjoy.
Tips & Notes:
- After adding syrup, sprinkle the top of the popcorn with sprinkles or even chopped nuts.
- Drizzle the top of the popcorn with chocolate.
- Change up the food color you use to match the holiday or occasion.
- Use other extract flavors such as orange, coconut, strawberry or even almond.
Nutrition Facts:
Brandi says
We used to get bricks of pink popcorn every time we went to the San Francisco Zoo, and were disappointed when the company went out of business. I tried this recipe for Halloween, so I made it orange with Halloween sprinkles, and baked it at 200 for 30 minutes to get it to dry. My family loved it and recognized that nostalgic flavor immediately! Now I’m supposed to make a bunch for every family function.
Beckie Smock says
So delicious, easy and fun! I made this for our Dig Pink volleyball fundraiser.
Kate says
Made with my 4 yr old granddaughter and she wants to do it again. It’s a hit!
Susan says
I made this for my grand daughter Birthday!!
Brea says
If you use real can sugar like me cut back 2 cups is way to much