The perfect treat for your next patriotic party is this Red, White, And Blue Popcorn recipe. It comes together quickly in just a couple minutes and looks like you bought if from the store.
For more ideas of what to make, check out all of our recipes.
If you know me, you know I’m always looking for some cute treats to make any time there’s a holiday. I just love having an excuse to make something adorable. And patriotic holidays are no exception. I want to make every red, white, blue recipe I can.
One of Pete’s favorite snacks is popcorn, so of course, I have to make patriotic popcorn for all the patriotic holidays (flag day, Memorial Day, and July 4th).
Let’s chat a little bit about colored popcorn before we start. If you just add food coloring to unpopped kernels and oil, the food dye will color the popcorn but it won’t stick to it. That means when you eat it, you’ll dye your fingers, mouth, and tongue. Not a good luck.
So, you need to add corn syrup to the oil so that it binds the food coloring to the popped popcorn. Then, it will just dye the popcorn and not you.
The corn syrup does add a sweetness to the popcorn, so it’s more of a kettle corn than plain, salted popcorn (even though you do add salt). So, keep that in mind.
Also keep in mind that food coloring will dye your pot and utensils as well. So, as soon as you’re done with the spoon or the pot, immediately wash them. Don’t let them sit with dye on them because it will discolor them.
This popcorn isn’t the only red, white, and blue dessert we have for you to make for your next patriotic holiday party. For more ideas, check out our full list of Patriotic Recipes.
Red, White, And Blue Popcorn Recipe
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Red, White, And Blue Popcorn Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 4 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 6 tablespoons popcorn kernels
- 4 drops red gel food coloring
- 4 drops blue gel food coloring
- 1 teaspoon salt
How To Make Red, White, And Blue Popcorn:
Two quick notes. First: The ingredients above, with the exception of the food coloring, are what you need to make the entire batch of popcorn, which ends up being about three cups of popped popcorn. You’re going to pop it in two batches though, one to make red popcorn and one to make blue popcorn, so just keep that in mind when you’re adding amounts into your pot.
Second: We use a pressure cooker to make this. Any large pot with a lid would be fine.
Put one tablespoon of oil in a pressure cooker.
Add two tablespoons of corn syrup.
Add 3 tablespoons of popcorn kernels.
Drip four red gel food coloring drops into the pressure cooker.
Use a bamboo spoon to stir until the corn syrup is dyed red.
Put the top on the pressure cooker. Put it on the stove top on medium heat. Heat until all the popcorn is popped, shaking the pressure cooker occasionally.
Quick note: It should take between five and eight minutes for all the kernels to pop. You want to listen because you’ll hear when the popping stops. Be careful to not overpop the popcorn because it will burn.
Spread the red and white popcorn across a parchment paper or silicone baking mat-lined baking sheet.
Break apart any large clumps of popcorn into smaller bites.
Immediately wash the pressure cooker (including the top) to remove all of the red food coloring and the bamboo spoon.
Now it’s time to make the blue batch.
Add one tablespoon of oil, two tablespoons of corn syrup, three tablespoons of popcorn kernels, and four drops of blue gel food coloring in the pressure cooker.
Stir with a bamboo spoon until the corn syrup is dyed blue.
Put the pressure cooker on the stove on medium heat and heat until all the kernels are popped.
Spread the blue and white popcorn across the same cookie sheet where the red and white popcorn is.
Break apart any large chunks.
Sprinkle the popcorn with salt.
Then, immediately wash the blue food coloring from the pressure cooker and the bamboo spoon.
Let the popcorn cool to room temperature. When it does, go through and pick out any unpopped kernels and discard those kernels before serving.
Red, White, And Blue Popcorn: Frequently Asked Questions
We do often make homemade popcorn in the microwave by putting unpopped kernels and oil in a paper bag and popping them.
However, because this recipe also calls for food coloring and corn syrup, I wouldn’t recommend popping it in the microwave or in anything paper or plastic. Stick to a metal bowl on the stove.
If you’re making this for another holiday, you can absolutely change the colors.
You need less gel food coloring than traditional food coloring to achieve bright colors, which is why I suggest using gel food coloring in this recipe. Gel food coloring is a little more expensive, but it’s worth it.
If all you have is traditional food coloring, you’ll want to use double the amount to get similar results.
You can absolutely use this popcorn to make popcorn balls. Just make the popcorn, then follow our Marshmallow Popcorn Ball recipe.
My only concern would be that the color may run a little bit into the melted marshmallow and dye it, but you should end up with pretty tie dye looking popcorn balls if that happens.
Red, White, And Blue Popcorn
The perfect treat for your next patriotic party is this Red, White, And Blue Popcorn recipe. It comes together quickly in just a couple minutes and looks like you bought if from the store.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 4 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 6 tablespoons popcorn kernels
- 4 drops red gel food coloring
- 4 drops blue gel food coloring
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Put one tablespoon of oil in a pressure cooker.
- Add two tablespoons of corn syrup.
- Add 3 tablespoons of popcorn kernels.
- Drip four red gel food coloring drops into the pressure cooker.
- Use a bamboo spoon to stir until the corn syrup is dyed red.
- Put the top on the pressure cooker. Put it on the stove top on medium heat. Heat until all the popcorn is popped, shaking the pressure cooker occasionally.
- Spread the red and white popcorn across a parchment paper or silicone baking mat-lined baking sheet.
- Break apart any large clumps of popcorn into smaller bites.
- Now it’s time to make the blue batch. Add one tablespoon of oil, two tablespoons of corn syrup, three tablespoons of popcorn kernels, and four drops of blue gel food coloring in the pressure cooker.
- Stir with a bamboo spoon until the corn syrup is dyed blue.
- Put the pressure cooker on the stove on medium heat and heat until all the kernels are popped.
- Spread the blue and white popcorn across the same cookie sheet where the red and white popcorn is.
- Break apart any large chunks.
- Sprinkle the popcorn with salt.
Nutrition Information
Yield
9Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 57Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 0mgSodium 244mgCarbohydrates 8gFiber 0gSugar 7gProtein 0g
Have you made this Red, White, And Blue Popcorn recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments.