This easy candied Jello Popcorn lets you create a rainbow of flavors and colors. Change the gelatin flavor to create different colors and flavors.
This crispy, fruity flavored popcorn actually reminds me of the flavored popcorn that you can buy at the mall. Walking past those places always smells so good, but now you can make it at home for a fraction of the cost.
I got this recipe for Jello Popcorn from my friend Cynthia way back in junior high (which was apparently about 30 years ago?? How?) . I’d never heard of it when I had it at her place, but we’ve been making it ever since.
How to make candied Jello Popcorn:
Making Jello Popcorn is so easy. You can start with either air popped popcorn or microwave popcorn. Melt the butter and honey in the microwave. Add sugar and whatever flavor of Jello you want, and microwave that until it doubles in size. Pour it over your prepared popcorn, and spread it out on a parchment liked baking sheet. Now you have to bake the popcorn to get the Jello coating crispy. This only takes 30 minutes though, stirring every 10 minutes. Let cool, and store it in an air-tight container. Large zipper seal bags work great too.
Flavors and Colors:
You can make a variety of different color and flavor combination by making multiple batches and using different kinds of flavored gelatin.
Would you like to make pink colored popcorn? Using Watermelon Jello should do that (if you can get it, not available where I live).
Wondering how to make blue popcorn? Berry Blue Jello will give you a nice teal blue color.
The colors of the candied Jello Popcorn can be customized for any time of year.
Red and green popcorn is perfect for Christmas.
Green is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.
Yellow and purple would be great for Easter.
Purple and orange are spooky enough for Halloween.
Or, get crazy and make a full rainbow of colors. Such a pretty blend for any time.
How to remove popcorn kernels from popped corn:
Whether you are making Jello Popcorn, or Caramel Popcorn, you don’t want to have unpopped kernels in your popcorn. They are a hazard and can cause broken teeth. But removing them is really simple.
- Place your popcorn in a bowl
- Place a cooling rack with smaller openings over the top of the bowl. You want the openings to be smaller than a piece of popped popcorn.
- Place a cookie sheet over the cooling rack. Now hold on tight, and flip everything upside down. The bowl of popcorn is now upside down, over the cooling rack, which is over the sheet pan.
- Hold onto all three things, and gently shake it. This will cause the unpopped kernels to go to the bottom of the popcorn, and fall through the cooling rack, into the sheet pan.
- Hang onto just the bowl and cooling rack, and flip it so it is right side up.
- Now you have removed all the hard, unpopped kernels, and can continue making your tasty snack.
Flavored Jello Popcorn recipe:
Jello Popcorn
This easy candied Jello Popcorn lets you create a rainbow of flavors and colors. Change the gelatin flavor to create different colors and flavors.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 small package Jello (dry flavored gelatin mix)
- 9 cups popped popcorn
Instructions
- Combine honey & butter in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave until melted.
- Add sugar & Jello powder. Stir. Put in microwave and cook until it comes to a rolling boil (doubles in size).
- Pour over popcorn in a large bowl. Stir to coat.
- Place on parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees F for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
- Cool & break apart. Store in airtight container.
Notes
2 bags of microwave popcorn equals about 10 cups of popped corn.
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Originally posted January 2009. The images and text were updated in November 2019.
Clumbsy Cookie says
Wow they’re really cool, with the bright colors! I bet the kids go crazy over them. I can’t believe you have such cold weather! I would be freezing and unable to do anything! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
charlotte says
i just love popping in from MGCC and see that you love to experiment in the kitchen just like we do and i have learned alot from your site. i often have a bunch of young people at our home and look for snacky type things that are just a little differant than the same old. this popcorn would certainly qualify for that. i must give it a try soon. i am just not to eager to have the big youth over just yet but i know the day is coming…..;-).
i will definately be back!
Kerri says
Oh my gosh, great idea! The kids will love it. Weather has been crazy cold here too.. I LIVE for winter, but it’s been too cold to take the boys out. So we’ve been caged animals for the past couple of days.. guess we’ll have to make us some popcorn 😉
Happy New Year!
betty r says
Jeanine..colored popcorn is always a hit with the young ones or those not so young! And flavorful too!
Alexa says
What a fun recipe!
H.Peter says
Interesting. I do not like jello so much, but I have to say it may be worth a try for my daughter.
I love the color aspect of the idea. It keeps me thinking.
Carol VR says
I just recently made this recipe over the weekend and have since posted it tonight.
Thanx again for the great recipe!!!
Jeanine says
Carol VR, thanks for letting me know that you posted this recipe! I agree…step aside, Kernels, we can make it ourselves now! 🙂
maurerb says
I stumbled upon this recipe last week. I have made it 6 times since then!! I made 5 batches of orange and put it in carrot shaped bags as treats for my kids classes. I did make one big change in that I make the whole recipe in the microwave. After I pour the cooked syrup over the popcorn I put the bowl in the microwave and cook for 1 1/2 min. stir and cook for an additional 1 1/2 min. Then spread out on sprayed foil to cool. It doesn't get any easier and it only takes me 20 minutes to make one batch. I will add that I have a 900 w microwave so you may need to adjust the times based on your microwave's power. Thanks for posting a GREAT recipe!!
Jeanine says
What a great idea for spring treats! wish you'd posted this earlier, it would have been perfect to send to my daughter's class for this afternoon. they are having a movie afternoon, and after today…SPRING BREAK!! Wonderful idea though, I'll have to try to remember that for next year. 🙂 Glad that it worked to do it completely in the microwave too, that's awesome!
Tasty Eats At Home says
You know, I have never seen anything like this before? It looks awesome! I can only imagine how much of a hit it'd be with kids. Great gift idea. Thanks for linking up for GF Holiday.
Kristin says
I want to try this soon for a St.Patty's day kids party and I am wondering if I could use butter instead of margarine? Thanks, looks good!
Jeanine says
@Kristin Absolutely! Using butter wouldn't be a problem at all. What a great idea for St. Patty's day!
chris says
I am going to make this for my daughter to take to her kindergarten class. She has snack day on Thursday before Good Friday and I wanted something "Easter-y". Then I remembered this recipe! I know the kids will love it!!! Just wondering how many batches to make for 24 kids? Any idea?
Jeanine - The Baking Beauties says
@chris, this would be perfect for the Kindergarten class! I think 2 batches would be enough for the class, but I'd probably make 3 just to ensure it, and having some left over isn't a bad thing. 😉
Karla says
What a great idea! Do you have to bake it on a greased cookie sheet or can you just use parchment paper? Can you make these into popcorn balls?
Jeanine - The Baking Beauties says
@Karla, I've never tried making popcorn balls from these. I think it may work, you just might want to lower the temp a little, since you can't stir them up when they are baking.
I just use parchment paper on my baking sheet, nothing sticks to that. 🙂
chris says
I ended up making 4 batches-one each of watermelon, grape, berry blue and orange and then mixed them all together when they were cooled. I sent in a one cup bag for each kid and it was all gone! They really liked it and I'll make it again sometime….just for us 🙂
Jeanine - The Baking Beauties says
@chris, Chris I bet they loved it! From your inspiration, I ended up making it for my son's K class, as well as my daughter's grade 3 class. 5 batches later, I was done. Kinda tired of seeing it after that, and the smell of Jello has just now left my microwave. lol Thanks for the idea!
Kristen says
This stuff is amazing!!! It tastes so yummy and is so pretty!
E says
Hi I tried making this and 10 minutes in when I went to stir it it was already burning. Do you know what may have happened? I followed the directions to a T. Thank you.
Pj says
Hello,just wondering why you add sugar and honey? Does the jello not have enough sugar?. Maybe I am using the wrong jello?
Thanks
Jeanine Friesen says
Nope, the jello itself doesn’t have enough sugar to make the candy coating that you need for the popcorn.
Sue says
Looking forward to trying this for our VBS snack. We are doing Truth Sleuths and I am calling Cop Corn.
Jeanine Friesen says
Such a cute idea!! Love it!
Nancy says
Can you make this using oil instead of butter or margarine
Jeanine Friesen says
I’ve never tried that, so I’m not sure. I know butter helps with the flavour as well though. If you tried it, please let me know.
STEPHANIE says
How do we keep the popcorn crunchy
Jeanine Friesen says
As long as you baked it that it becomes crunchy once it’s cooled, an air tight container has always worked for me. Ice cream pail or tupperware, for example.
Linda says
Can I use corn syrup instead of honey?
Jeanine Friesen says
Light corn syrup may work, but I’ve never tried it.
Amanda says
Yes it works
Tammy Sparks says
Do you think it wound turn out ok using sugar free jello mix and Truvia or something similar? My husband is a diabetic and I’m on Weight Watchers so we are trying to avoid as much excess sugar as possible.
Tressey says
I I was wondering the same. I’m on keto but would definitely try this. Lol
Amanda says
I used suger free kroger brand and it worked just fine!
Hannah says
Hi! I plan on making this for my Sister in laws baby shower, when stored in an air tight container (or individual wrapped bags), how long is the popcorn good for?
Amanda says
Made it this last week for all the kiddos and it was a hit- used sugar free Kroger brand raspberry flavor and unfortunately ran out of hunny in the middle of making the recipe and had to go with half corn syrup but… still works!!! Thanks for the recipes!!!!