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–+ servings

Rainbow Popcorn

Jello candy coating makes this DIY rainbow popcorn an easy, fruit-flavored snack. Make as many batches as you want to create a few colors, or all the colors of the rainbow!
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 943 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 9 cup popcorn popped
  • 1/2 cup salted butter for each color of popcorn you want to make
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar for each color of popcorn you want to make
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup for each color of popcorn you want to make
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt for each color of popcorn you want to make
  • 3 ounce Jell-O or flavored gelatin for each color of popcorn you want to make
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for each color of popcorn you want to make

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 250°F.
  • Spread popcorn in a 3 to 4 quart glass or metal baking dish, at least 9x13 but larger will make it even easier to stir the popcorn.
  • In a medium saucepan heat butter, sugar, corn syrup, and sea salt over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil, stirring frequently.
  • Add contents of the jello packet to the saucepan and stir until fully combined.
  • Bring the mixture back up to a low boil and leave to simmer undisturbed for a full 5 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and stir in baking soda, the mixture will foam up a bit.
  • Pour jello mixture over the popcorn and stir to coat as evenly as possible.
  • Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, stirring thoroughly every 15 minutes. After popcorn has cooked for 45 minutes, remove a piece from the oven and allow it to cool for a couple minutes. Taste to determine if the coating is crisp and dry or if it is sticky. Continue cooking the popcorn 5 to 10 minutes longer until it is no longer sticky when cooled.
  • Remove popcorn from the oven and immediately scoop out onto parchment paper. Allow popcorn to cool and break into pieces.
  • Repeat for additional colors and flavors.

Notes

NOTE: The ingredients listed above are for 1 color of popcorn. If you want to create rainbow popcorn as we did, you need separate ingredients for each color you intend to make.
TIP: 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels yields approximately 10 cups of popped corn.
 
TIP: Once it starts to cool, the candy coating sets fast. Stir it quickly and evenly into the popcorn to completely coat it before the mixture starts to cool.
 
TIP: If you don't bake your popcorn long enough, it will be chewy. You can pop it back into the oven for a few more minutes if this happens.

Nutrition

Calories: 943kcalCarbohydrates: 175gProtein: 21gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 391mgPotassium: 510mgFiber: 23gSugar: 40gVitamin A: 355IUCalcium: 16mgIron: 6mg