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!
Grandma’s Candy Popcorn
written by Ashley Fehr
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.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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andrea amy says
My favourite Christmas treat is whipped shortbread! Thanks for the chance!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Amy! And thanks goes to Hamilton Beach for the awesome prize! 🙂
kristen visser says
my favorite Christmas treat is hot apple crisp with vanilla ice cream mmmmmm
Ashley Fehr says
Oh, I love that any time of year! Thanks Kristen!
Minta Boggs says
snickerdoodles is my favorite holiday cookie
Ashley Fehr says
Love snickerdoodles! Thanks!
ceecee says
My mom’s shortbread is my fave treat!
Ashley Fehr says
Mom’s cookies are always the best!
Cece says
I love making (and eating) snickerdoodles for Christmas! My son was always fascinated with the name and loved helping me make them.
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, the name is so fun! I will have to introduce them to my 3 year old this year — I’m sure she’ll love them too!
Nora |Â Savory Nothings says
I LOVE Christmas, it’s definitely my favorite holiday of the year! And I know what you mean with getting attached to family recipes, I’m just the same! Your grandma’s candy popcorn looks like such a fun treat to give away to friends and family, I know my niece and nephews would go crazy over it!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Nora! I’m glad I’m not the only Christmas fanatic here!
Rachel @ Bakerita says
What a fun treat! I absolutely love that this is your grandma’s recipe 🙂 something about eating a recipe you know your grandparents also enjoyed just makes me feel warm and fuzzy!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Rachel! Warm and fuzzy is all I want at Christmas time!
Shinee says
So fun and festive! And looks like it’s really easy to make. Thanks for sharing your family recipe, Ashley! They’re the best.
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, super easy! Thanks Shinee!
Carole Palmer says
My favourite treat has always been After Eight Mints. I see them and it reminds me of Christmas!!
Ashley Fehr says
Oh, yes! I love those too!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Christmas is my fav time of the year and if I can wait till mid November to put the tree up – well, that would be swell, because our tree and decorations somehow managed to escape the storage closet and scatter themselves all over my living room floor this past weekend – crazy huh! 🙂
Ashley, your granamas popcorn is so pretty – perfect for gift giving!
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, that is so funny Shashi! Thanks friend!
Rachel S. says
My favorite treat is Christmas Crack, a caramel, chocolate saltine concotion. Sooooo good.
Ashley Fehr says
Oh my goodness — that stuff is incredible!
Debbie S. says
My favorite Christmas treat is homemade poppycock!
Ashley Fehr says
Awesome! Thanks Debbie!
Amanda says
my mom’s butter spritz cookies are my favorite!
Ashley Fehr says
My mom always made those too! Thanks Amanda!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Christmas is our favorite especially for my husband. He couldn’t wait and put up the tree on Sunday hahaha. Love that this popcorn recipe is your grandma’s 🙂 It’s so pretty and festive and perfect for the holidays!
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, that is awesome! I wish my husband would let me! Next week ours will definitely be up 🙂
Dorothy Dunto says
Hi Ashley! I would definitely have to bag most of this to give away because if I didn’t it would be gone! Have you ever noticed when you’re eating popcorn that all of a sudden the bowl is empty? My favorite part of every holiday is the food with family and friends! 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
That is always the best part! Thanks Dorothy!
Crystal Higgins says
My favorite Christmas treat is Microwave Pecan Pralines. DELICIOUS!!!!!
Ashley Fehr says
Oh my word, those sound amazing! I will have to find a recipe!
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
Ashley this is prettiest popcorn I have ever seen in my life!! Those colors and grandma’s recipes are always the best!!
Julianne says
Christmas Cookies!
Ashley Fehr says
Always! Thanks Julianne 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I look forward to Christmas every year too, but I can definitely do without the freezing cold temps and snow! This popcorn is so fun, Ashley! I love the different colors and the sweet flavor. I think I could munch on this all day long!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Gayle! That is always the worst part! But I think it makes all the warm food taste so much better 🙂
DJ says
My favorite holiday treat is fudge. I love all kinds and enjoy making it with my family.
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, and there are so many awesome variations!