Grandma’s Candy Popcorn Recipe + VIDEO

Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 25 cups

Jump to Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

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.

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

long overhead image of bowl of candy popcorn in pink green and yellow with title

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.

pink yellow and green candy popcorn in red christmas tin

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!).

red christmas tin with yellow pink and green candy popcorn and sparkly christmas trees behind

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!

overhead image of candy popcorn in bowl and all around bowl on wood background
ashley avatar

Pin this recipe to save for later

Pin this recipe to your favorite board

Grandma’s Candy Popcorn

4.81 from 47 votes
Candy Popcorn is an easy holiday treat that is perfect for gift giving! My Grandma’s recipe ?
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Cuisine American
Course Snack
Servings 25 cups
Calories 90cal

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

*I divided my popcorn in 3 to get 3 different colors. I divided my sugar mixture (after boiling) into 3 bowls, then stirred in ½ teaspoon food coloring in each bowl, and pour that over ⅓ of the popcorn each.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 90cal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 24mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g

Want to save this recipe?

Create an account easily save your favorite content, so you never forget a recipe again.

Register Now

Tried this recipe?

Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel —
I love to see what you’re making!

Tag @thereciperebel

Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

Read More

You May Also Like

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says

    AW I love this! Gorgeous recipe from your grandma. My mum actually loves candy popcorn but I never thought to make it at home. I should make this for her at Christmas, she’ll love it! Thanks for sharing Ashley! Currently wishing I was in Canada so I could win that thing!

  2. natasha says

    Growing up my parents always made fudge during the holidays, it was the only time if year that they made it. I loved it then and still love it today! Mmm chocolate peanut butter…

  3. Heidi Pawluk says

    Fav christmas is the Gingerbread House. Oh My, how I love putting it together with the kids & grandaughter. Let her decorate it the way she wants & it always turns out looking just like a sweet gingerbread house should look. With so many different candy options one can make it look anyway they want, but always a must a xmas time.

    Love, Love the wonderful colors on your popcorn, would make nice decorations for the tree…

  4. Anne Taylor says

    I adore the Christmas season. Some of my favourite treats are my grandmother’s shortbread (that I still don’t make as well as she did}, saltine toffee, sugar cookies and butter tarts!!

  5. Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze says

    I love Christmas too! Actually I love all holidays. Just love the festive feel. This popcorn is such a great idea! You can literally use it for any holiday. Sorry about your grandma. Love that you’re making family recipes more and more. Those really are the best recipes around.

  6. Stacey @ Bake Eat Repeat says

    Christmas is definitely my favourite time of year too – and caramel corn is one of my favourite treats – that and the various cookies we make every single year! This popcorn looks amazing, as does this popcorn maker! I love how big it is!

  7. Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl says

    This popcorn is so cute!!! I’ve never tried making anything like this, but it really would be fun to make this during the holidays with red and green! I am with you, girl – I love the holidays too. The music, movies, gift wrapping, all of it. I savor every moment! I’m sure your Gma would be so happy to know that you are enjoying her recipes! This looks like a wonderful one!

Leave A Reply

Have you tried this recipe? Leave a rating