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.
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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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lynn clayton says
gran makes these carmel chocolate popcorn balls that are devine
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!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jess! It is so easy to make at home, I’ve never had store bought!
Lisa bolduc says
I am a big fan of sweets. A little to much of a fan. I really like butter tarts
Ashley Fehr says
Ooo, butter tarts are the best! Such a classic!
Caitlin says
My mom’s rocky road squares!
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…
Caroline Wiebe says
So many to choose from…lets go with caramel corn or Grandma’s white cookies with icing.
Louanne Baelde says
I love rocky road squares, homemade pecan pie, and maple syrup fudge.
Bernice says
My favourite Christmas treat is gingerbread man cookies & sugar cookies , love decorating them with the kids
Piroska says
My favourite Christmas treat are chocolate shortbread cookies.
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…
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Heidi! I don’t think I’ve ever actually made a Gingerbread house with my daughter yet — I will have to do that this year!
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!!
Ashley Fehr says
It’s hard to beat Grandma’s baking! Those all sound amazing!
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.
Cristina says
My favorite holiday treat is Nanaimo bars!
Ashley Fehr says
Loooove Nanaimo Bars!
Kathy Eyre says
Orange flavored chocolate and frozen chocolate chip cookies
Ashley Fehr says
Ooo I love frozen cookies! I thought that was something only my family did!
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!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Stacey! I pretty much love every single Christmas food! Lol
Suzie M says
Homemade whipped shortbread tops my list
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Suzie!
Kent says
Tigerbark! White chocolate and peanut butter swirled into candy. Yum
Ashley Fehr says
Oh that sounds amazing! Something I’ve never had before!
Kent says
Just as simple as it sounds too. Melt the white chocolate and pour in onto parchment or waxed paper, dollop on spoonfuls of peanut butter and swirl it with a knife. After it hardens break into pieces. Give it a try =)
Ashley Fehr says
Oh I definitely will! I love white chocolate and peanut butter! Thanks 🙂
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!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Sarah! I am a bit of a Christmas fanatic!
ivy pluchinsky says
My favorite Christmas treat is Christmas Cream Cheese Tarts
Ashley Fehr says
Oo I’ve never heard of those — I’ll have to check them out!
Judy Cowan says
My favourite holiday treat is homemade whipped shortbread, so yummy!
Ashley Fehr says
Awesome! Thanks Judy!