Patriotic Popcorn

Need something quick, easy and festive for the 4th of July?  This Patriotic Popcorn is the perfect treat for packing to the parade or toting to the fireworks show.

I used my mother-in-law’s simple microwave caramel corn recipe and added Jell-O gelatin to the mix for a bright red, white and blue!

You can use whatever flavors you like. For this, I used Cherry Jell-O and Berry Blue Jell-O for the colors, and for the white, I just melted white chocolate chips and coated the popcorn.  I really wanted some red, white and blue sprinkles, but couldn’t find them in time for this recipe.  Had I found them, I would have sprinkled them onto the white popcorn.

I hope you enjoy this fast and fun little treat…and have a Happy 4th of July!

Print Recipe

Patriotic Popcorn

Author: Jennifer Locklin

Ingredients

• White Popcorn:
• 2 3.5 oz bags microwave popcorn (used: Pop Secret Homestyle)
• 1 12 oz bag white chocolate chips (used: Nestle Tollhouse)
• 
  
• Red Popcorn:
• 2 3.5 oz bags microwave popcorn (used: Pop Secret Homestyle)
• 1 cup granulated sugar divided
• 1 stick butter divided
• 4 tablespoons clear corn syrup divided
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt divided
• 2 6 oz boxes Cherry Jell-O
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda divided
• 
  
• Blue Popcorn:
• 2 3.5 oz bags microwave popcorn (used: Pop Secret Homestyle)
• 1 cup granulated sugar divided
• 1 stick butter divided
• 4 tablespoons clear corn syrup divided
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt divided
• 2 6 oz boxes Berry Blue Jell-O
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda divided
• Additional red and blue food coloring optional

Instructions

• For the white: Pop 2 bags of popcorn and pour into a medium bowl, shake the bowl to let the un-popped kernels fall to the bottom. Using your hands, transfer the popped popcorn to another large bowl (this will ensure that there are no hard kernels in the finished recipe).
• In another bowl, melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave, 30 seconds at a time, stirring between heating, until melted.
• Immediately pour over popcorn and stir to coat.
• Turn out onto waxed paper and allow to cool completely. Break into pieces.
• For the Red: (make in two batches) Pop 1 bag of popcorn and pour into a medium bowl, shake the bowl to let the un-popped kernels fall to the bottom. Using your hands, transfer the popped popcorn to another microwave-safe bowl.
• In a separate microwave safe measuring cup or bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 stick butter, 2 tablespoons syrup, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 Cherry Jell-O and several drops of red food coloring (optional). Microwave on high for 1 ½ minutes; stir.
• Microwave on high again for 1 minute more; stir.
• Add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; stir well (will bubble up). Immediately pour this mixture over popcorn, stirring to coat evenly.
• Microwave coated popcorn mixture for 1 minute on high; stir.
• Microwave 1 more minute on high and stir well.
• Turn out onto waxed paper and allow to cool completely. Break into pieces.
• Repeat with the second batch
• For the Blue: (make in two batches) Pop 1 bag of popcorn and pour into a medium bowl, shake the bowl to let the un-popped kernels fall to the bottom. Using your hands, transfer the popped popcorn to another microwave-safe bowl.
• In a separate microwave safe measuring cup or bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 stick butter, 2 tablespoons syrup, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 Berry Blue Jell-O and several drops of blue food coloring (optional). Microwave on high for 1 ½ minutes; stir.
• Microwave on high again for 1 minute more; stir.
• Add 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; stir well (will bubble up). Immediately pour this mixture over popcorn, stirring to coat evenly.
• Microwave coated popcorn mixture for 1 minute on high; stir.
• Microwave 1 more minute on high and stir well.
• Turn out onto waxed paper and allow to cool completely. Break into pieces.
• Repeat with the second batch