Patriotic Popcorn Recipe

One of my favorite childhood memories was eating red, white, and blue candied popcorn while watching fireworks on the 4th of July. I can’t remember where my family got the popcorn, and I haven’t been able to find it anywhere. So, I went on a mission to learn how to make it myself. After some experimentation, this recipe turned out to be my favorite. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Ingredients:

NOTE: You should make 2 batches of this recipe (one blue and one red).

12 cups popcorn, popped*
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup strawberry syrup (use boysenberry syrup for blue)**
1/2 t. baking soda (reduce to 1/4 t. for blue)
1/2 t. vanilla
1 t. red coloring (use blue coloring for blue)

*This is about 1/2 cup un-popped corn kernels.

**I use Smucker’s strawberry and boysenberry syrup (available at most grocery stores) — the main ingredient needs to be corn syrup. If you can’t find these flavors, you can use regular corn syrup and, if you like, add a flavoring or extract.

Directions:

1. Place popcorn in a large bowl and set aside.

2. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, butter and syrup. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue boiling for about 2 more minutes, stirring constantly.

3. After the syrup mixture cools slightly, stir in baking soda, vanilla and food coloring. Pour over popcorn and toss to coat.

4. Bake in 250 degree oven for 30 minutes (stir after 15 minutes). Watch the blue color carefully (if the baking soda overheats, it turns the popcorn a green color).

5. Allow popcorn to cool and then break it apart. Store in an airtight container so it doesn’t get soggy.

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