Green colored popcorn makes a delicious and fun St Patrick’s day treat. Be sure to scroll to the bottom to see more St Patricks Day food ideas! Who would think you can make colored popcorn. With this easy candied popcorn recipe, you actually make colored popcorn in a variety of colors! The ingredients are simple and you probably have all them all in your pantry right in your pantry. Serve this along with some other fun St Patrick’s day treats for a festive celebration.
How to make Colored Popcorn
A working candy thermometer is a must for making colored popcorn. We are making candied popcorn and if the candy mixture gets too hot it will easily scorch and turn brown. While this recipe is simple to make it must be watched closely while cooking to prevent burning. You can make any color you like. We are making green popcorn today and using green food coloring? What color will you make?
Green Colored Popcorn Recipe
- 4 quarts popped corn
- 1 1/2 Cups sugar
- 1/2 Cup light corn syrup
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar (optional, does make mixture slightly more creamy)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- green food coloring (I used about 1/8 teaspoon paste/jell color in Green)
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In heavy saucepan on medium heat melt butter then add sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar and salt. Increase temperature to medium-high and bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar. Once mixture boils, add in food coloring and stop stirring. Boil for 5 minutes (Do not stir). The mixture should be about 250-260 degrees. Remove from heat and carefully stir in vanilla and baking soda. Working quickly and while the mixture is foamy, pour mixture over popped corn and gently stir to coat popcorn. Place popcorn into a large roaster or rimmed baking sheet (lined with parchment paper or sprayed with cooking spray) and bake at 200° F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Check often to make sure it doesn’t burn. It should not change colors. It is okay to pull it out early if needed.
Candied Popcorn
This candied popcorn is just like making caramel popcorn. The difference is the type of sugar. Using white sugar, light corn syrup mixture and food coloring allows you to color the popcorn. Caramel corn uses brown sugar which gives it that light brown color. If you want soft candy coating on your popcorn try this white chocolate popcorn. I promise you won’t be able to stop eating!
First, you will need popped popcorn. We have a popcorn popper for this but you could also use microwave popcorn. Cook the sugar mixture in a heavy saucepan. Place popcorn in a large bowl. Remove the syrup mixture from the heat and pour over popcorn and stir to coat. Place the pop corn on baking sheets and bake for about an hour making sure to stir every 15 minutes.
This festive green colored popcorn would also make the perfect Grinch popcorn. Just add a few jumbo heart quins to the final stir before the mixture cools.
St Patrick’s Day Food Ideas
Easy rainbow cupcakes are perfect if you don’t want to color tons of frosting or cake. Just dip layers of frosting in colored sugar. Genius! Be sure to watch the video. It really is simple
Rainbow cupcakes with a pot of gold. Gum or candy can make the perfect rainbow, while a Rolo candy and gold sugar make a pot of gold.
Pot of gold cupcakes are made from pre-colored fondant and gold pained Oreos
Cinnamon sugar shamrock pretzels would make a great after-school treat and activity. My kids love making pretzels
These mini grasshopper pies are a minty treat that uses my fave candy, Andes mints.
This minty easy ice cream pie is one of my go-to desserts. Since it can be made ahead it is a great dessert for dinner guests.
Rainbow Food Ideas
Looking to serve of a colorful meal then be sure to serve up rainbow pasta! I love it!
Rainbow fudge would be a show-stopping dessert. So vibrant!
Yes, please! Rainbow Pancakes!
Kids would love to wake up to rainbow donuts!
Slice and bake cookies are a bright spot for sure!
Rainbow grilled cheese would be a fun surprise!
Wanting a healthy rainbow food option for dinner? These rainbow vegetable sandwiches would be yummy!
I don’t know if I could stop eating this beautiful rainbow flatbread pizza!
A veggie rainbow is a perfect side to any St Patricks day meal.
And don’t forget the famous Shamrock Shake popular for St. Patrick’s Day!
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