Kids love simple party food. They’re usually more concerned with playing and having fun than eating! Flavored popcorn is an easy grab-and-go snack for little hands.

This is one of those recipes that busy parents should always have on hand. It uses simple, basic, ingredients and is truly easy to make, but the result is really wonderful. Colorful, fruit-flavored popcorn that kids go crazy for! Emma and DJ LOVE popcorn, so this was the perfect activity for them! 

Using different flavors and colors of Jello is what makes this popcorn so good and versatile. Choose favorite flavors, or even match colors to the party decor. Bowls of rainbow-colored popcorn add life to any child’s party and provide a snack that at least has some healthful qualities. Popcorn is full of fiber!

For this recipe, use air-popped or stove-top popcorn rather than the microwave variety. If the popcorn is prepared on the stove, use the minimum amount of oil necessary, and don’t add any salt or butter. Also, choose an oil that won’t add much, if any, flavor to the popcorn itself. The flavor comes from the butter and Jello added to the coating.

To make things even more interesting, make several batches of flavored popcorn in different tastes and colors, and then mix them to create a variety of combinations.

Here are some ideas to try out:

Lemon-Lime Popcorn
Tropical Popcorn (using Watermelon, Pineapple, and Lime)
Mixed Berry Popcorn (using Blue Raspberry, Strawberry, and Cherry)
Christmas Popcorn (using Lime and Strawberry or Cherry)
Halloween Popcorn (using Orange and Grape)
Fruit Salad Popcorn (using as many flavors as possible)

Or come up with your own combinations for new and different mixtures.

Colorful Flavored Popcorn Recipe

Ingredients:

10 cups popped popcorn
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 package fruit-flavored Jello (3-ounce size)
1 tablespoon corn syrup
3 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

Put it All Together:

Preheat oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Grease two 9 x 13 baking dishes and distribute popcorn evenly over both. Place baking pans in the oven to warm the popcorn.
Melt the butter in a large, heavy saucepan. Add sugar, Jello, corn syrup, and water. Cook, stirring often, over medium heat until the mixture reaches about 260 degrees Fahrenheit – about 4 minutes after it comes to a boil.
Add baking soda and stir well to combine. Remove popcorn from the oven.
Pour Jello mixture evenly over the popcorn and mix well to coat evenly. Bake the popcorn in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes. Popcorn may take additional baking time to dry and become crisp but watch it carefully to prevent burning.
Remove popcorn from baking pans and transfer to wax paper to cool. Break the popcorn up into small clusters.
Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container.

Makes about 10 cups.