Old Fashioned Pink Popcorn
A vintage-style sweet and colorful popcorn treat, made with a simple sugar syrup that gives it a glossy pink finish and a delightful crunch. Perfect for holidays, parties, or as a nostalgic snack.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes (plus cooling)
- Yield: 10 cups 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Candy Making
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2/3 cup uHere ‘sed popyou’llernels
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup half and half
- 1 Tbsp light corn syrup
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 6 drops red food coloring
Instructions
- Place the popped popcorn in a large bowl, removing any unpopped kernels. If desired, lightly grease the bowl with butter to prevent sticking.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
- Stop stirring and bring the mixture to a boil. Continue boiling until the syrup reaches the hard crack stage (300°F/150°C on a candy thermometer), about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and quickly stir in the vanilla extract and food coloring.
- Immediately pour the hot syrup over the popcorn, stirring quickly to coat evenly.
- Spread the coated popcorn onto a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool and harden.
- Once completely cool, break into clusters and store in an airtight container.
Notes
- Work quickly when pouring and stirring the syrup to ensure even coating before it hardens.
- Use caution when handling the hot syrup to avoid burns.
- For a fun variation, add a few drops of cherry or strawberry extract instead of vanilla.
- Store in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks to maintain crispness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
