Fruity Candy Popcorn

Fruity Candy Popcorn, AKA: Jell-O Popcorn is a fun twist on candied popcorn. Ironically, the first time I was introduced to candied popcorn made with Jell-O, was in Brazil. As you might guess, it’s not a traditional local food there! My friend Kim suggested we make this because we happened to have all of the ingredients in our very bare cupboard. I had never heard of such a thing, and I thought it was the strangest idea ever! We mixed up sugar and butter and Jell-O mix and in just a few minutes we had a rainbow of fruity smelling mixtures ready to be poured over fresh popped popcorn. It was delicious! We shared some with the locals and quickly the word spread that the American girls made crazy popcorn treats with Jell-O! That next week we were asked to make several hundred popcorn balls for a big church event and they were quite a hit.

It seems like I post some sort of popcorn concoction on every theme week we do so I thought this was appropriate! I love things like this because they’re so quick and easy and when you’re done you have a lot to share. You can experiment with different colors and flavors and see what you like. I have to say that strawberry is my family’s favorite, and it’s one of the most vibrant so it’s always a safe one to go with. Sometimes the lighter colors get little dark specks in them, but they still taste great! You could make an entire rainbow and layer it in a glass bowl for great party food, or this packs up perfectly for giveaway treats. This is definitely a kid-tested (and approved!) recipe.

Ingredients Needed

This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.

Popped popcorn – Plain, air popped popcorn is all you need here, but if buttered is all you have, it will work in a pinch.
Butter – Always use real butter if you can!
Light corn syrup
Granulated sugar
Jell-O mix – You’ll need the small box of Jell-O (3-3.5 ounces). Do not use sugar-free, as the sugar is what creates that crunchy candy coating.

How to Make Fruity Candy Popcorn

Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a jelly roll pan with foil or parchment. If using foil, spray lightly with non-stick spray and set aside. Place the popcorn in an extra large mixing bowl.
Place butter and syrup in a sauce pan on medium heat. Stir until butter is melted. Add sugar and Jello and stir to combine.
Increase heat and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat so it just simmers. Continue simmering for 5 minutes. You’ll start off with a mixture that’s sometimes thick (depending on the flavor, see note at end) and as it cooks the sugar will dissolve and it will become a little more liquidy.
After the sugar mixture simmers for 5 minutes, immediately pour over popcorn in bowl. Be careful, it’s super hot!! Mix right away and keep stirring so everything gets well coated. Spread mixture onto prepared pan and spread out evenly.
Pop in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes. I’ve noticed that some flavors of Jell-O have more mix than others. For example, the strawberry is usually much thicker than the lime. If you notice this, you might want to bake the mixture for a few minutes longer to make sure it gets cooked all the way.
Remove the pan from the oven and let cool to room temp. Then break into pieces and enjoy! You can certainly eat this un-baked as well and it’s just soft and gooey, but definitely bake it if you’re going to pack it up for giving, or serve it as party food so it will be light and crunchy.

Storing and Other Tips

Store finished Fruity Candy Popcorn in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy within 3-5 days for best results.
My favorite containers for goodies like this come from the dollar section at Target. Craft stores like Michael’s and Hobby Lobby usually have a great selection as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! This is a great treat to make a day or two ahead of when you need it, as long as you store it in an airtight container or package.

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, however I recommend doing it in batches simply because there’s so much popcorn to stir and coat.