Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (2024)

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This rainbow popcorn is so colorful and tasty which makes it perfect rainbow party food! Whether you’re hosting a rainbow party or you just want a fun snack to serve the kids, this rainbow jello popcorn recipe is the BEST one out there so be sure to bookmark this page or pin it for later!

Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (1)

When I was little I used to have a favorite popcorn store in the Mall of America where they served colorful, flavored popcorn in the BEST flavors. It was always the treat I chose and I was so sad when the store disappeared from the mall. Now as an adult I attempted to recreate that rainbow popcorn from my childhood and I’ve done it! This rainbow jello popcorn is colorful, flavorful and tons of fun. It’s perfect rainbow party food and will always elicit ooohhs and ahhhhs from the kids as a special treat!

If you love this rainbow popcorn then you might also be in search of other rainbow inspired foods! Be sure to check out my hugely popular rainbow jello and rainbow jello frosted grapes too! So good and pretty too!!

Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (2)

How To Make Rainbow Popcorn With Jello

In order to get the bright colors and rainbow of flavors that make up rainbow popcorn, we use Jello! Now don’t get crazy, you won’t be making the Jello itself, but instead will be using the Jello powder as the color and flavoring for your popcorn. Cool right?! Here is how to make rainbowjello popcorn!

Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (3)

Rainbow Jello Popcorn Step 1

Begin by popping popcorn. You’ll need 10 cups of popped popcorn (Amish popcorn is our hands-down favorite kind) which can be popped using an air popper or however you prefer. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet (these are my favorite ones that I use) with parchment paper (I buy the precut sheets to save time and waste less). Spread popcorn out on top of the parchment paper and set aside nearby.

Rainbow Jello Popcorn Step 2

Grease a 2-quart saucepan with butter to prevent the mixture from sticking. Combine 1/2 cup butter, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 (3oz) package of Jello, 1 tablespoon corn syrup and 3 tablespoons of water. Heat until it boils and then continue to boil for about 3-4 minutes or until a drop of hot mixture dropped into a cup of cold water forms a rigid ball. Pour mixture over popcorn and stir until evenly coated.

Rainbow Jello Popcorn Step 3

Put popcorn pan into oven and bake 5 minutes. Stir and bake an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven and spread on top of parchment paper to cool. Once it cools, break into clusters. Repeat for each color of the rainbow.

Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (4)

How To Make Rainbow Popcorn Balls

You can also make rainbow popcorn balls with this recipe! Follow the same recipe directions, but instead of allowing the popcorn to cool completely, allow it to cool until it is not too hot to handle with your hands. Then grease your hands and form the popcorn into balls. You can make different colored popcorn balls and then form a rainbow with them! Once formed in balls, allow to cool completely.

Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (5)

How To Store Rainbow Popcorn

Store your rainbow jello popcorn in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. We like to store ours in an airtight jar on the counter because it’s so pretty! Rainbow popcorn balls can be wrapped individually in clear plastic wrap and tied shut with a colorful ribbon. They make pretty rainbow party favors or St. Patrick’s day snacks too!

Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (6)

Rainbow Jello Popcorn Recipe

Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (7)

Rainbow Jello Popcorn

Sarah | Must Have Mom

This rainbow popcorn recipe is made using Jello for color and flavor. It's delicious and colorful and perfect for rainbow party food!

5 from 2 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert - Treat

Servings 10 cups

Ingredients

  • 10 cups popcorn popped
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 3oz pkg Jell-O
  • 1 tbsp corn syrup
  • 3 tbsp water

Instructions

  • Begin by popping popcorn. You'll need 10 cups of popped popcorn (Amish popcorn is our hands-down favorite kind) which can be popped using an air popper or however you prefer. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spread popcorn out on top of the parchment paper and set aside nearby.

  • Grease a 2-quart saucepan with butter to prevent the mixture from sticking. Combine butter, sugar, package of Jello, corn syrup and water. Heat until it boils and then continue to boil for about 3-4 minutes or until a drop of hot mixture dropped into a cup of cold water forms a rigid ball. Pour mixture over popcorn and stir until evenly coated.

  • Put popcorn pan into oven and bake 5 minutes. Stir and bake an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven and spread on top of parchment paper to cool. Once it cools, break into clusters. Repeat for each color of the rainbow.

  • TO MAKE POPCORN BALLS: Follow directions until you spread mixture to cool. Allow to cool until you are able to handle them with your hands. Grease hands and form popcorn into balls. Allow to cool completely once formed into balls.

  • Store in an air tight container in a cool, dry place. For popcorn balls, wrap individually in clear plastic wrap and tie shut with a ribbon.

Notes

*This recipe makes ONE color popcorn. Repeat recipe (and ensure you have enough ingredients) for each color of the rainbow.

Is Rainbow Jello Popcorn Gluten Free?

If you are following a gluten-free diet or have a condition such as celiac disease, you’ll need to closely monitor the ingredients you chose. We used Amish popcorn in this recipe which is gluten-free. The other ingredients are also gluten-free, however, the Jello does not specifically state it is gluten-free and while it doesn’t appear to contain gluten, we suggest using your own discretion. If you are able to find a labeled gluten-free gelatin powder that is flavored you can substitute that in equal amounts.

Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (8)Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (9)

Where Can I Buy Rainbow Popcorn?

If this rainbow popcorn recipe sounds like more than you wish to tackle then I suggest buying rainbow popcorn for your event or party instead! You can buy rainbow popcorn on Amazon at relatively low prices and this one even includes a popcorn scoop!

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Best Rainbow Popcorn Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the flavors of rainbow popcorn? ›

Our Rainbow is filled with strawberry, cherry, grape, banana, blueberry, orange, green apple, blue raspberry, watermelon and coconut! Can you guess which flavor is which? The Rainbow was never tastier!

What to add to popcorn to make it better? ›

What can I add to popcorn for flavor?
  1. Garlic powder or garlic salt.
  2. Dried parsley and grated Parmesan.
  3. Nutritional yeast, which is a healthy—but still flavorful—alternative to cheese.
Apr 7, 2021

How to make different colors of popcorn? ›

Put sugar and water in a small pan and boil to 238* on a candy thermometer (or until it forms a medium ball in cold water), adding the food coloring toward the last of the cooking. Pour over the popcorn & stir evenly, then sprinkle at once with the icing sugar.

Does rainbow popcorn taste different? ›

Colorful Favorites

Each colored one has its own unique taste. Many people describe the Blue and Midnight Blue as sweet and the Red and Purple as savory.

How do you get ingredients to stick to popcorn? ›

If you use oil for popping your popcorn, the seasoning will stick to it easily. However, to get flavor and stick to air-popped popcorn without fat, you can mist your popped popcorn with a bit of water or some other liquid. Sprinkle your popcorn as you move it to the bowl with a little liquid spray bottle.

How do you make bagged popcorn taste like movie popcorn? ›

The secret is to pop it in coconut oil and add Flavacol. Flavacol is a flavored salt that theaters use when popping the popcorn. You can buy Flavacol on Amazon.

Does popcorn pop different colors? ›

The Different Types of Popcorn

Simply put, white popcorn has a more tender texture than yellow. This is because it pops into smaller, more fine bright white shapes. Conversely, yellow popcorn tends to produce a much larger and sturdier form than white corn, and the popped kernels hold a yellowish tint to them.

What is rainbow flavoring? ›

RAINBOW FLAVORS STOCKS MANY MODERN, POPULAR & OLD-FASHIONED FLAVORS. We offer an assortment of different soda extract flavors, perfect to use in your next batch of homemade soda. Why Rainbow Flavors? We are the home of your favorite root beer and many other traditional flavors.

Can you make popcorn from rainbow corn? ›

As a flint corn, you can use Glass Gem for decoration, but also grind it for [cornmeal or flour], or pop it (more on that later).

What is pink popcorn called? ›

Lucky Elephant Pink Candy Popcorn is a Canadian confection (nostalgic / retro) snack that has been on the snack food market since the 1950s.

What is the secret ingredient in popcorn? ›

The flavor all comes down to one ingredient: Flavacol. You've likely never heard of Flavacol because, really, only movie theaters use it. Essentially, it's butter-flavored salt. It's a really fine, bright orange powder that adds that buttery flavor you crave and the signature yellow color.

How do you pop rainbow corn? ›

Glass Gem Popcorn
  1. In a large pot with a lid, heat 3 tbsp of coconut oil until a test piece of popcorn pops.
  2. When the oil's properly heated, add 1/3 cup of dried Glass Gem corn kernels.
  3. Put the lid on, and remove from heat for 30 seconds.
  4. Return to heat and repeat process every 30 seconds until popcorn pops.
Apr 24, 2024

How to make rainbow popcorn with skittles? ›

Put Skittles, butter and sugar in a saucepot on medium-high heat. Continuously stir until fully melted. Pour popcorn into pot with melted Skittles. Mix everything until popcorn well coated.

Can you make rainbow popcorn on the cob? ›

Let's get popping! Step 1: Grab a fresh sweet corn on the cob and remove the husk. Step 2: Fill three microwave-safe bowls with water and add a few drops of different food coloring to each bowl. Choose your favorite shades of the rainbow!

How do you flavor popcorn when popping? ›

It allows for steam to escape and you get larger pops. Cook in butter, not oil. While it is cooking, add flavor such as garlic powder, ground oregano,or even cinnamon, If you start with butter, popcorn and chopped fresh garlic, you get toasted garlic flavoring but be not heavy with the garlic.

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