Easy Patriotic Popcorn
With the Fourth of July around the corner, it's time to start planning your patriotic-themed snacks! And what better way to celebrate Independence Day than with a big bowl of yummy patriotic popcorn? In this blog, we're going to show you how to make Easy Patriotic Popcorn that's perfect for any Fourth of July party or gathering. This festive, colorful treat is not only delicious but also super simple to make. So get ready to don your red, white and blue and let's get popping!
This Easy Patriotic Red White and Blue Popcorn is going to be a winner for your gathering for Independence Day, or any other patriotic celebration such as Flag Day or Memorial Day. Check out this easy recipe below. The best part– this recipe feeds a LOT so you won’t have to do all the math of trying to double or triple a recipe for a crowd!
How to Make Red, White, and Blue Popcorn- Start with Popped Popcorn!
This recipe starts with regular cooked popcorn. If you are worried about the cost associated with making 24 cups of popped popcorn– what this recipe calls for– a huge money-saver is to buy popcorn kernels.
If you haven’t made your own popcorn at home, stick with me. It’s actually super easy and something you will end up doing again and again. While most microwaveable popcorn just involves opening a package, popcorn kernels must be measured out. That’s about the only difference. You can add some salt, but it’s not entirely necessary for this recipe. All you need is a plastic bowl, popcorn maker, or even a microwavable popcorn bowl and you’re good to go. I definitely recommend popping those popcorn kernels for the best flavor, and lowest cost!!
After your popcorn is ready, arrange it on at least two sheet pans with parchment or a silicone liner underneath. You can also use foil or wax paper. Give it a spray with non-stick spray if needed! Covering your sheet pans is a lifesaver for cleanup!
Melting Your Chocolate
This recipe calls for white chocolate chips. We recommend using a high quality brand such as Ghirardelli. You can use the candy melts, or just a bag of white chocolate morsels. If you use a bargain brand, be aware that the consistency may more resemble almond bark rather than chocolate chips. Ingredient amounts do differ between these brands.
Alternately, you can use Wilton Candy Melts.
Melting is easy using a double broiler, but you can also microwave your chocolate in 30 second bursts in the microwave, stirring between every 30 seconds. Be sure to use a microwave safe bowl. Stoneware or microwave safe glassware does get hot, so be careful as you take it out of the microwave to stir.
Using Red, White, and Blue Coloring
After you’ve melted your white chocolate, next is adding the red and blue food coloring. Again, it helps to use a good quality food coloring brand. I love Wilton icing colors, not only because they have vibrant colors but also because those gels just don’t work well for me. I find the gels can actually thicken up almond bark entirely too much, and sometimes it can thicken up even the white chocolate chips. It becomes a mess of trying to reheat the chocolate back down to being completely melted.
Having good food coloring will just dye your white chocolate properly without changing the consistency too much. If you need to pop it back into the microwave, that’s OK.
While it’s still warm, pour over your popped popcorn and gently stir with a spatula.
Drizzle Your Popcorn
Now that you have colorful and festive red, white and blue popcorn, the next step is to make it appetizing and pretty! Those hard to resist desserts and snacks always have the wow factor, of course!
We start by drizzling more white chocolate over the popcorn. There’s no right or wrong way to drizzle the chocolate, but work with quick motions with a fork or spoon for best results.
The drizzle should look nice and even when done, and there should be enough to cover both trays of popcorn with this recipe.
Optionally, you can add patriotic sprinkles, candy pearls, or even sprinkle mixes with stars. Definitely let the kids help with these final steps if you have helpers in the kitchen!
Break up your red and blue popcorn after it sets, usually 10-15 minutes later. Mix gently into a bowl to get an overall mixture of the colors. You can store or serve immediately, but it’s always best served the day it’s made. Find these fun popcorn holders at the dollar store for serving!
What to serve with this red, white, and blue popcorn
This colorful red and blue patriotic popcorn drizzled with chocolate is great served in a festive bowl or individual containers for July 4th. It makes a great center piece for the dessert table. You can also make one of our other fun Independence Day desserts, listed below:
- Star Spangled Brownie Sandwiches
- Easy July 4th Popcorn balls!
- Easy Patriotic Snack Mix
- No Bake Berry Cheesecake
- Easy Patriotic Firecracker Cake
Easy Patriotic Popcorn Recipe
Make this red, white, and blue popcorn for your July 4th and summer festivities! This makes a lot, so reduce the recipe by half if needed. For best results, enjoy this the day its made!
Ingredients
- 24 c popped popcorn
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 1½ cups half & half (can use whole milk or 2% but will not be as rich)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 Tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 Tablespoons vanilla extract (clear extract will help keep the mixture a little
- lighter)
- Food color in red and royal blue
- 10 ounces white chocolate chips
Instructions
1. Divide popcorn into two very large bowls for mixing in colored syrup.
2. In a large saucepan, combine sugar, half & half, corn syrup and salt.
3. Insert a candy thermometer into pan. Cook over medium heat until sugar
dissolves.
4. Bring mixture to a low boil, stirring frequently, until temperature reaches
230 degrees (soft ball stage). Be patient, this does take a while, at least 20
minutes. You can also check this by putting a small spoonful into a cup of very
cold water. When ready it will form a soft ball when dropped in.
5. When mixture reaches 230 degrees, stir in vanilla and remove from heat.
6. Divide mixture between two heatproof bowls or measuring cups. Add red
coloring into one bowl and blue into the other. I used ¼ tsp. of each color but you
may decide to use more. The mix will be a bit brown before coloring but the food
color does a wonderful job of overcoming that.
7. Stir each mixture well to incorporate the color into the syrup completely.
8. Working quickly, add one colored syrup to each bowl of popcorn, mixing
well with a large spoon or your hands (mixture will be a bit hot at first, so you may
want to start with a spoon, then move to using your hands if desired. Food gloves
work well for this. If syrup sets up too much, place it in the microwave for 10-15
seconds to re-melt.
9. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
10. Spread each color of popcorn onto a separate parchment covered cookie
sheet and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until crisp.
11. Remove from oven and cool on the cookie sheets.
12. Pour white chocolate into microwave safe measuring cup or bowl. Melt
white chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between, until it
is melted.
13. Using a fork or spoon, drizzle the white chocolate over both pans of
popcorn. Allow to set up well before serving.
Notes
You can serve this in a large glass dish as pictured. Seal with plastic wrap if not serving immediately, and be sure to store in a cool place to avoid the chocolate drizzle melting. For best results, serve the day it's made, for the freshest popcorn!
Nutrition Information
Yield
24Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 267Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 8mgSodium 127mgCarbohydrates 48gFiber 1gSugar 44gProtein 2g
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Definitely doing this for the 4th of July!!
Awesome I hope you have a Happy 4th!
I’m definitely going to try a healthier version of this: food coloring from Natural Grocers or plant-based products
I know right?
very cute
Thanks Dorothy!
Looks delish! Gunna have to try this out!
It’s so good!
I’m not a big “chocolate “fan but this looks so easy and would great to do with young kids.
Great information
Yes, and you can get creative sub-flavors!
I’m definitely thinking of doing the healthier version of this: food coloring from Natural Grocers or plant-based products
even better!!!