Best Popcorn for 4th of July

Are you ready to have the best popcorn ever? Then learn how to make this quick and simple patriotic popcorn for your Fourth of July party!

Popcorn is the perfect food. Eat it plain as a low calorie snack, add butter and cheese for the perfect movie night treat, and homemade caramel popcorn has always been my love language. So to add yet another delicious recipe to my repertoire? Yes please!

BEST POPCORN FOR FOURTH OF JULY 

The coolest part of this recipe is you aren’t limited to just patriotic colors – and this isn’t just for Summer! Add pastel colors for Easter, orange and black for Halloween, green and red for Christmas – the possibilities are endless! {FTC disclaimer – this post contains affiliate links which means I may make a small commission on purchases at no additional cost to you.}

Ingredients:

• 24 c popped popcorn
• 4 c granulated sugar
• 1½ c half & half (can use whole milk or 2% but will not be as rich)
• ½ tsp salt
• 4 tbsp light corn syrup
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract (clear extract will help keep the mixture a little lighter)
• gel food color in red and royal blue
• 10 oz white chocolate chips

HOW TO MAKE the Best Popcorn for 4th of July

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 remelt.

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.

Serve and enjoy!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe

Best Popcorn for 4th of July

Are you ready to have the best popcorn ever? Then learn how to make this quick and simple patriotic popcorn for your Fourth of July party!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: popcorn, snacks

Servings: 24 cups of popcorn

Author: Beth Kingston

Ingredients

• 24 cups popped popcorn
• 4 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups half & half (can use whole milk or 2% but will not be as rich)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 tbsp light corn syrup
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract (clear extract will help keep the mixture a little lighter)
• gel food color in red and royal blue
• 10 oz white chocolate chips

Instructions

• Divide popcorn into two very large bowls for mixing in colored syrup.
• In a large saucepan, combine sugar, half & half, corn syrup and salt.
• Insert a candy thermometer into pan. Cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
• 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.
• When mixture reaches 230 degrees, stir in vanilla and remove from heat.
• 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.
• Stir each mixture well to incorporate the color into the syrup completely.
• 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 remelt.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
• Spread each color of popcorn onto a separate parchment covered cookie sheet and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until crisp.
• Remove from oven and cool on the cookie sheets.
• 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.
• Using a fork or spoon, drizzle the white chocolate over both pans of popcorn. Allow to set up well before serving.

IF YOU NEED SOME FOURTH OF JULY CAKE TOPPERS, THEN CHECK OUT OUR PROJECT BELOW!