At the beginning of the Grinch movie, he is salty through and through, but by the end, his heart grows ten times bigger, and he turns sweet. That is exactly why this recipe is called Grinch Popcorn. It has the perfect salty-sweet homemade kettle corn, is covered in candy hearts, and, of course, it is colored green to match the Grinch himself. This might just be the best kettle corn you will ever make, and it is perfect for binge-watching every version of the Grinch movie with your family.
@thechaotictable If you’re looking for the perfect salty sweet kettle corn for all of your Christmas movies this year check out this amazing grinch popcorn. You can find the full recipe over on the blog, link in bio. #grinch #grinchmas #christmasrecipe #kettlecorn #grinchtiktok ♬ original sound - The Chaotic Table | Steph
If you’re planning a cozy night in with this Grinch popcorn, I have plenty of other recipes to keep the fun going. Warm up with a mug of Protein Hot Chocolate or spice things up with a rich Mexican Hot Chocolate. For something sweet and shareable, my Hot Chocolate Fudge is always a hit. And if you want to balance the sweets with something savory, the Green Rice and Chicken Spinach Artichoke Pizza both add that pop of green that would make the Grinch proud.
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Pot
- Popcorn Boxes or bowls
The equipment section may contain affiliate links to products we know and love.
Ingredients
Directions
Mix the sugar and food coloring in a small mixing bowl.
Melt the coconut oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add two popcorn kernels, and once they pop, that’s how you know the oil is hot enough to cook. Stir in the sugar and popcorn kernels, then cover the pan. Shake the pan constantly until the popping slows down.
Remove from heat and stir in your sprinkles and salt.
How do you serve this?
- I like to divide mine into individual bowls so the kids don’t fight over sharing, and then pile on the couch for a movie binge-watching fest.
FAQs (Because Life’s Too Busy for Guesswork)
Yes, you can leave out the food coloring if you prefer. It won't affect the flavor of the popcorn, as it's mainly for appearance.
After about the third day, it starts to become stale in texture, but during the first couple of days, it seems to hold up well. Anything beyond three days is when you'll really notice the most changes. It also depends on how well it is stored.
Yes, if you would like to add nuts, wait until you are stirring in your sprinkles and stir in your nuts at that time.
I recommend using a non-stick pan that is easy for you to move around on your stovetop, since you'll need to shake it as it pops.
You didn't do anything wrong. When the colored sugar gets wet, it can turn very dark, almost black. However, once it mixes with the white popcorn, it will regain that nice green color. Just make sure to shake the pot regularly while cooking. Put it down on the heat, give it a good shake, and then put it back on the heat repetitively. This will help prevent the sugar from burning at the bottom.
That kind of depends on which Grinch you're going for. If you're going for the Jim Carrey Grinch (like I did because it's my favorite), I recommend leaf green, but if you're going for one of the cartoon Grinchies, I recommend avocado or neon green.
What are substitutions that I can make?
- Green food gel – You can use a different color of food coloring if you prefer.
- Coconut oil – Another option is to use popcorn oil or vegetable oil.
- Heart sprinkle – Alternatively, you could use green sprinkles for a more Grinch-like color, red for Christmas, or even black for the color his heart was supposed to be.
How should I store my leftovers?
- Grinch Popcorn should be stored in an airtight container or Ziploc bag with as much air removed as possible. You can keep it for up to 2 days, but no longer than 3 days before you notice changes in its texture.
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Grinch Popcorn
Equipment
- Medium pot with lid
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- ¼ cup sugar
- 4-6 drops green gel food coloring
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup popcorn kernels
- 1 tablespoon heart sprinkles
- ½ - 1 teaspoon popcorn salt
Instructions
- Mix the sugar and food coloring in a small mixing bowl.
- Melt the coconut oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add two popcorn kernels, and once they pop, that’s how you know the oil is hot enough to cook. Stir in the sugar and popcorn kernels, then cover the pan. Shake the pan constantly until the popping slows down. Remove from heat and stir in your sprinkles and salt.
Notes
Yes. The food coloring is only for appearance and does not affect the flavor, so you can leave it out if you prefer. Does the popcorn become soggy if stored?
It won’t become soggy right away, but after about three days, the texture starts to turn stale. For the best results, enjoy it within the first couple of days and make sure it’s stored in an airtight container. Can I add nuts to the mixture?
Yes. Stir them in at the same time you add the sprinkles. What kind of pot or pan should I use?
A non-stick pot or pan works best. Since you’ll need to shake it while the kernels pop, choose one that’s easy for you to move around on your stovetop.
This is such a fun and creative idea! I love how you tied the Grinch theme into the salty-sweet combo, definitely saving this for our holiday movie night!
This is so so fun! Can’t wait to try it!
This is so fun! Can’t wait to make this with my kids for the holidays! Such a cute idea!