Cherry Cotton Candy Popcorn

I'd seen this recipe over at Cravings of a Lunatic a few months back. It looked pretty. But I didn't have a reason to make pink popcorn so I just forgot about it. Then when I got on my popcorn kick, I remembered Kim's post.

Why not, let's make some pink popcorn.


What Kim failed to mention in her post is that this stuff tastes just like the cotton candy you get at the fair. And it melts in your mouth the same way.

And I'm not the only one who thinks so.


I left the small bowl on the table and of course when the kids came home from school they immediately head that way to see what I might have made "for them" to try.

Grace comes in first. "Yum, you made cotton candy popcorn. Cool."

Next comes Cassie. "This tastes just like cotton candy but it's got a flavor...cherry I think." With all the taste testing she does, she tries to comment like a food critic.

Then CJ. "This is good."
Me. "What's it taste like?"
CJ. "That stuff we get at the fair. The fluffy stuff." Poor boy, I'm going to have to get him out more but he'd rather have a Gyro, Turkey, Leg and Roasted Corn at the fair than the sweet stuff.

Hubby almost got it. "Tastes like strawberry cotton candy." It's cherry flavoring, gheesh. He got close.

This stuff is good. I mean really good. I mean make your self sick eating the entire batch in one day good.

Cherry Cotton Candy Popcorn
adapted from Cravings of a Lunatic

10-12 cups popped popcorn
2 cups sugar
2/3 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cherry flavoring
red or pink food coloring (I had pink food coloring so I just used a dab of it to color. Kim notes in her post about using red, go light, just a few drops will do it.)

Place popcorn in a large mixing bowl. Set aside. Lay wax paper on table, counter or cookie sheet. Spray lightly with cooking spray.

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, corn syrup and salt. Stir to combine.

Over medium heat bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.

     Continue to boil until you reach the "soft ball" stage, my thermometer says it's 240 degrees. It took about 4 minutes for it to reach temperature once it was boiling. Once there, remove from heat and add flavoring and food coloring, stir till combined.

Now pour over your popcorn.

Toss to coat all of your popcorn. Spread coated popcorn out on wax paper, separating as you can, to cool completely.

Fast, easy and so, so good. Thanks Kim!

Looking for more yummy ways to make popcorn? Check these out
Peanut Butter Popcorn, Chocolate Popcorn, Candied Popcorn
and Jello Popcorn!

I'll be linking up at some of these great parties!