Tangy, sweet and sour these Kool Aid Pickles are a crazy twist on a usually savory condiment that becomes a wacky and tasty flavor combination.
Have you heard of Kool Aid Pickles or Koolickles before? If you haven’t yes, they are a thing. Originating from the Delta area they have taken the south and now the north by storm with their kooky flavor combinations!
WHAT ARE KOOL AID PICKLES/KOOLICKLES?
If you cant figure out by the name itself Kool Aid Pickles are pickles that are soaked in a pickle juice, Kool Aid and sugar combination and brined for about a week. They take on a deep red, purple or blue color depending on the flavor of Kool Aid used.
HOW DO YOU MAKE KOOL AID PICKLES?
Like state above these pickles are made with pickle juice, Kool aid and sugar. The most popular flavors of Kool Aid used are Tropical Punch and Cherry. But you can use pretty much any flavor that you like.
The sugar and Kool Aid are whisked into the pickle juice and then poured back over the pickles and placed in the refrigerator for about 1 week. Shaking every day to make sure that the brine is evenly distributed so that the pickles can take on the flavor and color of the Kool Aid used.
These Kool Aid Pickles are not for the faint of heart, there are only two sides to these. Either you love them or hate them and people have STRONG options about these. But who wouldn’t love sweet and sour/salty flavors together? I know that it is one of my favorite combinations.
So for this recipe we used cherry Kool Aid, but like I said you can use any flavor that you like. These turned a bright and deep red that really made the pickles unique and questioned.
When I mentioned that I was going to make these to my family and friends I got mixed reviews. My kids absolutely love pickles and Kool Aid so they were super excited to try them!
If you want a comparison for flavor on these…if there really is any type of comparison it would have to be sweet pickle relish. I’m a huge sucker for sweet pickle relish and the sweetness of these Kool Aid Pickles really hit the nail on the head with that one!
So needless to say, these are a keeper for us. They are a fun and crazy snack that you can nibble on, whip out at get togethers to show some guests or just have around because you already love them. An easy recipe for sure.
If you love this recipe you’ll love these other recipes: Chile Infused Honey, Bourbon Bacon Jam, Elvis Donut Sandwiches.
Kool Aid Pickles
Ingredients
- 1 32 oz jar dill pickle spears
- 1 packet kool aid any flavor
- 3/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- In large bowl drain your pickle juice from jar.
- Add in Kool aid and sugar to pickle juice and whisk together until dissolved.
- Pour back into jar with pickles, you may have a little juice left over.
- Seal top and shake.
- Place in refrigerator for 5-7 days shaking once a day.
Norman Vance
These Kool-Aid pickles taste absolutely GREAT !!!!
Tornadough Alli
They really do!
Norman Vance
These taste absolutely GREAT !!!!
Cowens
I made some
Wow !!! Awesome goodness
If u like sweet but tangy stuff
We ate the whole jar in 30 mins.
Yummy goodness an refreshing
Cindy Doeppke
I shared this and one of my best friends is going to make them this week. So am I. The look great.
Christina
So you have to leave thsm in the fridge for a week before you can eat them?
Tornadough Alli
I leave them in a week usually, that way they have had amble time to soak up all the flavor and color. I’m sure even as little as say 3 days may work but wouldn’t be as potent.
Sandra
Can you use the Kool aide that has sugar already in it?
Tornadough Alli
I haven’t tried the ones you can get in the tubs where you just add water since it’s more diluted whereas the straight kool aid packets are more potent.
Linda
We would slice dill pickles thick. Lay them flat Mix SF black cherry and tajin together and rub over the top of the dill slices. Hope. What a kick. Addictive for sure
Dorothy
They are great, the grocery stores in the south sell a lot of them. Most times they sell ou.
Rick / Kansas City
Regarding sugar free- we just made a fruit punch batch with Crystal Light liquid water additive and they turned out super!
Amy Weldon
I made them with cherry Kool aid
They are in my fridge waiting for a week before I wat them….. definitely will use it as a relish and flavor in my macaroni salad
Millie Tibbitts
what would the taste e using sweet or bread butter pickles? Would you still add sugar?
Tornadough Alli
I love sweeter pickles so you could absolutely try them, won’t have the little zing behind them but more sweet which would be really good. I would still add sugar so it dilutes the Kool Aid a bit but you can lessen the amount.
Emily
Could Splenda be used in the place of sugar?
Tornadough Alli
I’ve never tried it, but I’m sure it could be since it just replaces the flavor of the sugar and that is all.
Rick/Kansas City
We used Crystal Light water flavor additive on a fruit punch batch and it worked Splenda-dly!
Gilda Carloss
I’ve got my reservations about those Kool-aide pickles! But Ima try them just to see how they taste!!
Tornadough Alli
Either you love them or hate them, but they are worth the try to at least say you’ve had them!
Vickie
Great idea for parties (like Football parties) and use the colors of the Team
Tornadough Alli
Absolutely! They will be a good conversation piece to say the least!
Mary Ann Brummund
Can you use sugar-free kool-aid?
Tornadough Alli
I’ve never tried the sugar free, but I don’t see why you couldn’t! It’s just used for the flavoring anyways.
Brenda Brown
Yes actually they turn out even better using spend instead of the regular sugar. The splenda really sets the flavor in the pickles and the sweetness without all that sugar (fat/diabetes). I mix mines though with splenda and regular sugar but more splenda and why I do that I don’t rather than just splenda alone I don’t have a clue, I guess it just feels right lol😜. But ladies give that splenda a try n notice the difference and let me know what you think? You’ll love it! Have a nice day everyone.
Connie
I am going to try this
Tornadough Alli
I hope you do get the chance to try it! It’s such a fun and unique recipe!
Krissy Allori
Mind blown! Seriously! No wonder this went viral!
Jersey Girl Cooks
I have never seen this before! I would love to try it out!
Lindsay Moe
What a unique snack!
Kathy
The pickles sound kinda good … look pretty …. BUT ….. I am wondering….’DO THEY STAIN YOUR TEETH’???? (not the normal teeth) ha ….
Brenda Brown
No they do not stain your biological teeth and your borrowed teeth😜 are pretty much like the real deal as in texture and materials used I would think (I assume, not sure cus I still have my original set).