How to Make Kool-Aid Pickles

Co-authored by Alex Hong and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: May 3, 2022 References

If you’re looking for an eye-catching colorful snack, Kool-Aid pickles, or “Koolickles,” are a delicious Southern staple you should try. But what is a Kool-Aid pickle and what do they taste like? Imagine the salty, sourness of a pickle soaking up the sweet and tangy flavors of Kool-Aid for a perfect bite! Whether you want to enjoy them on your own or wow guests at your next event, keep reading to learn how to make Kool-Aid pickles and what flavors you should try.

Ingredients

32 oz (910 g) jar of dill pickle spears
0.13 oz (3.7 g) Kool-Aid packet (any flavor)
3/4 cup (150 g) of sugar

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Recipe for Kool-Aid Pickles

1
Strain the brine from a pickle jar into a large bowl. You can use any store-bought jar of dill pickles, but spears will absorb the flavors the best. Set a strainer over a bowl and empty the jar into it. Leave the juice in the bowl for now, but toss all of the pickles back into the jar.^{[1]
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- Dill pickles give you that classic tangy flavor, but you can try using bread-and-butter pickles if you want a sweeter taste.
2
Mix sugar and a Kool-Aid packet into the brine. Take 3/4 cup (150 g) of sugar and a packet of your favorite Kool-Aid flavor and dump it into the bowl with the brine. Stir all the ingredients together with a whisk or wooden spoon until the sugar and Kool-Aid powder completely dissolve.^{[2]
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- Using the full packet and sugar makes the brine really concentrated so the pickles absorb the flavors even better.
- Are you wondering how to make a gallon of Kool-Aid pickles? Use a 1 US gal (3.8 L) jar of pickles, 4 Kool-Aid packets, and 4 cups (800 g) of sugar instead.
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3
Put the brine back into the jar with the pickles. Slowly pour all of the brine into the jar so it completely covers the pickles. You’ll probably have a little extra brine since you added the sugar and Kool-Aid, so just dump the excess down the drain.^{[3]
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4
Seal and shake the jar to mix the brine. Screw the lid back onto the jar as tightly as you can so nothing leaks out. Give the jar a quick shake to ensure all the pickles are coated with the brine.^{[4]
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- Label the jar with what flavor Kool-Aid you used so you don’t forget later on.
5
Refrigerate the pickles for 1 week before eating them. Put your Kool-Aid pickles in the fridge and let them absorb all of the flavors from the brine. Once a day, take the jar out and give it a good shake to make sure nothing settled on the bottom of the jar. After about a week, your pickles are ready to eat!^{[5]
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- You can keep Kool-Aid pickles until the expiration date on the pickle jar.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Kool-Aid Flavors to Try

1
Try cherry or fruit punch Kool-Aid for red pickles with sweet and tangy flavors. When you think of Kool-Aid pickles, cherry and fruit punch are the classic flavors to try. If you leave the pickles in the brine for longer, they’ll turn an even brighter red and absorb more of the flavor.^{[6]
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- Kool-Aid pickles taste best on their own as a snack rather than on a sandwich.
2
Use lemon-lime Kool-Aid for bright green pickles with a sour kick. Even if the pickles are already sour, the addition of lemon-lime Kool-Aid will really make your lips pucker. The sour citrus flavors will complement the sweet sugar and tangy dill, so they make a perfect snack.^{[7]
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- Skip the lemonade and try out a lemon-lime Kool-Aid pickle to refresh yourself on a hot summer day.
3
Pick orange Kool-Aid to get pickles with a citrusy punch. Since oranges are already sweet and sour, the flavor pairs perfectly with the pickle juice. The sugar from the orange Kool-Aid helps cut back the saltiness so your pickles taste great with every bite.^{[8]
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4
Go for grape Kool-Aid if you want dark purple pickles with a sweet taste. Grape Kool-Aid adds sweet, tart flavors to your pickles that taste amazing when they’re mixed with the brine.^{[9]
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- The pickles will almost turn black the longer you leave them in the brine, so they’re perfect to whip out for Halloween parties.
5
Opt for blue raspberry Kool-Aid for tart, eye-catching pickles. The blue raspberry Kool-Aid flavors pair really well with the salty brine to make a refreshing snack.^{[10]
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