✔ Updated · fixed card + honest fridge times, flavor guide
Kool-Aid pickles are dill pickles soaked in their own brine with fruity drink mix and sugar until they turn shockingly red, sweet and sour. Five minutes of work, a week in the fridge, and one very fun party snack.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Use unsweetened Kool-Aid packets and add the sugar yourself, so you control how sweet the pickles get.
Why You'll Love Kool-Aid Pickles
- Three ingredients, no cooking and no canning.
- Sweet, sour and salty all at once, like sour candy with a crunch.
- A guaranteed conversation starter on any party or cookout table.
What Are Kool-Aid Pickles?
Kool-Aid pickles are dill pickles re-brined with fruity drink mix and extra sugar. Over a week in the fridge they soak up the color and sweetness, so you get a bright red pickle that tastes sweet, sour and salty in the same bite.
The color depends on the flavor you pick, and cherry is my favorite. They're great on a cookout table next to burgers. More pickle fun: fried pickles and quick-pickled red cabbage.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Start with good pickles. Crunchy refrigerated or shelf-stable dill spears both work; garlic dills give the most interesting sweet-savory flavor. Skip sweet or bread-and-butter pickles, they get cloying.
- Spears beat whole pickles. More cut surface means the color and sweetness soak in faster and more evenly. Whole pickles need 10 days or more.
- Dissolve the sugar completely. Grainy sugar sinks to the bottom of the jar and the pickles end up unevenly sweet. Stir until the brine looks clear.
- Shake it daily. I keep the jar on the fridge door so I remember. A quick shake every morning keeps the color even.
- Taste on day 5. If they're sweet enough for you, they're done. If you like them candy-sweet, give them the full week.
Kool-Aid Pickles (Koolickles)
12
spears5
minutes50
kcal168
hours168
hours5
minutesKool-Aid pickles, also called Koolickles: store-bought dill pickle spears soaked in their own brine sweetened with sugar and a packet of unsweetened Kool-Aid drink mix, refrigerated for 5 to 7 days until they turn bright, candy-colored, sweet and sour.
Ingredients
1 jar dill pickle spears (about 32 oz), with their brine
1 packet unsweetened Kool-Aid drink mix (cherry or tropical punch are classic)
3/4 cup granulated sugar (use 1/2 cup for less sweet)
Directions
- Set a strainer over a large bowl or measuring jug and drain the pickles, saving all the brine. Put the pickles back in the jar. Cut any very thick spears in half lengthwise so the color soaks in faster.
- Add the Kool-Aid powder and sugar to the brine and stir for a minute or two, until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Pour the colored brine back over the pickles until they’re fully covered. If you’re a little short, top up with a splash of water. Discard any brine left over.
- Screw the lid on tightly and shake the jar to mix.
- Refrigerate for 5 to 7 days, giving the jar a shake once a day. The longer they soak, the brighter and sweeter they get.
- Serve cold, whole or sliced into coins. Keep the jar in the fridge.
Notes
- If you don’t have a jar of dill pickle spears, you can use whole pickles. The Kool-Aid may not color their flesh as much as the dill pickle spears, but it’s still a good alternative.
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Kool-Aid Pickle Flavor Guide
| Flavor | Color | Taste |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry | Deep red | Classic sweet-tart, the crowd favorite |
| Tropical punch | Bright red | Fruity and punchy |
| Strawberry | Pinky red | Softer and sweeter |
| Grape | Purple-red | Bold, like grape candy |
| Blue raspberry | Teal | Tangy and wild-looking |
| Lemonade | Pale yellow | Mildest, most like a sweet pickle |
How to Serve Them
- Straight from the jar, ice cold, as a snack.
- Sliced into coins on a party platter with chips and dip.
- On burgers: a sweet-sour pickle that pops. More ideas in our burger toppings list.
- Chopped into relish for hot dogs, or stirred into potato salad for a surprise pink crunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best flavor for Kool-Aid pickles?
Cherry and tropical punch are the classics, and they give the reddest color. Strawberry, black cherry and grape are popular too. Lemonade or lime flavors make milder, less colorful pickles; blue raspberry turns them a wild teal.
What do Kool-Aid pickles taste like?
Sweet, sour and salty all at once, with fruity candy notes over the dill. Most people compare them to a sweet pickle crossed with sour candy. The crunch stays, so they're still very much a pickle.
How long do Kool-Aid pickles last?
Keep them in the brine in the fridge and enjoy them within about 1 month for the best crunch and flavor. Always keep the jar refrigerated and use a clean fork to fish them out.
Can I use sugar-free Kool-Aid or a sweetener?
Yes. Use an unsweetened packet with a sugar substitute that measures like sugar, or a pre-sweetened sugar-free mix and skip the sugar. Taste the brine before pouring it back over the pickles.
Where did Kool-Aid pickles come from?
Kool-Aid pickles, or Koolickles, are a Mississippi Delta snack that became a favorite at corner stores and fundraisers across the South before going viral online.
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