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    Home » Recipes » Snacks » Kool Aid Pickles

    Last updated: Feb 11, 2022 by Melissa Riker · 12 Comments

    Kool Aid Pickles

    Jump to Recipe
    3 jars of kool aid pickles

    Kool Aid Pickles are a sweet and sour mix that put a new spin on a savory classic. Whip up a batch of "Koolickles" today for a fun and tangy treat the entire family will love!

    three jars of kool aid pickles and kool aid packets

    Every now and then I forget that my native Michigander husband hasn't grown up in the south with all of our "interesting" foods like boiled peanuts and pickled okra or pigs feet. So when I recently realized that my pickle-loving man had never heard of Kool Aid Pickles (or Koolickles or pickoolas) I knew I had to enlighten him on this Southern delicacy!

    Pickle fan? Try this Cuban Cobb Salad too!

    What are Koolickles and what do Kool Aid Pickles taste like?

    Simply put, Kool Aid Pickles combine the traditional pickle brine with Kool Aid and sugar. After soaking the pickles take on not only the color of the Kool Aid but also the sweet tangy flavor with a vinegar kick!

    The general consensus is that Koolickles originated in the Mississippi delta, where you can buy them at many gas stations and convenience stores.

    Instructions

    We're not talking rocket science here with this fun recipe. You'll only need three ingredients:

    • 32 oz jar dill pickle spears
    • 1 packet kool aid (flavor of your choice)
    • ½ cup sugar
    • pickle jar with an inch of brine poured out to make koolickles
    • pouring sugar into pickle jar to make kool aid pickles

    Pour about an inch of pickle juice out of the jar, then add the sugar and Kool Aid. Close the jar tightly and shake vigorously until the sugar dissolves.

    • pouring packet of orange kool aid into pickle jar to make kool aid pickles
    • shaking jar of kool aid pickles

    Keep the jars in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, shaking daily to mix.

    Tips for best results

    • You can use any flavor of kool aid you choose, tropical punch and cherry kool aid are the most common but I've seen them made with lime, orange, lemonade, and watermelon flavors as well!
    • You can use Splenda or a sugar substitute if you like to make a lower sugar version of Koolickles.
    • I've heard you can use Crystal Light as well but have not personally tried it for my family.
    • You can make these with whole dill pickles but I suggest slicing them in half lengthwise before soaking them in the kool-aid bath, otherwise the kool aid will not penetrate all the way to the middle.

    Kool aid pickles can stain your hand and anything else they come in contact with!

    Storage

    According to Still Tasty, you can keep these commercially jarred dill pickles in their pickle jar in the fridge for up to 1 year

    three jars of kool aid pickles, cherry, orange, and lemonade flavored

    Now I'll be 100% honest, I'm NOT a pickle person so these Koolickles are not my cup of tea. They are definitely a polarizing snack-everyone I know either LOVES them or HATES them.

    My husband loved them as do my kids and most of my family members, they tell me the taste is similar to sweet relish. They are always a big hit at parties too if you're looking for an attention-getting dish to bring!

    Have you tried Kool Aid pickles? Let me know by rating and commenting below, I love hearing from you!

    Print
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    kool aid packets and jars of kool aid pickles

    Kool Aid Pickles

    ★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
    • Author: Melissa Riker
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Total Time: 5 days
    • Yield: 10 1x
    • Category: snack
    • Method: none
    • Cuisine: American
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Kool Aid Pickles are a sweet and sour mix that put a new spin on a savory classic. Whip up a batch of "Koolickles" today for a fun and tangy treat the entire family will love!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 32 ounce jar dill pickle spears
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 packet Kool Aid mix, flavor of your choice

    Instructions

    1. Pour an inch of pickle brine out of the jar.
    2. Add in Kool aid and sugar to pickle jar.
    3. Close the jar tightly and shake vigorously until sugar and Kool Aid dissolves completely.
    4. Place in refrigerator for 5-7 days shaking once a day.

    Keywords: Kool Aid Pickles

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Crystal says

      February 26, 2020 at 11:22 am

      Wow sounds really interesting!! My son loves pickles so he would love these. Will definitely have to try theses out. Thanks so much for posting!!

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        February 28, 2020 at 7:37 pm

        Let me know what he thinks if you try them Crystal!

        Reply
    2. Laura says

      March 11, 2020 at 2:04 pm

      Oh my goodness these were crazy good!! My new obsession!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Amanda Race says

      August 23, 2020 at 5:58 pm

      what if I want to forego the sugar?

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        August 26, 2020 at 8:16 am

        Hi Amanda, I honestly haven't tried it with just the KoolAid packet, I would think it would be less sweet but still have a ton of flavor. If you try it I'd love to hear how you liked it!

        Reply
    4. Tamara says

      April 14, 2021 at 2:56 pm

      I used sugar free pineapple Crush drink mix. They're fantastic!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        May 12, 2021 at 9:50 am

        Cool! Aren't they so fun to make?

        Reply
    5. Carrie says

      January 10, 2022 at 10:25 am

      Wowzers! These are my new favorite snack!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Tanicka walls says

      February 25, 2022 at 12:42 am

      Hi i just make kool-aid pickles for time lastnight and it was so much fun doing. My neice been ask do i no how make i told her i can so lastnight i decide to some for her and my kids they won't tropical punch grape and blueberry lemonade can't wait to see how they turn out but i no they going be delicious❤

      Reply
    7. KD says

      March 03, 2022 at 12:11 am

      Great made with HawaiianPunch, any Fruit Punch or Jungle Juice..

      Reply
    8. Linda roseberry says

      April 20, 2022 at 5:38 pm

      Made some for the first time love love love them

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Melissa Riker says

        April 21, 2022 at 6:59 pm

        So glad you liked them!!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Melissa! I have a passion for helping people find easy and delicious recipes to feed their families without a lot of fuss!

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