Kool-Aid Pickles
This post may contain affiliate links. See our Privacy Policy for details.
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!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
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 because it’s such a unique snack and so much fun!
Pickle fan? Try this Cuban Cobb Salad and our ham and pickle roll ups 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 bright colors of the Kool-Aid but also the sweet tangy flavors with a vinegar kick!
The general consensus is that Koolickles originated in the Mississippi delta region, where you can buy this fun snack at many gas stations and convenience stores.
Ingredients
We’re not talking rocket science here with this fun and easy recipe. You’ll only need three ingredients:
- 32 oz jar of pickles, dill pickles, sweet pickles, or butter pickles are good options, even pickle chips will work
- 1 packet of unsweetened kool-aid (flavor of your choice)
- 1/2 cup sugar
Step by step
- 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 into the pickle liquid.
- Keep the jars in the refrigerator for 5-7 days, giving them a good shake daily to mix. After 5-7 days enjoy your new snack!
Tips for Best Results
- You can use any flavor of kool-aid you choose, tropical punch and cherry kool-aid are the most popular flavors but I’ve seen them made with different flavors such as lime, grape, orange, lemonade, and watermelon kool-aid flavors as well!
- Adjust the amount of sugar to fit your taste buds
- 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.
- Most people make these with pickle spears. You can make these with whole pickles but I suggest slicing them in half lengthwise before soaking them in the kool-aid bath so the cut sides can absorb that colorful brine, otherwise the kool aid will not penetrate all the way to the middle.
Kool aid pickles can stain your hands 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.
Now I’ll be 100% honest, I’m NOT a pickle lover 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 pickle relish. They are always a big hit at parties too if you’re looking for an attention-getting pop of color, this is the side dish to bring!
If you try this recipe please comment and give it a 5-star rating below, I love hearing from you!
If you liked this recipe, you’ll love my free 5-Ingredient Dinner Challenge.
I’ll send you super simple meals that use just five ingredients and come together fast — perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t want to overthink dinner.
Kool Aid Pickles
- Total Time: 5 days
- Yield: 10 1x
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
- 32 ounce jar dill pickle spears
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 packet Kool Aid mix, flavor of your choice
Instructions
- Pour an inch of pickle brine out of the jar.
- Add in Kool aid and sugar to pickle jar.
- Close the jar tightly and shake vigorously until sugar and Kool Aid dissolves completely.
- Place in refrigerator for 5-7 days shaking once a day.
Notes
Kool-Aid pickles should last up to 1 year in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: snack
- Method: none
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pickle spear
- Calories: 52
- Sugar: 12.8 g
- Sodium: 2.1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13.5 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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!!
Let me know what he thinks if you try them Crystal!
Oh my goodness these were crazy good!! My new obsession!!
what if I want to forego the sugar?
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!
I used sugar free pineapple Crush drink mix. They’re fantastic!
Cool! Aren’t they so fun to make?
Wowzers! These are my new favorite snack!
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❤
Great made with HawaiianPunch, any Fruit Punch or Jungle Juice..
Made some for the first time love love love them
So glad you liked them!!
I make the biggest jar (whole) they sell using Cherry flavor, in late spring. Some I cut into spears and some I mince into relish. My kids love them! and they never last the summer. The longer they age the better they get. They’re also great on a peanut butter sandwich (I prefer crunchy)
I love it
so fun, i had never heard of these before and had to try them, really good and my kids loved them too!