This post is sponsored by Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn. Thank you for supporting the brands I love!
As I mentioned earlier this week, I am going out to Boston tomorrow! I am so excited because I am going to US Weekly’s Family Movie Night at The Prudential Center. If you are in the area, I recommend coming by; the event is open to the public – families are encouraged to come by and watch a movie with us! Like I said, it is September 12th, and it starts at 6pm. Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn is actually executing three Movies in the Park events throughout the fall.
I am super excited about the Movie in the Park events because when I was a little girl, I used to always love having backyard movies and watching a movie with the neighborhood kids at the local park when they used to have them. I love that Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn is carrying on this favorite childhood tradition by throwing these events for the public.
I don’t know about you, but we love making our own movie night snacks when we go out to these kinds of events. It’s just so quick and easy to pop up a bag of Orville Redenbacher’s Movie Theater Popcorn and bring it along since it pops up in minutes. There is nothing like cozying up in a throw blanket with everyone to watch the movie and share the experience with everyone around you as you watch a movie outside.
One of my favorite things to do is also use popcorn in my treats to bring to the movies. Along with popcorn, I love something a little sweet. During the summer I love making popcorn ice cream, but in the fall, brown butter cupcakes with caramel frosting and popcorn are what I need. These cupcakes are everything. I basically want to face plant right into, but then I’d also pop each little brown butter cake like a pill because they are incredible. Let me elaborate.
The mix of brown butter and brown sugar create this butterscotch nuttiness that is pure heaven. Just smelling the batter will be more than enough to make you want to chow down on that batter right then and there. Don’t. Cause, you know raw eggs and all. It’s so much better all cooked up into a fluffy and light cupcake that smells even better than the batter if that’s even possible. Then the frosting… Oh the frosting. I ate it by the spoonful. I just couldn’t help myself. It goes so well with the light and fluffy popcorn from Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn on top of the cupcake and adds a welcoming crunch to the dessert.
I shared these cupcakes with my new neighbors who actually ended up knocking on my door for more.
Sadly, I ate them all.
Brown Butter Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting and Popcorn
Fluffy brown butter cupcakes with caramel frosting and popcorn
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1/4 cup yogurt, room temperature
- 3/4 cups milk, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Frosting
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons caramel
- 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 bag Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Popcorn
Instructions
- Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Continue to heat until the butter browns and begins smell fragrant and nutty. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the cooled butter, sugar, egg, yogurt, milk, and vanilla. Beat well to combine.
- Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until there are no more lumps - do not over mix.
- Evenly distribute the batter among the cupcake liners and bake for 20 - 22 minutes, or until they are golden brown and spring back when you touch them. Set aside to cool
- In a stand mixer, beat the butter until smooth, slowly add the powdered sugar and mix until combined. Add in the caramel, and then the salt to taste. We want a lightly salted taste, but do not need it to be too salty since we are adding the popcorn on top.
- Pipe, or use an offset spatula to frost the cupcakes. Top with the popcorn. I found it was actually easiest to place the popcorn on by hand instead of dunking the cupcake into the bowl of popcorn.
Notes
*Please remove any unpopped kernels from the popcorn before adding to the cupcakes. Only add the popcorn when ready to serve otherwise they will get soft and mushy.
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Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
These cupcakes are unreal! Love the popcorn on top!
Christine from Cook the Story says
These cupcakes are so much fun! I launched a new website this week called The Cookful and we're discussing all things popcorn right now, so of course I was drawn right to your recipe.
amanda says
So fun!!!
Joanne Bruno says
These are pretty much the most fun cupcakes I've ever seen!! I think popcorn is definitely underused in baked goods...sounds so perfect with brown butter!
Beeta @ Mon Petit Four says
Wow, Amanda! These popcorn cupcakes look absolutely incredible!!! I love how your imagination dreams up these amazing concepts...and then you perfectly execute them! The butterscotch flavor from the brown sugar and butter sounds heavenly. I would totally want to face plant in these too! Absolutely gorgeous. I also love outdoor movie showings...they were never a common thing where I live, but I always wished they were! XO
Shari says
Does the popcorn become soggy on top of the frosting?
Amanda says
If it's left uneaten for several hours, yes. I recommend adding the popcorn when you are ready to eat and if there are leftovers, remove them (leaving the frosting on)
Alyssa says
Is the sugar in the cupcakes supposed to be brown sugar?
Amanda says
No, granulated sugar, but you can substitute for brown sugar if desired!
Alyssa says
thanks so much for getting back to me! I am planning to make these for my husband's birthday, I wanted to do something with popcorn to tie into a circusy theme...Plus he loves salty, so these will be perfect! So creative! Glad to be following your blog now.
Amanda says
I hope you guys enjoy! I recommend adding the popcorn when you are ready to serve so they don't lose their crunch!
Amy says
Have you ever made these the night before? How should they be stored to ensure the popcorn stays crunchy?
Amanda says
Hi Amy, Apologies for the late reply. I recommend popping the popcorn and adding it at the last minute before you serve, or popping the popcorn in the morning and adding it just before serving.
Silvana Elmo says
Hi I don’t have any yogurt in the house. Can I substitute with anything ?
Amanda Powell says
Sour cream would definitely girly work! Milk or cream might work, but I have never tried it that way before