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    Home - Cupcakes

    Published: Sep 11, 2015 · Modified: Dec 8, 2022 by Amanda Powell · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Brown Butter Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting and Orville Popcorn

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post is sponsored by Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn. Thank you for supporting the brands I love!

    Brown Butter Salted Caramel Cupcakes with Orville Movie Theatre Popcorn

    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.

    Brown Butter Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting and Popcorn

    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.

    Brown Butter Salted Caramel Popcorn Cupcakes

    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.

    Recipe Card

    Brown Butter Salted Caramel Cupcakes with Orville Movie Theatre Popcorn

    Brown Butter Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting and Popcorn

    Amanda Powell
    Fluffy brown butter cupcakes with caramel frosting and popcorn
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 25 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 45 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 cupcakes

    Ingredients
      

    • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 1 large egg room temperature
    • ¼ cup yogurt room temperature
    • ¾ cups milk room temperature
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    For the Frosting

    • ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
    • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
    • 3 tablespoons caramel
    • ¼ - ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ 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.
    Tried this recipe?Tag me on Instagram! @acookienameddesire #acookienameddesire

    Orville gives you more www.facebook.com/orvilleredenbachers

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    About Amanda Powell

    Baker, photographer, and sometimes world traveler behind A Cookie Named Desire. Obsessed with helping people live life sweetly with delicious food to share with the special people in your life and creating lasting memories.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Silvana Elmo says

      April 16, 2020 at 5:58 pm

      Hi I don’t have any yogurt in the house. Can I substitute with anything ?

      Reply
      • Amanda Powell says

        April 16, 2020 at 6:08 pm

        Sour cream would definitely girly work! Milk or cream might work, but I have never tried it that way before

        Reply
    2. Amy says

      September 10, 2017 at 7:22 pm

      Have you ever made these the night before? How should they be stored to ensure the popcorn stays crunchy?

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        September 11, 2017 at 9:59 pm

        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.

        Reply
    3. Alyssa says

      February 04, 2017 at 1:25 pm

      Is the sugar in the cupcakes supposed to be brown sugar?

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        February 06, 2017 at 9:17 pm

        No, granulated sugar, but you can substitute for brown sugar if desired!

        Reply
        • Alyssa says

          February 06, 2017 at 9:23 pm

          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

          February 06, 2017 at 9:35 pm

          I hope you guys enjoy! I recommend adding the popcorn when you are ready to serve so they don't lose their crunch!

    4. Shari says

      March 29, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      Does the popcorn become soggy on top of the frosting?

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        March 29, 2016 at 8:42 pm

        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)

        Reply
    5. Beeta @ Mon Petit Four says

      September 15, 2015 at 7:27 pm

      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

      Reply
    6. Joanne Bruno says

      September 13, 2015 at 8:39 pm

      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!

      Reply
    7. amanda says

      September 11, 2015 at 5:12 pm

      So fun!!!

      Reply
    8. Christine from Cook the Story says

      September 11, 2015 at 11:42 am

      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.

      Reply
    9. Medha @ Whisk & Shout says

      September 11, 2015 at 8:22 am

      These cupcakes are unreal! Love the popcorn on top!

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Amanda! I am the baker and photographer behind A Cookie Named Desire. I'm a world traveler (sometimes) with a major weakness for cookies and cheese. While I'm mostly self-taught, I recently received a degree in Food Science!

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