Who doesn’t love salted buttered popcorn? While for calorie reasons I don’t usually get it at the movies, I’ll always eat someone else’s and we all know kids are crazy about it.
I first came across popcorn in “cake” reading about Adriano Zumbo’s salted popcorn macarons. Made them, ate them, loved them. The buttercream sandwiching the macarons together are rolled in crumbled popcorn. This gave me a idea. Salted popcorn cupcakes, where not only would there be salted buttery popcorn on the frosting, but the frosting itself would be salted.
While on holiday at the beach last year, I had the perfect opportunity to try out my theory: six kids in the vicinity.
Salted Popcorn “Movie” Cupcakes
Don’t they just look like mini boxes of movie popcorn? I love the pink cases and the brimming frosting.
It’s fair to say that these are so good that you can almost inhale them (but don’t because the popcorn might get stuck in your throat). I made a dozen, and ten vanished into the tummies of my Auntie Rochelle’s energetic grandkids. The other two we noshed ourselves. They were a huge hit. The fact they are popcorn appeals to the young ones, and the salty icing is a favourite with the adults. Perfect.
This recipe calls for microwave popcorn, so you’ll have some left over to scoff on its own!
Salted Popcorn Cupcakes
makes 12
ingredients
for the cupcakes
200g salted butter
200g sugar
4 eggs
200g self raising flour
1/2 tsp vanilla
for the frosting
200g salted butter
200g icing sugar
1 tsp salt
1 bag butter flavoured microwave popcorn, popped cooled and crumbled slightly
mixing
cupcakes
Line a 12 hole muffin tin with colourful cupcake cases, spray cases lightly with cooking spray.
Beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy, add vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in the flour and salt, and when combined, beat on high speed for two minutes until the mixture is very fluffy.
Spoon mixture into the cupcake cases, about 3/4 full (you want these to rise above the edges of the cases). Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for about 25 minutes until golden on top, and a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Let cool.
salted buttercream frosting
Beat the butter until light and creamy. Add the icing sugar a little at a time. When all the icing sugar is combined, beat the mixture until very fluffy. Now start salting the mixture. Start with half a teaspoon and increase until you think the frosting is salty enough for your taste.
Dollop the frosting onto each cupcake and smooth around the top of the cupcake with a knife. After you have smoothed each cupcake, dip carefully and completely in the crumbled popcorn.
Salted Popcorn “Movie” Cupcakes
Enjoy with your favourite movie! xx
