Brown Butter Chocolate Popcorn Cupcakes

Yes indeed, that is popcorn on top of a cupcake.  With brown butter frosting.  You can diet tomorrow!  But seriously, chocolate covered popcorn is a weakness of mine. A local specialty chocolate store makes it best and if I am feeling down or in need of a treat, I head to their store for a small package.  It doesn’t last long.

This recipe from Just a Dash More has it all – a rich, dark chocolate cupcake, luscious brown butter frosting, and melted chocolate chips drizzled on top of popcorn.  Yum!

Brown Butter Chocolate Popcorn Cupcakes

Ingredients:

Cupcakes

1 cup  flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 TSP baking soda
3/4 TSP baking powder
1/2 TSP salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 TSP vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee, hot

Brown Butter  Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 TSP vanilla extract

Topping

3 cups popcorn
For chocolate on top, use a double boiler and melt your favorite type of chocolate chips and drizzle on top of cupcakes

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and sugar. Whisk to combine.
3. In a small bowl add the milk, egg, canola oil and vanilla extract. Stir then add to the flour mixture.
4. Beat until the ingredients are well combined and then add the coffee.
5. Beat until mixture is very smooth.
6. Line a muffin tin with liners and using a 1/4 cup measure, add batter to each cup.
7. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting

1. Add 4 tablespoons butter to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat.
2. Whisk constantly until brown bits appear on the bottom, about 5-6 minutes, then immediately remove from the heat and add the cream and brown sugar.
3. Return to the heat and bring to a boil, boil for one minute.
4. Remove from the heat and add to the bowl of a stand mixer.
5. Stir in the vanilla bean seeds and allow to cool for 15 minutes.
6. Once cooled beat in the remaining softened butter. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar to the bowl and beat together until well combined.
7. Let sit for 15-20 min to let harden a little bit.

To assemble the cupcakes:

1. Frost the cupcakes then add a handful popcorn to each cupcake and use your hands to mold it together into a mound, making sure to push the popcorn into the frosting.
2. Drizzle the melted chocolate on top the popcorn and place the cupcakes in the freezer for 5 minutes or let sit on the counter for 30 minutes so the chocolate can harden.
3. These are best the same day you make them ( as the popcorn might become stale if you wait too long) Enjoy!!