Caramel Popcorn Buttercream
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A caramel popcorn buttercream recipe bursting with caramel flavor and pieces of real crushed caramel corn. The best caramel popcorn buttercream!
Why Make This Caramel Popcorn Buttercream Recipe?
I think caramel popcorn is one of those foods that truly improves upon the original. Basic buttered popcorn makes a decent movie snack, but it has nothing on the sweet, salty crunch of a handful of caramel corn.
Caramel corn reminds me of the popcorn balls that were popular as Trick-or-Treat offerings back when I was a kid; of the tins of caramel corn my younger brothers sold as a Boy Scout fundraiser around Christmastime; or of the giant tubs of Dolle’s popcorn enjoyed by summer beachgoers while strolling the boardwalk at Ocean City or Rehoboth Beach.
This caramel popcorn buttercream frosting takes caramel corn to the next level, and I think I’m a little bit in love. Sweet, crunchy, and perfectly caramel-y, it’s ideal filling French macaron shells, piping onto sugar cookies, sandwiching between whoopie pies, frosting a batch of vanilla cupcakes…or simply eating by the spoonful!
Ingredients for Making Caramel Popcorn Buttercream
To make caramel popcorn buttercream, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Unsalted Butter – You’ll need 225 grams, or 2 sticks, of softened unsalted butter.
- Confectioner’s Sugar – Confectioner’s sugar, also known as powdered sugar or icing sugar, forms the base for this buttercream caramel frosting.
- Caramel Flavoring – LorAnn Oils makes my favorite caramel flavor, but any quality extract will work.
Caramel popcorn
buttercream recipe ingredients
- Vanilla Bean Paste – To complement the caramel, I’ve added vanilla bean paste. Vanilla extract is fine, too.
- Fine Sea Salt – Fine sea salt (or kosher salt) cuts the sweetness of the sugar and the caramel corn.
- Whipping Cream – Or heavy cream, to adjust the consistency. You can also use whole milk or plant milk.
- Gel Food Coloring – Optional, for a brighter gold color. If you do decide to tint the buttercream, I like Chefmaster‘s gold gel food coloring.
- Caramel Corn – Store-bought or homemade caramel popcorn are both fine. See my notes below.
How to Use Caramel Popcorn Buttercream
There are plenty of fun ways to use this buttercream caramel frosting. You can fill macarons or sandwich cookies; frost cakes and cupcakes; spread it onto sugar cookies or shortbread biscuits; frost a tray brownies or blondies; make cake pops or cake balls; use it as a filling for whoopie pies; or even scoop your own frosting cones.
Caramel Popcorn Frosting Tips and Tricks
Choose the perfect popcorn. You can make this buttercream with homemade or store-bought caramel corn. I’ve tested this using Werther’s Caramel Corn, as well as homemade caramel corn made from this recipe by Sally’s Baking Addiction.
Pipe with a wide tip. Because the frosting contains pieces of caramel corn, it will never pipe or spread as smoothly as a traditional buttercream. If piping, I recommend using a very wide (1/2-inch or so) piping tip to prevent the popcorn from clogging the tip as you pipe.
Pick a quality caramel flavoring. I used LorAnn Super Strength Caramel Flavor to flavor my buttercream. Watkins and several other brands also make good-quality caramel candy flavoring options.
Use sparingly. This caramel popcorn buttercream runs very sweet, so it’s best enjoyed in small quantities, or by those who enjoy a definite sugar rush!
Crushing the Caramel Popcorn
I used a food processor to pulse my caramel popcorn to the consistency of a fine powder. Small bits of popcorn are fine, but if the buttercream is too “chunky,” it will not pipe easily, and the big pieces will be chewy in the buttercream.
If you don’t have a food processor, place your popcorn in a resealable food storage bag and use a kitchen mallet or rolling pin to crush.
Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions
Store leftover frosting in an airtight container (or a piping bag) in the refrigerator for up to one week. Allow to come to room temperature before spreading or piping.
Other frosting and filling recipes you might enjoy:
Earl Grey and White Chocolate Ganache
Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream
Raspberry and Ruby Chocolate Ganache
Cream Cheese Frosting with Spreadable Cream Cheese
And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, be sure to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re baking!
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Caramel Popcorn Buttercream
- Total Time10 minutes
A buttercream caramel frosting recipe bursting with caramel flavor and pieces of crushed caramel corn. The best caramel popcorn buttercream!
Ingredients
60 grams caramel corn (about 1 1/2 cups whole popcorn)
225 grams unsalted butter, softened ( 1 cup; 2 sticks)
1 teaspoon caramel flavoring, or to taste
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
450 grams confectioner’s sugar (3 1/3 cups)
1-2 tablespoons whipping cream, plus more to adjust consistency
Instructions
In a food processor, process caramel corn on high speed for 30-60 seconds, or until popcorn resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whip butter on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds. Add caramel flavoring, vanilla bean paste, and fine sea salt, and continue mixing until fully incorporated.
Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar to the butter, mixing well after each addition.
Drizzle in the whipping cream, mixing until buttercream reaches a smooth consistency. Adjust the amount of cream based on your intended application (piping, spreading, etc.)
With a flexible rubber spatula, fold in the crushed caramel popcorn.
Use caramel buttercream frosting as desired. Store leftover frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Allow to come to room temperature before piping or frosting.
Notes
A single batch will frost 12 cupcakes with generous piped swirls, or 24 cupcakes if spread with a palette knife. Recipe can be doubled or tripled for large, multi-layer cakes or cake rolls.
If piping, select a wide (1/2-inch or larger) piping tip. Pieces of caramel corn will clog smaller tips.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Frostings and Fillings
- Method: No Bake
