Buttered Popcorn Crunch Brownies.
Say hello to the brownies that save.
Save what, you ask?
Well.
Everything of course.
Sugar, salt, chocolate and butter. If that doesn’t save everything then I’m pretty sure we are all doomed.
I don’t know why I think that a batch of brownies covered in popcorn qualifies as an actual recipe. Who do I think I am? Or should I say: I don’t know why I thought that before I ate one.
So I ate one.
Um. I really don’t even have that many words. People in my life that could care less about brownies and popcorn could not stop eating these. It made me feel less alone. Which is saying a lot because I was on the couch searching for my feelings in the 15th anniversary Sex and the City marathon and the bottom of a Talenti pint. Spoiler alert: I didn’t find them.
I have always been the weirdo that has added chocolate to my bowl of popcorn. Have you been one of these weirdos? I hope you’ve been a weirdo. I’d like to be weirdos together.
Here’s the deal: the popcorn is not going to completely stick on this brownie because if it did, we would have a crunchy caramel corn and while it doesn’t sound horrific in the slightest it is not what we’re going for. I wanted actual salted, buttered popcorn on top of a fudgy, chewy chunk of chocolate. And that’s what I’ve got.
The popcorn will stick – you use a hefty drizzle of sweetened condensed milk and chocolate, but if somebody grabs a square, a few pieces of popcorn may dribble down. That is when you just eat those little pieces.
You could also just crumble some brownies in a vat of popcorn but… what would be the fun in that?
Buttered Popcorn Crunch Brownies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ounces high-quality milk chocolate, melted
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2/3 cup chocolate chips/chunks
topping
- 3 cups freshly popped popcorn
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon flaked sea salt
- 3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk, approximately
- 2 ounces high-quality milk/dark chocolate, your preference
- 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8 baking pan with butter or nonstick spray liberally.
- In a large bowl, combine melted butter with sugar and vanilla extract, whisking until combined and almost smooth. Whisk in each egg one at a time, stirring until a smooth batter forms. Stir in oil and melted chocolate. Add in flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, stirring until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Spread batter in the 8×8 baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes until set. Remove and let cool.
- Pop popcorn and coat with melted butter and sea salt, tossing well. Melt milk chocolate and stir in coconut oil until completely smooth.
- Once brownies are cool, remove them from the pan in one bit square. Set them on a sheet of parchment paper and cut into equal pieces, but keep the brownies pushed together into one big square. Slicing them ahead of time just makes it simpler so you don’t have to cut through the popcorn. Add a drizzle of condensed milk on top of the brownies and add a layer of popcorn. Continue to drizzle and layer popcorn on top (you do not have to measure anything purposely – it’s all fun!) until the popcorn is sort of “stuck” to the brownies and each other. It will never be super sticky and in one piece, but that’s the fun of it – this way it’s truly like buttery popcorn and not like caramel corn. Drizzle chocolate over top.
- Let brownies sit for about 20-30 minutes so the chocolate can firm up a little, then serve immediately. These really do need to be eaten the day they are made since the popcorn is fresh.
Notes
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90 Comments on “Buttered Popcorn Crunch Brownies.”
This is like the best combination of sweet and salty (which is THE best combo in and of itself) I’ve ever seen. In love.
Ummm…Can I just say brilliant!!!? I want this right now!
My friend who’s obsesssed w popcorn is also off sugar for the year. It would be really mean of me to send this to her, wouldn’t it…
Why didn’t I have this recipe when I was watching Sex in the City over and over and over? I probably watched it 8 times – but in parts. It’s fun to watch the end, then the beginning, then the end, then the middle, and the beginning again right? I guess tomorrow being a Saturday is reason enough for me to go ahead and make these for no reason whatsoever.
Omg, why have I not thought of this myself? I love all things salty and sweet, chocolate, and pretty much everything you just put together. I think I have died and gone to heaven, because I definitely hear angels singing.
Popcorn and MnMs is probably the best combo out.
These look like possibly the best brownie variation I have ever seen and will be making them ASAP. Thank you for living.
I gathered up ingredients the other day to make some brownies and since have seen several similar to this with the addition of sweetened condensed milk then topping the brownies with your favorite goodies. Now I need to try this method. It sounds quite satisfying and looks fantastic.
Popcorn and chocolate were meant to be married. For as long as I can remember, I have never made popcorn without insuring there is at the very least a pack of M&M’s close by. This takes it to a whole new level. A good, decadent one too!
I AM THAT WEIRDO!!! Lets absolutely be weirdos together! I’m horrible though…. I’m disabled and also just terribly lazy when it comes to making popcorn… Since the invention of Pop Secret Homestyle Popcorn, the microwave has been my best friend(I am addicted to popcorn… I admit it… There should be a group like AA for popcorn addicts!)! BUT… I always want something sweet with my popcorn, and who doesn’t love chocolate, right? I thought maybe Kettle Corn would fix that problem for me, but, that was a huge NOPE… So… I started tossing a very large handful of mini chocolate chips in with my popcorn, tossing it slightly and then eating the entire bowl all by myself, cuz nobody else would eat it, cuz they thought I was a weirdo for adding chocolate to my popcorn! They just don’t know what they are missing! Whatever! Their loss! Plus, I love the chocolatey mess that’s left all over my fingers so that I have to lick my fingers clean after I finish my popcorn! LOL Just had to share… You are not alone in your weirdness! (((HUG)))
Interesting!
Wow, I’ve already forgotten that you can eat popcorn with chocolate, some time ago i always ate it like that. Have to try it once more!
Doesn’t everyone know that the best recipes aren’t really recipes at all!?! By the way, I’ve been reading your blog for about a year and LOVE it! I look forward to chuckling over your comments every day. They never get old, and I always relate to your feelings about the world…and food. :)
HOW did I miss this post?!?! I live and die for popcorn.
YUM.
These look divine!
This is Genius! i have been following your blog for a while now without commenting! but this divine combination made me want to comment!! i will say proudly that i am a weirdo! and i have!! to make this recipe ASAP …
This is genius! I’ve combined chocolate cake with potato chips and pretzels, but never popcorn. There ain’t NOTHING weird about adding chocolate to your popcorn – it’s all kinds of right, in my opinion. This looks ridiculously decadent and delicious.
Okay, WHAT. This is literally heaven in the form of brownies and popcorn. I’m making these this week for my whole office. Thanks for being so fabulous!
Mmmmm this is such a good idea! I love it!
I would have never thought of this combination. This sounds and looks absolutely delicious!!
Those look fantastic!
Weirdo raising hand, right here. I always brought a bag of m&ms to the movies so I could eat chocolate with my popcorn. And it’s still my fav combo. Still dump melted chocolate all over my popcorn to keep it going.
OMG. This is like a party in your mouth! Love it!
okay yeah we’re past want. i need these. now.
you are my hero.
Definitely make this into ice cream.
Oh no you didn’t… !!!
Cassie has always been a “salty should be salty, sweet should be sweet” kind of girl (different kind of weirdo) … I think you’ve invented the one thing that might convert her into your (and my) kinda weirdo. Amen.
Umm, these look dangerously delicious. Wow.
Yay, someone else who likes chocolate and popcorn! Though I probably take it a step weirder than most. I dip each piece of salted popcorn in a bowl of instant chocolate pudding. I highly recommend trying it, and I will be trying this amazing looking recipe this weekend! :D
Oh wow! This recipe is so amazing :) everything I could ever want in one dessert :)
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Corrr. These beauties look good. Thanks for sharing the recipe :)
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I was craving brownies and wanted to find ones that weren’t super thick/fudgy (aka stick to your teeth), but rather, moist and chewy. I made the base of these (not the topping), and they were literally the best brownies I have *ever* had. I think it’s the combo of butter + oil, and then melted choc + cocoa + choc chips, that creates exactly what I want in a brownie. I feel like I lucked out so much by choosing these to try over other recipes. And they were still perfectly moist 2 days later! Thank you SO much!!