PopCorn CupCakes

Description:

How can something so simple taste so good? This is a kid favorite, but don’t leave an adult alone with this cake either.





Ingredients:

Prep time: 25 minutes plus an hour’s cooling time

Serves: 8-10



8 cups cooked popcorn

1 1/2 cups salted peanuts

1/3 cup canola oil

1 stick butter (8TB)

1 package (10 oz) marshmallows

1 large package (19.2 oz) or 1 1/2 small (12.6 oz) packages M&Ms

chocolate syrup



Directions:

8 cups cooked popcorn

1 1/2 cups salted peanuts

1/3 cup canola oil

1 stick butter (8TB)

1 package (10 oz) marshmallows

1 large package (19.2 oz) or 1 1/2 small (12.6 oz) packages M&Ms

chocolate syrup



Line a muffin pan with muffin cups.



In a big mixing bowl, mix the peanuts, and popcorn. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, add the oil, heat for a minute, and then add the marshmallows. Stir for about 5 minutes or until the marshmallows melt into the butter and you have a thick sauce. Pour this over the popcorn mixture and stir to mix thoroughly. Lightly stir in the M&Ms, reserving 1/2 cup. Spoon the popcorn mixture into the muffin cups, stacking the mixture as high as you like for that muffin look. Top with remaining M&Ms to achieve that perfect color balance. Refrigerate for half an hour, and serve by lifting out those muffins and distributing to serving plates. If they stick to the muffin pan, run a little hot water over the bottom (the spray nozzle at the sink is good for this) for a few seconds.



Variation: Popcorn cake made in a cake pan is another great way to prepare this dish. Swap in your favorite candy and nuts. Chocolate chips work well, but they will melt when you mix the cake, giving everything a chocolate-y color.