Popcorn in cookies? Trust me, once you try these Buttered Popcorn Cookies, you'll want to start putting popcorn in all your cookies! They're perfectly buttery and chewy and in addition to the popcorn, there are also toffee bits mixed in!
(This recipe was originally published in October 2013, but was updated with new contents and photos in 2021).
Oftentimes, after I spend a bunch of time in the kitchen baking or cooking, I’m not really in the mood to eat. Weird, right? I always do anyway (obviously), but I rarely absolutely pig out on anything I make at home, even if it’s really, really ridiculously delicious.
I have no idea why as this is very different than if someone is cooking for me or if I am out to eat. This is also very different than what happened with these cookies. Really, really different.
Like oh my God, my stomach hurts because I’ve eaten about a hundred of these in just two days. Well, that can’t quite be true since one batch only makes 2 dozen. But still.
What's so good about these cookies? Definitely the fact that there's popcorn in them. Freshly popped popcorn. Freshly popped buttered popcorn.
But also toffee. Ultimately, these cookies are chewy and buttery and seriously addictive.
Best Way to Pop Popcorn
When making theses popcorn cookies, you'll need to start by popping the popcorn. If you’re feeling super lazy, you can feel free to purchase plain popcorn from the store.
But popping popcorn on the stovetop is seriously the easiest ever.
You need just a small amount of popcorn for these cookies (just 3 cups), so you only need about 2 Tbsp kernels.
My favorite way of popping popcorn is to put canola oil in the bottom of a saucepan over medium heat and pour in popcorn kernels.
I cover the saucepan and when I hear the first kernel pop, I remove it from the heat and let it sit for a minute. Then I put the saucepan back on the heat and shake the pan around until all of the popcorn is popped. Easy!
I recommend putting 3 cups of the popcorn in a bowl (there will. be a tiny amount leftover... snack on it!) and drizzling 1 Tbsp melted butter over it and sprinkling on ¼ tsp salt.
If you purchase the popcorn and it's plain, be sure to still drizzle on the butter and salt!
Let the popcorn come to room temperature before mixing it into the cookie batter.
How to Make Buttered Popcorn Cookies
Now that your popcorn is popped, you're ready to make these buttered popcorn cookies!
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a stand mixer or in a bowl with hand mixer, cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes.
Mix in egg and vanilla until combined.
With the mixer on low, add in flour mixture, mixing until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
Add in the 3 cups popped popcorn and ⅓ cup toffee pieces.
And gently fold into the batter to just combine.
On a parchment paper-lined or Silpat-covered baking sheet, place scoops of about 3 Tbsp of dough about an inch apart. 3 Tbsp sounds like a lot of dough, but these cookies really don't turn out that large.
I find using a cookie scoop is the easiest way to get uniform cookies. For these, I use a large #20 cookie scoop, like this one.
Bake at 350 degrees for about about 10-12 minutes, until cookies are just browning around edges.
Let cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving to wire racks to cool completely.
Now, try not to eat all of these in one sitting. It’s hard. Oh, so very hard. And I am most certainly not the right person to go to for advice.
They’re sweet; they’re salty. They're very buttery. And they’re most definitely the stuff dreams are made of.
They’ll also have you counting down the hours at work so you can get home and eat more. Who needs dinner anyway?
It's probably enough that there's buttered popcorn in these cookies, but I had to go ahead and add toffee, too, right?
The toffee really adds to and compounds upon the buttery aspect of these cookies since it has its own buttery flavor. Of course, the toffee isn't an absolute must and you can leave it out if you want, but I do think it takes the cookies to a different level!
More Fun Cookie Recipes
If you're not sold on putting popcorn in your cookies... Or you just want more ridiculously fun cookie recipes, check out some of my other favorite cookies. There are the kind of treats that both kids and adults will love!
- Fruity Pebbles Cookies
- Strawberry Lemonade Shortbread Cookies
- Banana Split Cookies
- Lavender Lemon Cookies
- Doughnut Sugar Cookies
- Strawberry Milk Cookies
- Fudge Stripe Cookies
- Milk Bar Cornflake Cookies
- Cinnamon Roll Cookies (from Sally's Baking Addiction)
- Peanut Butter Monster Cookies (from Baking By Nature)
Before making these buttered popcorn cookies, I probably would have told you it was crazy to add popcorn to cookies. And I admit, it does sound a little crazy.
But now? Now I know it's the best idea ever and I will be making these over and over again!
What are your favorite most interesting cookie add-ins?
Buttered Popcorn Toffee Cookies
Ingredients
Popcorn (see notes if purchasing)
- 1 Tbsp canola oil
- 2 Tbsp popcorn kernels
- 1 Tbsp melted unsalted butter
- ¼ tsp salt
Cookies
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup toffee pieces
Instructions
Popcorn
- Put 1 Tbsp canola oil in the bottom of a saucepan over medium heat and add in popcorn kernels.
- Cover the saucepan and when you hear the first kernel pop, remove it from the heat. Let it sit for a minute. And then put the saucepan back on the heat and shake the pan around until all of the popcorn is popped.
- Put 3 cups of the popcorn in a bowl (you'll have just a little bit left over), drizzle on melted butter and sprinkle on salt. Let popcorn cool.
Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer or in a bowl with hand mixer, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes.
- Mix in egg and vanilla until just combined.
- With the mixer on low, blend in flour mixture until just combined, taking care not to over-mix.
- Fold in 3 cup popped popcorn and toffee pieces.
- Scoop about 3 Tbsp cookie dough (I use a #20 cookie scoop) onto prepared cookie sheets, about an inch apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until cookies are just turning golden around edges. Let cool in pan for a couple minutes before moving to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
- If purchasing popcorn instead of using freshly popped, you'll need 3 cups. If popcorn is plain, drizzle butter and salt on it.
- You can leave out the toffee pieces if you want, but they add even more of a delicious buttery flavor!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
I wish I was the same way- I always want to eat everything haha. But... these cookies do look extra hard to resist!
Simply Life says
I can see why these would be so addicting!
Odetta says
Popcorn in cookies? That's amaze!
Monique says
mind blown.
Looks great. I was actually trying to think of a way to use up all the popcorn in my pantry since Im moving. Brilliant
Lexi says
you kill me every time! I might need to make these for this year's holiday cookie swap!
Michelle Lahey says
Damn, these look good. I love the combination of salty and sweet!
Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchen says
Ohhh man, I love the sweet and salty combo. I've seen the popcorn + cookie combo a couple times lately (I think Smitten Kitchen did one?) and I soooo want to try it! These look amazing!
Emily aka The Three Bite Rule says
Ohh wow. That's amazing. I love toffee and found that sometimes my grocery store has just toffee ones and sometimes they're toffee in chocolate pieces! Really good in pumpkin muffins if you need more ways to eat toffee 😉
Gia Grossman says
YUMMY!!!!
Megan says
Wow! Love the salty-sweet combo. They look amazing!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
I understand how you feel - I also tend to have no more energy for eating after spending hours in the kitchen. And I can also imagine how these cookies changed that! I would totally devour these too!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
Confession time! I have never made popcorn! These look so tasty 🙂
Jenn says
Uhhhmmm.. yea... I can see how you could pig out on these and want more!! What a great idea to put popcorn in cookies!! YUM!!
sarah k @ the pajama chef says
what a fun cookie! i agree with you too--after making a bunch of food for a party or whatever, i don't want to eat any of it. 🙂 weird!
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