Salted Caramel Popcorn “Nostalgia” Cupcakes
Salted Caramel Popcorn “Nostalgia” Cupcakes are a whimsical treat that marries fluffy vanilla cupcakes with rich salted caramel frosting and crunchy popcorn. Each bite transports you to carefree movie nights, making these delightful desserts perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or an indulgent evening at home. With their sweet-and-salty flavor profile and charming appearance, these cupcakes are sure to be the star of any gathering!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Makes approximately 12 cupcakes 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
- For Frosting: 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- For Frosting: 2 cups powdered sugar
- For Frosting: ½ cup salted caramel sauce
- For Topping: 1 cup buttery popcorn
- For Topping: Sea salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and sugar.
- In another bowl, beat softened butter until creamy; gradually add sugar until fluffy. Mix in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract.
- Combine the dry ingredients with the wet mixture, alternating with milk until just combined.
- Fill cupcake liners two-thirds full with batter and bake for 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- For frosting, whip cream cheese until smooth; gradually mix in powdered sugar and salted caramel sauce until well combined. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
- Top each cupcake with popcorn and sprinkle with sea salt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake (75g)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: <1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg