Caramel Popcorn Macarons

Hello everyone! Today we are making Caramel Popcorn Macarons. They are filled with Salted Caramel Buttercream, topped with Caramel Popcorn.

Make sure to watch the video on this page to see exactly how to make these Caramel Popcorn Macarons.

You can also watch the video on YouTube, where I also publish lots of macaron videos, tutorials and other helpful information that can help you bake better macarons.

So let’s start by saying that this Caramel Popcorn recipe is the best thing in the world!

If you are looking for an idea for edible party favors, or homemade food gifts, you can trust in this Caramel Popcorn! I totally vouch for it!

It’s easy to make and so worth it! I’ve included a recipe below, but you can also use store-bought caramel popcorn to decorate your macarons, it will work just as well!

With my Caramel Popcorn Recipe you don’t even need a popcorn maker, you can just make it on the stove top.

These Caramel Popcorn Macarons feature a delicious Salted Caramel Buttercream filling, that is made with homemade caramel. But you can use store-bought caramel too if you want.

I have put the recipe below for the homemade caramel, and you will find it that it’s very easy to make! So don’t be shy, try for yourself!

I have also experimented with adding crushed popcorn to the Salted Caramel Buttercream and it turned out very delicious, with a slight crunch, however, doesn’t look as smooth as you pipe, unless you grind the popcorn into a very fine powder, since my small blender was broken I couldn’t do that at the time, and my large food processor made the popcorn pieces too large. I added about 1/4 cup of crushed popcorn.

Guys, these Caramel Popcorn Macarons are by far some of my favorites! I say that about a lot of them, but I really really mean it! If you wanna see some more of my macaron recipes, click here.

I have tons of macaron resources on my blog for you to improve your macaron baking, and learn how to bake perfect macarons! That’s why I created a section on my blog called Macaron School, with a lot of information, troubleshooting guides, tips, and more!

Also head on over to my Macaron section to check my recipes out, I have a huge list of different macaron flavors and ideas!

And please understand that making macarons is a journey, and you might need time and patience in order to master and get them just right.

It will work differently for everyone, some people do better with the French method, and some people prefer the Italian method. While others, like myself, rather use the Swiss method.

Whatever method you choose to use, just know that, as long as you master what each stage of making macarons is supposed to look like, you will have an easier time mastering the final results.

If you like my Caramel Popcorn Macarons, you might like some of these suggestions too:

• M&M’s Macarons
• Strawberry Lemonade Macarons
• Caramelized White Chocolate Macarons
• Chocolate Caramel Macarons
• Cinnamon Roll Macarons
• Hazelnut Macarons
• Hot Chocolate Macarons
• Creme Brûlée Macarons
• Banoffee Macarons
• Cookie Dough Macarons
• Dulce de Leche Pecan Macarons
• Toffee Macarons
• Samoa Cookie Macarons
• Dulce de Leche Macarons
• Salted Caramel Macarons

I always get questions about the materials I use to make macarons, so I am going to give you a few tips below of some of the products I use.

These are the baking sheets I use. You always want to get new baking sheets if they start to get warped. Also, don’t use dark baking sheets, as they retain a lot of heat and can be the culprit to cracking shells or feet that spread out.

And this is the air tight container I use to store my macarons. Either in the fridge or in the freezer. I always freeze my macarons if I have leftovers, or if I have to make them in advance. They freeze really well. I usually don’t freeze macarons that take jelly filling, because the jelly can make the macaron shells become too wet and maybe soggy, depending on how liquidy the jam is. If it’s a very thick jam, you can probably get away with freezing the macaron.

I hope you liked my tips, and my Caramel Popcorn Macaron recipe!

Don’t forget to check out the recipe for the caramel popcorn, you will not regret it! I am sure of it!

I hope you have a lovely day! Thanks for reading my blog post. If you make these Caramel Popcorn Macarons, don’t forget to tag me on instagram, I love to see your creations. Also if you have any questions, you can dm me there, or send me an email! I always answer them!

Caramel Popcorn Macarons

Camila Hurst

Caramel Popcorn Macarons, filled with salted caramel and topped with the best caramel popcorn of your life!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hr

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, French

Servings 26 cookies

Calories 200 kcal

Ingredients

  

Macaron Shells

• 100 grams white granulated sugar
• 4 grams egg white powder optional, read notes
• 100 grams egg whites
• 105 grams almond flour
• 105 grams powdered sugar

Salted Caramel Buttercream

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature (84 grams)
• 1/4 cup salted caramel sauce store bought or homemade, recipe below (60 ml)
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar 187.5 grams
• 1/4 tsp vanilla

Salted Caramel Sauce

• 1/2 cup sugar 100 grams
• 1/4 cup heavy cream 60 ml
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter 42 grams
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Caramel Popcorn

• 1/4 cup popcorn kernels I used mushroom popcorns, which have that round cute shape
• 1 1/2 tbsp neutral oil vegetable, peanut, grapeseed
• 1/3 cup butter 75 grams
• 1 cup light brown sugar 200 grams
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 3 tbsp corn syrup
• 1/4 tsp baking soda

Instructions

 

Macaron Shells

• Before you start, get all of the ingredients ready. Prepare a large piping bag, fitted with a round tip, I used a 1/4" diameter piping tip.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat.
• Measure out all of the ingredients.
• Sift powdered sugar and almond flour together. Set aside.
• Whisk the sugar and the egg white powder (if using) in a bowl, and place it over a pan with barely simmering water. Add the egg whites to the sugar and whisk the mixture until frothy and the sugar is completely melted. It will take a couple of minutes. You can test by touching the mixture between your fingers, and if you feel any sugar granules just keep whisking the mixture over the water bath.
• Make sure the bottom of the bowl isn’t touching the simmering water because you don’t want the whites to cook.
• Also, don’t overheat the sugar syrup, this may cause issues down the line, such as wrinkly macarons.
• Transfer the syrup to the bowl of a stand mixer.
• With the whisk attachment, start whisking mixture on low for about 30 seconds, then gradually start increasing speed to medium. Whisk on medium for one to two minutes, until the mixture is white and starting to become fluffy. Raise the speed to high for a few minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Best way to check this is to keep your eye on the whites. Once they get glossy and you start seeing streaks formed by the whisk, it might be time to stop.Whisk until stiff peaks have formed. When you pull your whip up, the peak should be stiff and shooting straight up, with possibly a slight bend at the top, but not bending to the side.
• Pour the sifted powdered sugar and almond flour into the stiff meringue.Start folding gently forming a letter J with a spatula.
• Add the food coloring at this point, if using.
• How to know when to stop folding the batter: It’s time to stop folding when the batter is glossy and has a thick and flowing consistency. There are several ways to test this. First, pick up some batter with the spatula and try to draw a figure 8 with the batter that is dripping off the spatula. If you can form several 8 figures without the batter breaking up, that’s one indication that it might be ready.
• There’s another test you can do. I call it the Teaspoon test.
• Grab a teaspoon of batter and spoon onto the parchment paper or silicon mat. Wait a minute to see how it behaves.
• If the batter stays stiff, forming a point and doesn’t spread out, fold a little bit more, about 3 folds.
• Test again.
• You don’t want your batter to be too runny either. So be careful not to overmix. It’s always best to undermix and test several times until the proper consistency has been achieved.
• When you hold the spatula with batter on top of the bowl and the batter falls off the spatula slowly but effortlessly the batter is ready. The batter will keep flowing off the spatula non-stop, but not too quickly.
• Place the piping bag directly 90 degrees over the center of each macaron template. Apply gentle pressure and carefully pipe for about 3 seconds, and then quickly pull the bag up twisting slightly.
• Once you’ve piped as many circles as you could, bang the trays against the counter a few times each.
• Use a toothpick to pop any air bubbles in the surface of the shells.
• Let the trays sit for a while so the shells will dry out a little bit. I usually leave about 20-40 minutes, depending on how humid the day is. You’ll know they’re ready when you gently touch the surface of a macaron and it seems dry.
• Pre-heat the oven to 300ºF.
• Bake one tray at a time.
• Bake for 5 minutes, rotate tray.
• I bake each tray for about 15 to 20 minutes.
• When baked, the macarons will have a deeper color and formed feet. If you try to move a macaron, it shouldn’t feel jiggly. If the macaron is still jiggly, keep baking.
• Remove from the oven and bake the other tray.Let the macarons cool down before proceeding with the filling.

Salted Caramel Sauce

• Place the sugar in a medium saucepan, over medium heat.
• Stir constantly to help the sugar melt evenly.
• As soon as the sugar has melted entirely, and the last bit of sugar crystals have dissolved, lower the heat and quickly add the heavy cream. Be careful because it will bubble up.
• After a few seconds the bubbles should subside, continue to stir. Add the butter and the salt.
• When you see that the butter has almost entirely melted, remove the pan from the heat, continue to stir for a minute or so until you see no more bits of butter.
• Pour into a glass jar or bowl. Add the vanilla and stir. Let it cool completely.
• If you overcook the caramel sauce at any stage it will become too hard when it cools down, so be mindful of not overcooking the caramel sauce.

Salted Caramel Buttercream

• Place the butter in the bowl of a mixer. Whip on medium high until creamy, for about 1 minute.
• With the mixer off, add 1 1/2 cups of the powdered sugar. Mix on low until incorporated.
• Slowly add the caramel sauce, and start to raise speed to medium high. Cream for 1 minute until fluffy and smooth. Scrape the sides of the bowl. If necessary add more sugar, if the mixture is too runny.
• Add the vanilla. Place the frosting in a piping bag.

Caramel Popcorn

• Pre-heat the oven to 275F.
• You can use microwave popcorn for this, and simply make the sauce and pour over the microwave popcorn already popped, and then bake.
• If using popcorn kernels, make sure you have a large pan with a thick bottom, and a lid.
• Place the oil in the pan along with 3 corn kernels.
• Place it over medium heat. Wait for one corn kernel to pop, and then add the rest of the corn to the pan. Close the lid and let the kernels pop.
• Remove from the heat once you don’t hear any more popping.
• In a small saucepan add butter, brown sugar, salt, and corn syrup. Whisk over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and let mixture simmer undisturbed for 4 minutes.
• Remove from the heat. Add baking soda in, mix until combined. Pour over popcorn. Mix until incorporated.
• Pour mixture over a baking sheet lined with a silicon mat, or parchment paper. Bake on pre-heated oven for 60 – 90 minutes, stirring in between, to bake evenly. It will be done once popcorn is golden and caramel looks shiny and crackling.
• As soon as you remove the popcorn from the oven, start breaking it up into pieces, so they don’t cool down as a giant block of popcorn.
• Store leftovers of the popcorn in an air-tight container at room temperature for 10 days.

To assemble

• Pipe the Salted Caramel Buttercream filling in the shells. Top with another shell. I drizzled some caramel and melted chocolate over my macarons in order to stick my caramel popcorns on top. You can also pipe a dollop of filling on top of the macarons to make the popcorns stick on top.
• I used about 1 oz of melted chocolate.

Storage

• Store in the fridge for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 1-2 months.

Notes

Vinegar: Before starting make sure to wipe down the bowls, whisks, silicone mats and everything you are going to use with vinegar, to avoid any grease particles of coming into contact with the meringue and batter.

Egg white powder: Egg White Powder is not the same as meringue powder. Egg White Powder is made of only egg whites. They help with getting fuller shells, and specially when adding a lot of food coloring to the batter, because they make the shells dry faster. I recommend experimenting with it if you can find it. I use 4 grams for each 100 grams of egg whites.

Food coloring: Make sure to use gel food coloring. If you are a beginner macaron baker, I recommend going easy on the food coloring, as it can alter your batter a lot, and it can take extra mixing time, specially if you continue to add the food coloring as you do the macaronage.

Scale: Please use a scale when measuring the ingredients for accuracy.

Macaron amount: it will vary greatly depending on how big you pipe the shells, and on how runny or thick the batter is.

Baking time/temperature: Baking time and temperature will vary according to your own oven. I recommend experimenting with your oven to find out the best time, temperature, position of the baking tray.

Oven thermometer: Make sure to have an oven thermometer to bake macarons. It’s one of the most important things about making macarons. Home ovens aren’t accurate at all at telling the temperature, and even a slight 5 degree difference can make or break your whole batch.

Tray rotation: Lots of bakers don’t have to rotate the trays 180 degrees in the oven every 5 minutes, but I do have to with my oven, or I will get lopsided macarons. Please adjust this according to your oven.

Caramel: Make sure to not overcook the caramel at any stage, or it will be too hard once it cools down. It will look quite runny when you remove it from the pan, but that’s ok, it will thicken as it cools. Also, if you choose to store the caramel in the fridge before using in the recipe, let it come to room temperature or microwave it lightly before using, not to the point where it gets warm, but to help it come to room temperature.

Buttercream: If the buttercream is too runny, add more powdered sugar, and if the buttercream is too stiff, add a teaspoon of milk or water to thin it out.

Popcorn: Also, you can add 1/4 cup of powdered popcorn to the buttercream. Simply process 1 cup of popcorn in the food processor until finely ground and add to the buttercream. I skipped it here, but I’ve made it that way before.

Keyword caramel, macarons, popcorn