If you’ve spent any time in my parents’ house, at some point, you’ve certainly smelled or heard popcorn popping in the kitchen. It’s likely we’ve sat together on the couch, grabbing salty popcorn by the handfuls and nibbling on it for hours. You’ve probably seen big bowls of popcorn on the counter covered with tin foil for days, while almost everyone sneaks a couple kernels of stale popcorn on each trip to the kitchen.
My Mom—not one for sweets—has been popping popcorn multiple nights a week after dinner since before I can remember. Her popcorn pot is seasoned better than an antique cast iron skillet. Like I said, popcorn has just always been a staple in my parents’ house. Now, whenever I’m feeing homesick, I know making popcorn will give me a beautiful sense of comfort, and that’s a wonderful feeling.
These Salty Buttery Popcorn Cookies are inspired by my Mom’s popcorn but are appropriate for those who also do like sweets. They are distinctly salted with a mix of crunch and chew, thanks to the brown sugar and ample popcorn mixed in. I felt like white chocolate would be a natural addition, so ran with that, and had no regrets. I know white chocolate is polarizing so feel free to skip if you’re inclined.
The recipe is adapted from the recipe for popcorn cookies in Deb Perelman’s The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. When I first flipped to the page and saw bits of popcorn poking out of golden brown cookie mounts, I knew they would be a favorite.
