From the kitchens of Amy & JJ

As I write this, it’s a milestone birthday for my husband, Kristjan. And as he enters his fourth decade, the popcorn cake is still his most requested birthday treat. 

This no-bake popcorn cake is childhood nostalgia for him. He can remember his Mother using an air popper to make the popcorn and fondly recalls them being shaped into the number that represented the age he was turning and spiced gum drops as the go-to candy ingredient. 

All you’ll need is popcorn, butter, marshmallows and whatever candy/ nut combination suits you or the occasion. Imagine a Rice Krispie treat, but with popcorn instead. 

Pop the popcorn and remove kernels, mix in candy and nuts (don’t be afraid to measure with your heart), melt butter and marshmallows, pour over popcorn mixture, mix well and press into a greased Bundt pan. The Bundt pan will serve as your mold. (As mentioned, it can be molded into whatever shape you want – just a 9 x 13 works, too.) 

With Valentine’s Day here, you could add red, pink and white M&M’s, white chocolate chips and peanuts. Around Halloween, use Reese’s Pieces, crushed pretzels, chocolate chips and peanuts. And, if you are looking to copy our traditional birthday popcorn cake (as pictured) include M&M’s, peanuts and Dots candy (or spiced gum drops). 

Most important reminders: “grease up” everything – the bowl and the Bundt pan. It will get very sticky. Secondly, be diligent about removing all the kernels – those could break a tooth. An easy way to get the kernels out is to just dump your popcorn into a bowl and shake – they should all fall to the bottom. 

This cake is just fun. We make it at least a few times a year and it’s perfect if you need something quick and easy. Slice it up, serve it on a plate and enjoy it with your hands! 

Ingredients: 

2 bags of popcorn (try for something without a lot of butter and salt) or about 13 cups of popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup of unpopped kernels) 

1 stick of butter 

2 bags of mini marshmallows

Candy/ Nuts

Suggestions: 1-2 cups of M&M’s, 1-2 cups lightly salted peanuts, 1 cup Dots candy 

Directions: 

Pop popcorn, remove kernels 

Add candy/ nuts 

Melt butter and marshmallows over low to medium heat until smooth

Pour melted butter and marshmallows over popcorn mixture and mix well (it will look stringy, that’s okay!) 

Press into a well greased Bundt pan – or into whatever mold you’d like!