Recipe: Mini Mexican Chocolate Popcorn Cakes
Jackie Alpers is the author of Taste of Tucson: Sonoran Style Recipes Inspired by the Rich Culture of Southern Arizona.
This no-bake, salty-spicy-sweet mini cakes made with popcorn, pretzels, cashews, Sriracha sesame seeds combined with a cinnamon and red chile spiced chocolate marshmallow cream.
The Silicone Kitchen Tools Used:
The Silicone Kitchen Popcorn Maker
The Silicone Kitchen Bento Baking Cups
Prep time: 30 minutes
Wait time: 1 hour
Cook time: 10 minutes
Yield: 8 mini popcorn cakes
Ingredients
¼ cup popcorn kernels
1 ounce mini pretzels, about 1 cup, plus more for garnish
½ cup chocolate chips, divided
2.5 ounces cashew halves and pieces, about ½ cup
1 tablespoon, sesame seeds, preferably Sriracha seasoned
½ teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon red chile powder, hot or mild
3 cups mini marshmallows
¼ cup chocolate jimmies for garnish, optional
Instructions
Fill a The Silicone Kitchen Popcorn Maker with unpopped kernels to the lower fill line indicated inside the popper and secure the lid.
Microwave for 2 to 4 minutes or until there is a 5 second delay between popping sounds. Discard any unpopped kernels.
Transfer 4 cups of popped corn to a large mixing bowl, saving the rest for another use or for snacking on while cooking. Stir in the mini pretzels, half of the chocolate chips (1/4 cup), cashew pieces and sesame seeds.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the cinnamon and chile powder and stir with a The Silicone Kitchen Spatula until combined. Add the mini marshmallows and remaining ¼ cup of chocolate chips and continue stirring until melted and the thickness and consistency of chocolate frosting. Pour the chocolate marshmallow mixture over the popcorn mixture. Wearing food-safe gloves, stir with your hands to coat.
Press firmly but gently into eight The Silicone Kitchen Rectangular Baking Cups and garnish with additional pretzels if desired.
Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour before unmolding from the baking cups and serving.