Carmel Corn Blondies
This blondies recipe is a spook-tackular addition to your Halloween table or fall party. Piled high with rich and crispy carmel corn, it satisfies both the need for freshly-made baked goods and bold CRUNCH.
I’ve always loved Halloween.
When I was little, my mother would sew the most elaborate costumes. She would spend weeks stitching, and in some cases, hand painting parts of our costumes for one glorious night of spooky fun. One year she made my brother a meticulously detailed E.T. costume, down to the last wrinkle and glowing finger.
Once we were dressed in our homemade garb, she would give us an approving smile with a twinkle in her eye. She was as proud of our costumes as we were.
Then we would set off through the neighborhood, gathering goodies from all our friends. Although I enjoyed the traditional wrapped candies, I always secretly hoped that one of our neighbors would give us homemade carmel corn, the end-all of Halloween treats, as far as I was concerned.
Carmel Corn is still one of my favorite fall treats, and this year I decided to put it on a pedestal.
Literally. An edible pedestal made from a blondies recipe.
This Carmel Corn Blondies Recipe has it all. Tender butterscotch blondies with crisp edges are adorned with a towering mound of salty sweet carmel corn.
These look impressive on platters or cake stands and make great edible gifts.
The blondies recipe is made in muffin tins, so that as they bake the sides rise and get crispy. Then as they cool, the centers sink, creating a well to hold the carmel corn.
Black Glass Plates from Villeroy & Boch.
The carmel corn tops are made from my easy microwave carmel corn recipe. You simply pour the ingredients in a large paper grocery bag, shake, and nuke.
While the carmel corn was still warm I pressed it into palm-sized mounds and placed them on the blondie bases. Finally I made a light “sugar glue” to secure any loose corn and fuse the mounds to the blondies.
These blondies are fun to make and even more fun to eat!
Yield: 16-18
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Carmel Corn Blondies Recipe
Ingredients:
For the Blondies Recipe:
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
3/4 cup butterscotch chips
For the Microwave Carmel Corn:
2 quarts popped popcorn (about 1/3 cup kernels)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 Tb. corn syrup
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. baking soda
For the Sugar Glue:
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup water
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tb. butter
Directions:
For the Blondies Recipe: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour muffins tins and set aside.
In a large bowl, combined the flour, baking soda and salt. In a smaller microwave safe bowl, melt the butter. Once the butter is melted whisk in the sugar, eggs and vanilla.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients in the large bowl and stir in the white chocolate and butterscotch baking chips.
Scoop the batter into 16-18 muffin tins and bake for 20-25 minutes. Once cooled, run a sharp knife around the edges and lift each blondie out.
For the Carmel Corn: Place the popcorn in a large paper grocery bag.
Place the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, salt and vanilla in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes. Stir, then microwave another 2 minutes.
Immediately stir in the baking soda and pour in the bag, over the popcorn. Fold the top over a couple times and shake well.
Place the bag in the microwave and cook for 1 minute. Shake the bag vigorously again and microwave for 1 more minute.
Rip the bag open. Using wax paper to protect your hands press the carmel corn into 16-18 clumps to same size as the blondies.
Place a clump on top of each blondie and arrange any loose pieces.
Finally Place the ingredients for the sugar glue in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave for 3-4 minutes, until clear, but the consistency of school glue.
Quickly drizzle the hot sugar glue over the tops of each carmel corn blondie, SPARINGLY. You just want barely enough sugar glue to hold the corn together and secure them to the blondies.
Cool and keep in an air-tight container.
More Halloween Favorites:
Apple Spiced Rice Krispies Treat Monsters
Chocolate Caramel Apples ~ She Wears Many Hats
Candy Corn Oreo Truffles ~ My Baking Addiction
Chai Pumpkin Spice Thumbprints ~ Pass the Sushi













Ohh, these are a great treat! YUMMY!
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These are so fun! Love this idea!
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Ooooooo spooky and awesome!! Love the popcorn touch.
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I am all about 2 desserts in one! This sounds so yummy!
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I must admit, I’m not always into caramel corn, because I’m weird.
But I can’t imagine that these blondies are anything but phenomenal!
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This is SUCH a cute idea!! How perfect for Fall time!
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Ooooooo…love the caramel corn treat topper!! Fun!!
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These are so fun, Sommer!!!
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Those are incredible looking! I’m with Shelly…two desserts in one is an awesome way to go!!!
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I have a big soft spot for blondies. Add caramel and my diet is shot. These are so great, Sommer!
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OK when i first saw the post title i was all set to talk about how i don’t actually like caramel corn (like the candy) and THEN I READ THE POST and i think i’m going to be dreaming about these for the rest of my life. they look amazing and i would TOTALLY love them!
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I’m in love with this whole recipe, but caramel corn in the microwave?! Oh, I know what I’m going to be eating for dessert every night for the next month…
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Sommer — September 27th, 2012 @ 8:54 am
I know Kiersten, the microwave carmel corn is TROUBLE! …A little TOO easy to make.
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Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen — September 29th, 2012 @ 4:57 pm
I was just going to comment on that too, what an easy way to make caramel popcorn. Love that!
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This is genius. Blondies have that same flavor profile as caramel corn, so why not put them together?
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what a fun idea Sommer! super creative!
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What awesome memories of your mom making your costumes, fun. And speaking of fun…this is dessert is amazing Sommer!! I want one right now!
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Mmmm…I *just* bought a bag of butterscotch chips yesterday. Definitely feels like the right time of year for it! These look so yummy.
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These are so freakin’ cool! Genius idea!
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Ooh, these are so cute. And I love Halloween!
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these look like tons of fun! the kids will go crazy over them
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These are so fun, I love the caramel corn topping!
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What Heather said? Me too…I know I know I risk being ostracized from Halloween but I just can not stand that candy! This? Blondies with attitude? Could love.
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Genius! These are so fun!
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Ok, those are just too cute.
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I am loving these!
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I have a thing for blondies & these are so much fun!!
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Okay, these are just too darn cute! The kiddies would absolutely love these!
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You totally knocked this one out of the park! LOOKS AMAZING!
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I love the caramel corn frosting-esque. So cute!
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I’d love to have these at my Halloween table. What a smart and delicious idea!
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I love caramel corn too! These are so great!
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I used to sew my kids Halloween costumes when they were young too – although not quite as elaborate as your mom – wow, an ET costume, I am impressed! What a fun Halloween treat this is! I’d never think to make microwave caramel corn.
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Loving all the Halloween Treats!
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This is so creative! And combines two of my favorite treats… um, you rock!
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Ah-mazing! Love the combination of blondie and carmel corn – never would have thought to do that. You’re so creative
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These are SO gorgeous! I cannot resist blondies and I am a sucker for caramel corn, so pretty much, this dessert was made exclusively for me!
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yum yum yum!!
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My kids would seriously go crazy for these and they are so perfect for kid parties!
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Ok these are genius! I love them!
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