I love movies of all kinds: comedy, drama, action, adventure, classics, musicals, suspense and animation. I have favorite actors who get their own special categories, and I can happily converse in movie quotes with fellow fans. Animated films have always held a special place for me—age hasn’t changed that—and when DreamWorks Animation, the studio behind favorites like Shrek, Chicken Run and Kung Fu Panda, asked me to create a recipe inspired by their film THE CROODS, I jumped at the chance.
From the start, the idea was clear: a Sweet and Salty No-Bake Popcorn Cookie. What pairs better with movies than popcorn? Without spoiling anything, popcorn plays a fun role in THE CROODS, so the connection felt perfect.
These no-bake cookies are whimsical and colorful: crunchy popcorn and salty pretzel sticks, sweet sticky marshmallow, nutty browned butter and bright candy-coated chocolate pieces. They’re a delightful mash-up—part popcorn ball, part rice crispy treat, part candy bar and part pretzel mix. Every bite is joyful; I challenge you not to smile while eating one.
Best of all, these treats come together quickly without turning on the oven. Pop your popcorn, brown the butter and melt the marshmallows, stir in the mix-ins, then scoop and gently press the cookies into shape. They’re delicious warm and gooey straight from the pan, or you can wait for them to set—either way, they’re irresistible.
Sweet and Salty No-Bake Popcorn Cookies | The Croods
Rebecca Lindamood
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels (if using stovetop, add enough oil to pop according to package directions)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 10-ounce bag marshmallows (or 4 cups mini marshmallows)
- 3 cups thin salted pretzel sticks
- 2 cups candy-coated chocolate morsels
- oil for your hands
Instructions
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Pour the pretzels into a large mixing bowl and break them roughly by hand so most pieces are in three or more parts. Set aside.
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Line two sheet pans with silicone mats, parchment or wax paper and set aside.
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Pop the popcorn kernels using an air popper or stovetop according to package directions. Transfer popped corn to a bowl and shake gently to allow any unpopped kernels to fall to the bottom, then remove them.
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Add the popcorn to the bowl with broken pretzels. Use your hands to gently crush about one-third of the popcorn into smaller pieces for better texture.
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In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and let it bubble around the edges until it turns golden and smells nutty, taking care not to burn it. Add the marshmallows and stir to coat them in butter. Reduce heat to low and stir constantly until the marshmallows melt into a smooth mixture.
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Pour the marshmallow-butter mixture over the popcorn and pretzels and stir to coat evenly. Fold in the candy-coated chocolate pieces just until distributed.
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Oil your hands well and scoop about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the mixture. Gently press it together to form a ball, place it on the lined pan and flatten slightly into a thick cookie. Repeat until the mixture is used up.
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Enjoy immediately warm, or store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days.
Nutritional information is an estimate. Calculate nutrition using the exact ingredients you use if desired.
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Would you like to learn more about The Croods?
THE CROODS is a 3D comedy-adventure about the world’s first modern family embarking on a life-changing journey after their cave is destroyed. Traveling across a spectacular landscape, they discover an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures and face generational clashes and seismic shifts.
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Keener, Clark Duke and Cloris Leachman.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by The Croods by DreamWorks Animation. All opinions are my own.