Popcorn Cookies?

Popcorn cookies? Yes, can you believe it, there are cookie recipes which use popcorn, so I had to try it. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea that I tried it for the first time when baking for a cookie exchange, but I did. Then, as if I knew what I was doing, I substituted more oatmeal for the wheat germ. I don't even know if you can do that, but I did. Guess what happened?

They came out of the oven all puffy and filled with delicious raisins, coconut, oats and dried cranberries but there was one problem.

They fell flat. Really, super flat. They had holes in them. My husband held one up and thought it was a wonderful cookie because not only could he eat a few but he could also watch TV right through the middle of them! Bad husband.

Now I'm not certain if it was my substitution. Maybe flour would have been better than oatmeal. Also, it could have been my baking soda. Or maybe when doubling the recipe I forgot to double something. Or maybe all the above. I know the recipe must be good. It's from the Jolly Time popcorn people (see below) and they probably test them several times before publishing.

This is what they are supposed to look like:

They taste really good, sort of like chewy granola. But they are flat and holey. I had come up with a packaging idea too so I was sort of stuck with them. I couldn't find six of the same container that would hold a dozen cookies but I did find these popcorn tubs (above). I lined them with glittery tissue paper, placed a popcorn bag in the corner, a couple of napkins, a package of popcorn and the cookies on the bottom wrapped in cellophane. I had sprinkled some of the red ribbony filling- that paper that is festive and you put in gift bags.

Then I felt badly. Everyone else would have fine cookies, Christmas standards, not flat popcorn cookies. After church I whipped up some toll house with chocolate and butterscotch chips and everyone got 16 rather than 12. I didn't have any more nice bags but ziplocks would do.

I will share the popcorn cookie recipe- but don't substitute anything, unless you want flat, chewy granola cookies. They really do taste great.

• ¼ cup whole wheat or all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup toasted wheat germ
• ½ cup oatmeal
• ½ cup flaked coconut
• 3 cups popped popcorn
• 1 cup raisins, dried cranberries or other dried fruit, chopped
• ½ cup sunflower seeds or chopped nuts, optional

Here's How:
Preheat oven to 350º F
Lightly spray baking sheets with cooking spray and set aside. (I used parchment instead)
In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, soda and salt; set aside.
Cream butter and sugar together and add egg and vanilla; mix well.
Stir in flour mixture and wheat germ and oatmeal until well blended.
Add coconut, popcorn, raisins and sunflower seeds, if desired, and mix until well blended.
Drop by rounded teaspoons onto baking sheet, allowing 2 inches between cookies to allow for spreading.

Bake 7-8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
Allow cookies to cool on pan 5 minutes before removing to racks to cool completely.
Yield: 4 dozen cookies


Jolly Time Popcorn Cookies