Surprise-Center Popcorn Cookies

Gather all your ingredients on the counter and line two BakingSheets with parchment paper so they're ready for cookie takeoff!

Ask your adult helper to preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) — it's gonna be cookie time!

In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose-flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Whisk them together until they're best friends and fully mixed.

In a small saucepan over medium heat (ADULT HELPER: this part is for you!), melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1/4 cup rolled oats.

Stir constantly until the oats are coated in caramel-colored butter and smell AMAZING — about 3-4 minutes. ADULT HELPER: this is hot, please handle the saucepan!

Spread the caramel oat mixture on a piece of parchment paper to cool and harden into crunchy clusters. Let it cool for 10 minutes while you make the cookie dough.

In a large bowl using your StandMixer (or a hand Whisk and serious arm muscles), beat 3/4 cup softened butter with white sugar and brown sugar until it's fluffy and light — about 2 minutes.

Add the egg and beat until it's fully combined into the sugar-butter mixture.

Slowly add the flour mixture from Step 2 and mix on low speed until a soft chocolate cookie dough forms. Don't overmix or your cookies will be tough!

Mix 1 teaspoon cinnamon into the honey to create your sweet-spicy surprise filling.

Scoop cookie dough into 2-tablespoon balls — you should get about 24 balls. Place them on the prepared BakingSheets about 2 inches apart.

Use your thumb or the back of a spoon to make a deep indent in the center of each cookie dough ball — this is where the surprise lives!

Add about 1/2 teaspoon of honey-cinnamon filling into each indent, then pinch the dough closed around it. Roll the dough ball back into a sphere, making sure the surprise is fully hidden inside.

Roll the top of each stuffed cookie in the remaining 1/4 cup rolled oats for a crunchy oat cap, then place oat-side up on the BakingSheet.

Sprinkle the cooled oat crunch clusters from Step 4 on top of each cookie — press gently so they stick!

ADULT HELPER: Place the BakingSheets in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the cookies look set but still slightly soft in the center.

ADULT HELPER: Remove from oven and let cool on the BakingSheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. The honey center will be EXTREMELY HOT — let cookies cool for at least 10 minutes before anyone takes a bite!

Once cooled, arrange your Surprise-Center Popcorn Cookies on a big plate and get ready for the YELL when someone bites into their first hidden honey center!