March 29, 2012

Cookies n Cream Cupcakes


Ingredients
(Yields: 15 cupcakes)
  • Cupcakes:
  • 4 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate, broken into pieces
  • 3/4 cups (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups sugar (granulated)
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 t. vanilla
  • 1 c. all-purpose flour
  • 15 Oreo cookies
  • 15 mini Oreo cookies
  • Oreo Buttercream
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 8 Oreo cookies

Directions
  • Line 15 cupcake holders with paper liners. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Place the chocolate and the butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave on high for about one minute, until the butter is melted and the chocolate is just melted. Give it a good stir to mix it all together.
  • Stir in the granulated sugar, then add the eggs, stirring in one at a time. Then stir in the vanilla.
  • Add the flour and stir well. The batter should be smooth and light-ish brown.
  • Add about a tablespoon of batter to each muffin cup.
  • Place one Oreo cookie on top of each cup of batter.
  • Top with the remaining batter, dividing between the 15 cups.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 23 – 27 minutes, until the brownies are set but not overbaked. Cool completely.
  • For the buttercream, seal the Oreo cookies in a Ziploc bag and crush with a rolling pin until they’re small crumbs.
  • In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla and Oreo crumbs. Start out on the lowest setting (this helps avoid a powdered sugar blizzard) and then increase to medium once the powdered sugar is well-incorporated. Mix until completely blended.
  • Once the cupcakes are completely cooled, top with the Oreo buttercream. You can use a pastry bag with a big frosting tip, or, if you can’t find yours, a Ziploc bag works in a pinch. Just fill a big bag with the frosting, cut the corner off and squeeze the frosting out the corner onto the cupcake. Magic!
  • Top off with a mini Oreo.

Notes
Inspired by/adapted from Bake it in a Cake, www.bakeitinacake.com