Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

Cupcakes are great fun for adults and children alike. They can be tailored to any taste and level of maturity. This latest cupcake endeavor was inspired by a few things. First, wintry weather immediately brings about thoughts of penguins in my mind. Thoughts of penguins were also inspired by my toddler who has been watching Madagascar everyday for the last two weeks. In this movie penguins are portrayed as mischievous little escape artists. Leading me to thoughts of penguins portrayed with cupcakes. Finally, my two year old spoke up at the dinner table one night and said, "Penguins can talk, right?" That was it. I knew I had to make some penguin cupcakes.

Recently I made another winter themed cupcake, Snowman Cupcakes, but this was mostly a decorating idea. I wanted to make the penguin cupcakes more of an entire cupcake treat beginning with the batter and following through all the way to the top of the beautiful cupcake. Unfortunately after decorating, the penguins were not beautiful. But thankfully the cupcakes were delicious. With a few decorating changes, I was left with a delectable and delightful Cookies and Cream Cupcake. I based the recipe on one I found for boxed cake mix batter.


The cupcake was light, but not too fluffy. And the taste was not sugary sweet like many cake batters can be, but instead was more like a muffin. The buttercream frosting complimented not only the light taste and texture of the cupcake, but the pure white of the frosting contrasted perfectly with the black Oreo cookie half that topped each cupcake. Truly the taste of these cupcakes are not for children alone. Trust me on this. Make these cupcakes. Try one.


Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
2 1/2 c sifted all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c vegetable oil
3 egg whites, whipped till fluffy
1 c whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 batch Best Buttercream Frosting
24 Oreo cookies

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 21 cupcake tins. Take 12 Oreo cookies and break into chunks. Don't complete crush, just break into a few pieces and keep the white cream. Set aside. Split the remaining Oreo cookies apart and scrape the cream from the inside; discard the cream. Set aside.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Whisk together. Add milk, oil and vanilla extract. Mix on medium high for 2 minutes. Fold in egg white and stir gently. Fold in Oreo cookie chunks. Fill the prepared 21 cupcake tins. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.


Ice cupcakes with buttercream frosting. Pile the frosting on, it doesn't have to be neat. Top each cupcake with an Oreo cookie half.

Here are some other great cookie cupcake ideas you might enjoy:
Big Red Kitchen Cookie Dough Cupcakes
Scweet 'n' Savory Cookies and Cream Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
Kitchen Klique Mint Chocolate "Cupcake"
Peanut Shell Samoa Cookie Cupcakes
Good Things Catered Cookie Monster Cupcakes