Oreo Cupcakes
A moist chocolate cake and a cookies ‘n’ cream frosting combine to create these tasty Oreo Cupcakes!
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*In my best Cookie Monster voice* “Now what starts with the letter C? Cookie starts with C. Let’s think of other things that starts with C. Oh, who cares about the other things? C is for cookie, that’s good enough for me!” Cookies. I love a good cookie. Chocolate chip, kitchen sink, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, sugar, caramel pecan, oh this list could go on forever and ever. The only problem with cookies is that 1 becomes 2 becomes 8. And then all of the cookies are gone. Oops.
What is your favorite kind of cookie? According to sales volume, the world’s favorite cookie is an Oreo. In truth, the world’s favorite cookie is probably a homemade chocolate chip cookie, but grandma’s secret recipe for chocolate chip cookies isn’t included in sales volume statistics. In sales, Oreos outpace the 2nd most popular cookie (Gamesa company based out of Mexico) at a rate of 3:1. That’s dominating the cookie market right there! Oreos also outpace worldwide sales of Cheerios by 2:1 and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese by 5:1. We’re talking a lot of Oreos here, my friends!
The average American eats 18,928 cookies in his or her life, and I’d bet a good (chocolate) chunk of those are Oreos. (On a side note, how do statisticians actually come up with these numbers!?) We do eat Oreos on occasion around here, although we polish off more homemade cookies just because I love to bake. And in order to bake more cookies, we need to eat the first batch!
Laura prefers to dip her Oreos in milk while I go plain. In fact, I like to play a little game to see if I can twist the Oreos apart and get the filling to be all on one side. I fail this game often…and I have to eat the evidence. Clearly I just have to keep going until I win the game!
Truthfully, though, one of my favorite things to do with Oreos is turn them into other desserts. Crumbled Oreos make an excellent cookie base for cheesecakes and pies. And I’ve made my fair share of Oreo-inspired desserts over the years, like Oreo Cheesecake, Oreo Milkshakes and Oreo Cake. But one thing I didn’t have was an Oreo Cupcake. Clearly I needed to fix that, so I took that Oreo Cake recipe and adjusted it to create these Oreo Cupcakes. You could call these Cookies ‘n’ Cream Cupcakes, but let’s just call a spade a spade. These are made with Oreos, so Oreo Cupcakes it is!
Honestly, I probably could have eaten this frosting with a spoon. It’s insanely delicious! And it tastes remarkably similar to the filling inside of an Oreo. I was out curling the night I made these Oreo Cupcakes, and Laura made a point to tell me that the chocolate cupcake itself is quite delicious. I was all like, “Huh? Did you eat the cupcake before the frosting?” And she was all like, “Yup.” But what’s funny…one of my curling teammates did the same! (I took all most of these Oreo Cupcakes into the club that night.) Do you eat the cupcake before the frosting? Is this a common thing that has somehow just missed me?
No matter how you eat your cupcakes, I can promise you that these Oreo Cupcakes will be a hit in your house! The moist chocolate cupcake topped with a cookies ‘n’ cream frosting makes for one heck of a delicious treat. Enjoy, my friends! As for me, I’m off to twist some more Oreos apart until I win the game.
Oreo Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1¾ cups sugar
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk or milk
- ½ cup coffee or water
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp white vinegar
- ½ cup canola or vegetable oil
For the Frosting
- 1¼ cups unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4½-5 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ Tbsp vanilla extract
- 3½ Tbsp milk or heavy cream
- 6 oz. white chocolate chopped
- 10 large Oreo cookies filling removed
- mini-Oreo cookies for garnish
Instructions
For the Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 12-cup muffin pans with liners; set pans aside.
- Using a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and chocolate chips) until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the liquid ingredients (eggs, buttermilk, coffee, vanilla extract, vinegar and canola oil) until well combined. Pour liquid mixture into dry mixture and stir until just combined.
- Transfer batter into cupcake liners, filling each liner ¾ full.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Let cupcakes cool in pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack until completely cool.
For the Frosting
- Using a countertop mixer, beat butter on medium speed until light and fluffy (~3 minutes).
- Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition.
- Add salt, vanilla extract and milk; mix on low speed until well combined.
- Using a double boiler or microwave, melt white chocolate. Pour melted chocolate into frosting. Beat on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, or until well combined. (Note: If you desire a looser frosting, add an additional tablespoon of milk. For a thicker frosting, add an additional ¼ cup of powdered sugar.)
- Place large Oreo cookies into a food processor or mini-chopper; pulse until finely chopped. Add chopped cookies to the frosting and mix until well combined.
- Using a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, frost each cupcake. Place a mini-Oreo in the center of each cupcake.
Looking for more Oreo cookie recipes? How about this Oreo Milkshake?
Or this Oreo Cheesecake?
One more…this Oreo Cake is always a winner in our house!
I don’t know how statisticians came up with that number but I think I’m responsible for the average being so high. It’s hard to pass up a good cookie! Or a good cupcake. Speaking of, I’ll take a dozen of these cupcakes. Not all for me of course :). (OK maybe for me but it’s Monday. I need something to get me through the rest of my day!)
Haha! So you’re saying you pull up the _worldwide_ average of cookies consumed? That’s impressive, Kelsie! But I feel ya there. I can definitely do some damage to cookies…especially when they’re homemade and warm out of the oven! I’ve got a dozen of these cupcakes set aside just for you now. 🙂
Haha – now I have the cookie monster’s voice in my head, lol. Favourite cookie? Oreo has definitely got to be up there. I love to tear apart the two pieces, lick the icing and then eat the cookie. There’s a whole process for me. These cupcakes look divine, David, and perfectly frosted. I’m definitely not good at that. But, if I had to make these and practice frosting, that’s something I’m willing to do….as long as I get to eat them all too 😉
Hey, there are far worse voices to have stuck in your head than Cookie Monster! So I like to pull Oreos apart, too, and then I eat the non-iced side while saving the iced side for last. It’s the best part, so it gets saved for the last bite! And as far as frosting, I hear ya. I like how these turned out, but I do want to spend some time one lazy afternoon (hah!) playing around with frosting cupcakes. I’m usually pretty disappointed…there is definitely an art to it! Either way, thanks, Dawn! 🙂
Dude – “C” is for “chocolate” too! And you have both chocolate + (Oreo) cookies here! Pinch me, I think I must be dreaming! Dude – that frosting! I, too, could eat it with a spoon! In fact, I think I might have to send my drone up there to chase down your curling teammates to make them give me theirs! I don’t usually eat the cupcake first and then the frosting – but, if the frosting is uber thick, I’ll slice a cupcake in half and put some of that frosting on the bottom half so I feel I’m eating 2 cupcakes – tho, minus the calories of two! Freaky how my brain works! As for eating Oreos – gah, am that annoying person who scoops off the cream off of 5 Oreos, places 4 creamless Oreos back into the packet, sandwiches all the cream together and places that in between the 5th Oreo! Oooh – now you have me dreaming of Oreos – I’m gonna have to go to the store and get me some to make these cupcakes – tho, I might end up eating ALL the frosting before the cupcakes come out of the oven. Speaking of Oreos – have you tried the new cool whip with Oreos? I brought home a tub and only got a spoonful as Lil Shashi FINISHED THE WHOLE THING!
Happy Monday David!
Ah! You make a very valid point here, Shashi. C is indeed for chocolate, so these cupcakes could be CC Cupcakes. Oh wait, cupcake starts with C, too. Oh boy. Haha! WAIT! We need to talk about you and Oreos, Shashi. I’m all about scraping the cream filling out…but you CAN”T put the unfilled cookies back in the package. That’s just wrong. Remind me to never serve Oreos when you’re around…haha! Although, to be fair, Laura has totally done the same thing whenver I make an Oreo crust for cheesecakes. I scrape the filling out and usually trash it, but I always save Laura a few cookies’ worth and then build a monster Oreo. Haha! Also, Cool Whip with Oreos? I haven’t seen that yet! We’re a little slow on the uptake here in upstate NY…but hopefully it’s coming soon! 🙂
What fun! I’m not a fan of Oreos because of that greasy filling. But I see you removed that, so maybe i’d LOVE these cupcakes!!!
Yup! The filling came out of those cookies before they got mixed into the frosting. I think the frosting tastes exactly like the inside filling of the Oreo…but no greasy feeling leftover. 🙂 Thanks, Mimi!
I cannot say oreos are my favorite cookies. Indeed, I tried them relatively recently – when I was a kid we just didn’t have any in Russia. They started to appear later on, but I was ignorant, and didn’t know I must try these famous cookies 🙂 To me, they’re quite average cookies. But they’re versatile, and I like using oreos in cooking. Also, don’t even mention this issue of disappearing cookies. Sometimes, we get a box or two of cookies thinking we would enjoy them during the week, but they are often gone…the same day! I also believe these delish cupcakes will disappear very quickly. Please send me a dozen, and I’ll provide you with the results of this experience:)
So I must ask…if Oreos aren’t your favorite cookie, then what is? Lavender Bites? You know. The ones with the Irish Cream filling inside. I bet that’s the package you go towards in the store! 🙂 But I do agree with you that Oreos are quite versatile in cooking and baking. In fact, these cupcakes turned out quite well. I would save you a dozen, but Kelsie already beat you to it! Haha! Thanks, Ben…hope your week is going well!
I love cookies, but If you ask me, which one is my favorite… well it’s difficult to decide. 🙂 But I know that Dilip and my daughter loves Oreos. BTW these cupcakes sound yummy David. 🙂 Pinned
Haha! I agree, Puja. I love all cookies, so it would be really hard for me to pick just one favorite. I mean I like Oreos a lot, but I’m not sure if I would put them at the top of the list. It’s just too hard to decide! Either way, these cupcakes turned out really well…they taste just like Oreos, but in cupcake form! 🙂
Not only do these Oreo Cupcakes look absolutely divine David, but that frosting is so expertly piped on top too. I must get practising so I can be as good as you at that. Oreos are catching on here. They’re popular, but not quite as much as some of our homegrown chocolate biscuits, but they’ll soon be up there. I was introducted to them a few years ago by my Australian cousin, Michelle. I’m mightily grateful to her for that, and to you too for these stunning delicious creations!
Haha! Well, thank you, Neil. I must admit that I’m a little surprised at the piping here, too. My piping skills usually look like something that Robbie made at school during his painting activity. 🙂 And, yes, Oreos are a classic here in the States. But I bet you could put a twist on this and make cupcakes using the chocolate biscuits over there. I wonder whether we had any of those on our trip to Scotland a couple years ago? Guess I’ll just need to come back now!
Oreo Cupcakes you always know how to make me smile. I’m a cookies and cream ice cream lover and I’ve never met an Oreo Cupcake that I didn’t like. Weirdly I don’t oreo cookies, I know it’s strange but I also know I would loves these cupcakes
Me, too, Mary! Cookies and cream is totally my go-to ice cream flavor. Laura loves trying all of the unique flavors. I like going to cookies and cream! 🙂 But that is so strange that you don’t like Oreos. Either way, give these cupcakes a shot. The frosting is so delicious!!
Oreo cupcakes sound yummy. And that frosting I think I would eat it with a spoon too, looks so delicious!
Oh, that frosting. It’s SO good, Dawn! 🙂 Thanks so much!
cookies & cream is one of my favorite frostings! this cupcakes look so good David!
Yes! Cookies & Cream is my favorite ice cream flavor, too. That’s a close race with a lot of other flavors, but when push comes to shove, I usually order Cookies & Cream. 🙂 Thanks, Manali!!
Seriously, nearly 20k cookies per American? Wow!!
I love all kinds of cookies and I’ll never turn down and Oreo, especially in this elegant pie!
I know! Doesn’t 20k cookies sounds like a lot? I dunno, though…I mean I guess a lifetime can be rather long, too. Either way, I say we put a dent in that number this weekend, ok? 🙂
These look scrumptious! I love a good oreo. I grew up on them just as much as about every other kid haha. I am kind of surprised it takes the (cup)cake for the number one cookie though, thats pretty interesting.
Anyways, that cupcake looks scrum-diddly-umptious! Great post!
P.S. the best way to eat a cupcake is take the bottom half off, put it on top and make a cupcake sandwich!
You know, I was kinda surprised that Oreo is the #1 cookie, too. But I think the difference there is that things like chocolate chip cookies (other than Chips Ahoy) aren’t really popular in the store. Everyone has their own favorite recipe, and those aren’t counted in the poll. Either way, I do love a good Oreo…and now an Oreo cupcake, too! 🙂 And I love the cupcake sammich idea. I’m totally stealing that idea for the next time I meet a cupcake!
These cupcakes look divine!!!!!
This past year they came out with a mocha Oreo cookie. Oh boy that mocha cream filling was absolutely delicious sandwiched between those chocolate cookie wafers!!!! Unfortunately they don’t make them anymore and I snatched the last few they had back at the end of January and have them stashed in my freezer for when I get that mocha craving!!!! I’m gonna go out on a limb here and add some instant coffee to the milk ( to dissolve the granules) that goes in the frosting to see if I can get that same great mocha taste!!!! Thank you so much for posting this recipe.
Hey Tammy! Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. Oh man, I don’t think I saw those Mocha Oreos, but they sound like they’re right up my alley. I love coffee-flavored desserts! They’ve been coming out with so many crazy Oreo flavors lately, too. But mocha. That one takes the (cup)cake. 🙂 So I actually love the idea of adding instant coffee to the frosting. I think the flavor will really come through! In fact, it sounds delicious! Let me know if you try it out? I’m curious now. Either way, happy baking!
I do like oreos. Have you noticed how thin they’ve become? Absurd. Your cupcakes sound wonderful.
Funny that you mention the size of Oreos, Jeff. I totally thought the same thing when I opened the pack to make these cupcakes. But have you tried the Oreo Thins? They’re actually really good!
I love Oreo! These cupcakes are simply gorgeous!
Thank you so much, Natalie! I’m a big Oreo fan, too…and I especially love baking with ’em. I really appreciate you stopping by to comment!