Oreo Cupcakes.

I realize St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow & with a name like Kerry & a somewhat Irish heritage, I should probably be posting something dyed green or spiked with Bailey's. 

About that.

I forgot St. Patrick's day was this month I made these instead. 

I suppose you could always spike them with Bailey's if you really wanted to be festive.

It took me a long time to jump on board the cupcake trend. At the time, they seemed like a lot of work compared to baking cookies & I'm not really one for fancypants decorating & frosting tips. 

Also I just really love cookies.

These cupcakes are a little bit of both and were so much fun to make. I used the recipe for the ultimate chocolate cupcakes I made earlier this year, but resisted the urge to stuff them with ganache.

Maybe next time.

And want to know a secret? 

They're baked with a double stuffed Oreo cookie on the bottom!

They get kind of soft & dreamy & cake-like in the oven. 

And the cookies & cream whipped cream frosting? 

Why yes, I did could eat it with a spoon for breakfast. 

Side note: Never turn a mixer full of whipping cream & powdered sugar on full-on high unless you feel like cleaning your entire kitchen. We're talking counters, floors, and ceiling, people. Sigh. Wonder who did that.  

Unrelated side note: Meet my newest love.

Oreo Cupcakes

Printable Recipe

Cupcakes 
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa
3/4 cup hot, strong-brewed coffee
3/4 cup bread flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
15 Oreo halves, with cream filling attached

Frosting 
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons whipping cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons Oreo cookies, finely crushed
15 Oreos for the top of each cupcake

Preheat oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. Twist Oreos in half and set aside the extra cookies for later. Place the side with cream filling in the bottom of each cupcake liner, cream-side facing up.

Place chocolate and cocoa in a medium bowl and pour the hot coffee over the mixture. Whisk until smooth and transfer to the refrigerator to cool completely, 20-30 minutes.

Whisk flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda together in a medium bowl; set aside. 

Whisk oil, eggs, vanilla, and vinegar into the cooled chocolate mixture until smooth. Add flour mixture and whisk until batter is smooth.

Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake until cupcakes are set and firm to the touch, 17-20 minutes. Allow to cool in pans 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting. 

For the frosting, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed until the whipped cream holds stiff peaks. Gently fold in the cooke crumbs with a spatula.

Scoop the mixture into a pastry bag and pipe on top of the cupcakes (I used a Wilton #1M tip for these cupcakes). Garnish with Oreo cookies.

Makes 15 cupcakes.

Source: Cupcake recipe from Cook's Illustrated, May/June 2010. Whipped cream frosting from Annie's Eats.