Milk's Favorite Cupcake!

Hi. My name is J and I'm a bake-a-holic!
(You guys say in unison) "Hello J"

Well its true!! Baking is one thing that I am pretty good at or so I've been told. I think it goes back to my childhood and seeing my grandma in the kitchen. I was always so fascinated with watching her cook. At the ripe age of 4, I was standing on a step stool beside her learning how to season a bird and snipping the ends off of fresh green beans.

My grandma gave me my first cook book. Fast forward 20 something years later and now I am writing my own recipes!! It's something that's fun and relaxing for me. And the Hubs certainly enjoys my hobby. I am always experimenting my newest creations on him and his co workers!

I've been on a cupcake kick for a while now....with hopes and dreams of owning my own cupcake shop one day, I am often thinking of new and creative twists on classic cupcake recipes.

Last night was my night to bring the snack to our Thursday night growth group, so I decided I wanted to try out a new cupcake recipe. I wanted to do a fall themed cupcake and I was stumped for ideas. I finally decided on a caramel apple cupcake...but then I realized I wouldn't have the time to get the ingredients needed for such a fun cupcake. Instead, I went to one of my favorite baking blogs http://www.beantownbaker.com and saw a recipe for Oreo cupcakes....ummmm yum!!! Hubs loves Oreos too so thought it would be awesome to try out.


Oreo Cupcakes - makes 24

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups flour, plus 2 Tbsp for the Oreo chunks
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 2/3 cup sugar
3 large egg whites, at room temperature
1 pkg Oreo Cookies (45 cookies)

Preheat over to 350F. Insert liners into a medium cupcake pan.

Twist apart 24 Oreos. Place the wafer with filling on it, filling side up, in the bottom of each paper liner. Cut other wafers in half. Save 24 halves to place in the frosting. Crush the other wafer halves, also for garnishing.

Cut the remaining Oreo cookies into quarters with a sharp knife. Toss with 2 Tbsp flour and set aside.

In a large bowl cream the butter until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the milk and vanilla and mix to combine.

In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to butter mixture. Mix until integrated. Stir in sugar. With an electric mixer on low speed, beat for 30 seconds. Turn the mixer up to medium speed and beat for 2 minutes. Add the egg whites. Beat for 2 more minutes. Stir in the quartered cookies.

Fill the cupcake lines three-quarters full. Bake for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in the pan.

Frosting
8 oz cream cheese at room temp
1 stick butter at room temp
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
3-4 cups powdered sugar

Cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy.

Add vanilla extract. Slowly add powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached.

Assemble the cupcakes
Once cupcakes have cooled completely, frost with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle with crushed Oreos and place 1/2 of an Oreo on the frosting of each cupcake.

And Wa-Laa.....



They were really fun to make and a hit at group!!