Week 14: Oreo Cupcakes

Cupcake liners Galore!

First, look, you must look, at the treasures that some of the sweet girls that I work with got for me. Ever had some sweetness come your way and you had absolutely no idea it was coming? That was today. These cute girls all chipped in and got me the most adorable selection of cupcake liners because they know how much I love cupcakes and that I like the liners even more. I also think because they are loving "Cupcake Thursday" at work. Makes my heart happy. I am blessed in so many ways.

2 packs of Oreos. You heard me.

Oreos in a sleeping bag. I have camping on the brain.

Delicious surprise at the bottom of each one.

If I was going to eat all 24 cupcakes myself, I would have licked the filling off of these pieces. Who wouldn't?!

These have camping written all over them. In a good way.

Oreos look good for being 100 years old.

I was going to skip this week because I am off work tomorrow and my guys are leaving tomorrow for a fishing trip. In my head I was thinking how would I eat 24 cupcakes all by myself. Well, I am more than certain I could accomplish such a thing but couldn't make up a good enough story about where all the cupcakes went. I mentioned this to my better half and he kind of seemed disappointed in me. He mentioned that they could take these cupcakes on their trip and that I was slacking by taking a week off. Sheesh, hate to be a disappointment to those I love.

So after thinking about what boys might like and what might travel well I decided on Oreo Cupcakes. They remind me of camping but in a good way, if that's even possible. I guess the "idea" of camping. Camping with a bonfire, in a cabin with running, hot water, a bathroom, cool, not humid temperatures, no rain, no raccoons waking me up at night, and no mosquitoes. Most definitely not the kind of camping my parents tried to do when we were growing up. I still have nightmares about being in a tent, pouring rain, an outhouse, and dirty showers. It scarred me for life. I haven't been camping since. We all have burdens we must bear from childhood. I know my parents meant well.

I decided to go super simple with these. Sometimes less is more. Here is the recipe.

Cupcake

1 French Vanilla Super Moist Cake Mix
2 packs of delicious Oreos ( you might not need 2 packs but that depends on how many you eat when you are baking these). I refuse to divulge the exact number I may have eaten.

Simple Vanilla Frosting

1 cup unsalted butter
3 cups of powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 tbsp. milk or cream

Make cake according to directions. Place a half of an Oreo (the side with the filling) in the bottom of the cupcake liner. Crush the top part of the Oreo in a food processor, some course, some very fine. I put about 6-8 Oreos chopped course into the batter. Place batter in liner to about 2/3 full. Bake for approximately 15-18 minutes until done.

For the frosting, mix the butter and powdered sugar on low until mixed together in a stand mixer with beater. Beat on medium high for 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and milk or cream. Mix well.
This frosting is really, really good. I will use it again, for sure.

I used an offset spatula and covered the top of the cooled cupcake then "dunked" them in cookie crumbs. Add a half of Oreo on top. The Oreo baked inside is a delicious surprise. For being so super simple to make, these are super good to eat.