Cookies & Cream Cupcakes

I made these Cookies & Cream Cupcakes last night for the hubby to take to work with him today (to all three of his work places, actually). I wanted to try out the recipe since I was planning to use it for a bridal shower I'm baking for this weekend. I was looking for a super moist, rich chocolate cupcake that still baked up beautifully (as I've mentioned before, most moist chocolate cakes just don't deliver for me when I use them for cupcakes). I wanted something moist that wouldn't dry out overnight since I'll be baking the cupcakes for the shower the evening before to save my sanity of trying to bake and decorate 48 cupcakes the morning of a shower that starts at noon. This recipe promised to be moist and super chocolaty, so I had to give it a try!

These cupcakes were sinfully rich and moist freshly baked last night. Today they were still moist and delicious. Success! While the chocolate chocolate chip cupcakes are stellar, I must say my favorite part of these cupcakes is the cookies and cream buttercream. I'm surprised how delicious the buttercream is. I was a little concerned before I made it because it called for shortening (in addition to butter) and a full 2lb. bag of powdered sugar. I usually am more drawn to less sweet/tangy cream cheese frostings. Surprisingly though, the buttercream turned out delicious and not overly sweet. The frosting really tasted just like the center of an Oreo and these cupcakes definitely lived up to their name. When I make these for the shower this weekend, I plan to leave out the miniature chocolate chips (for a smoother surface) in the cupcakes and the crushed Oreos in the frosting. I'll be making 24 chocolate cupcakes and 24 vanilla cupcakes (in addition to Cookies & Cream Cheesecakes and Wedding Cake Sugar cookies). I'm thinking about doing half chocolate fudge frosting and half vanilla buttercream on the cupcakes. In other words, I'll be posting lots of baked goods after this weekend.

Unfortunately I've still got to decide on a vanilla cupcake recipe for the shower. I am thinking I may go with Magnolia Bakery's vanilla cupcakes.

Cookies & Cream Cupcakes
via My Baking Addiction

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
yields ~30 cupcakes

1 (15.25 oz.) package Devil's Food cake mix
1 (5.9 oz.) package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper baking cups.

In a large bowl, sift together the cake and pudding mixes. Mix in sour cream, oil, beaten eggs, and water until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into prepared cupcake pans. (I filled each cupcake with 3 tablespoons of batter.)

Bake for 20-24 minutes, until tops spring back when touched and a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cook in pans for 5 minutes before removing to a cooking rack to cool completely.

Cookies and Cream Buttercream Frosting

2 sticks of unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup shortening, at room temperature
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 lbs. powdered sugar
4-6 tablespoons very cold milk
8 crushed Oreo cookies (cream filling removed before crushing)

Cream the butter and shortening in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the salt and vanilla extract; combine well. Begin sifting in the powdered sugar in three or four parts, mixing thoroughly after each addition. After all the sugar has been added and mixed in, begin adding the milk slowly, one tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is achieved (you may not use all of the milk). Fold in the crushed Oreo cookies. Frost cooled cupcakes as desired and top each with a mini Oreo (optional).

*I had just enough frosting for the 30 cupcakes.

I used an Ateco 809 round tip to frost these cupcakes.