Summer Treats #5: Cookies & Cream Cupcakes

it seems as though every food blogger has a recipe or two for cookies & cream cupcakes.

and while i certainly am not a food blogger (primarily at least), i thought i had to add one too, because they were just to good not to share.

 i'm not going to lie to you when i say that i think these were some of the best cupcakes that i have ever had. i've always been a cookies & cream ice cream lover, and up until these, i had never tried cookies & cream in cupcake form.

my life has changed. 

 i love these because you can distinctly taste the oreos in each bite. it actually tastes like cookies & cream ice cream! Seriously in heaven.

The frosting was to die for, and it added just the right amount of contrast to the cupcake.

 did i forget to mention the best part?

looks like i did.

let's examine that double-stuff oreo crust down there. 

oh baby.

 are you convinced yet?

Cookies & Cream Cupcakes

adapted from Annie's Eats and How Sweet Eats

For the cupcakes:

24 oreo halves cream filling attached

2 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. butter, room temperature

1 2/3 c. sugar

3 egg whites, room temperature

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. milk

20 oreo cookies, chopped

line 2 cupcake tins with 24 paper liners, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. place oreo halves, cream side up, in the bottom of each liner. in a medium bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder.

in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat sugar on butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. add in egg whites one at a time, and beat until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Blend in vanilla.

With mixer on low speed, slowly add in half of the dry ingredients, then add the milk. mix on low until incorporated, then add the rest of the dry ingredients. mix to combine.

Fold in the oreos, being careful not to overmix!

pour batter evenly into the cupcake liners, covering the oreo halves.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, rotating pans halfway through.

let cool completely on a wire rack.

For the frosting:

2 sticks butter, softened

6 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1-3 tbsp. milk

beat butter until fluffy, add powdered sugar slowly. add vanilla and milk and whip until fluffy. frost over cooled cupcakes.

enjoy!