Friday, May 11, 2012

ALL about the OREOS Cupcakes

I LOVE Oreos; however, I rarely let myself indulge in them.  When I do indulge, I like to incorporate them into dessert recipes. One of my favorite desserts of all time is ice cream pie with an Oreo cookie crust. I was contemplating making one the other day when I thought of how amazing a cupcake would taste with the same Oreo crust instead of the usual and boring paper cupcake wrapper. Eager to see if it would work, I created this recipe for ALL about the OREO Cupcakes. These cupcakes are made of Oreo cake batter scooped into an Oreo crumb crust. A sweet frosting reminiscent of Oreo cream filling is speckled with Oreo crumbles and swirled on top. The result is a decadent and delicious cupcake LOADED with Oreo flavor, the perfect partner to a cold glass of milk!
This recipe is different then most cake recipes in the way it is mixed together.  Instead of creaming the butter and sugar together first as most recipes do, this recipe calls for mixing all the dry ingredients and slowly incorporating the wet ingredients into the mix.  The batter looks weird in the first few steps, but comes together beautifully by the end, and the result is delicious! 
Cake:
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3/4 cups milk
3/4 cups softened butter (1 1/2 sticks)
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
16 crushed Oreos (I pulsed mine in the food processor and left some large chunks)

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Add 3/4 cup milk and shortening.  Beat until well blended.  Add the additional 1/2 cup milk, 3 eggs, and vanilla.  Beat for 2 minutes.  Add crushed Oreos.
 Fold Oreos in the batter until fully incorporated. Set batter aside.
OREO Crust:
30 Oreos (crushed finely)
1/2 stick of butter (melted)

Pulse around 30 Oreos in a food processor until they are turned into very fine crumbs.
Melt 1/2 stick of butter and add to the Oreo crumbs.
Thoroughly mix the melted butter into the crumbs until it forms a cookie crumb dough.
Spray each cavity of the cupcake pan with Pam. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP.  Spraying it with Pam ensures that these cupcakes slide out beautifully after baking!  Divide the crumbs into the cupcake molds (should be able to get around 20-24).
Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and sides of each cupcake form.  This takes a little time and patience but the result is awesome!  Don't press the crumbles to the very top, leave some space, as the Oreo crust rises quite a bit as it bakes.  Don't stress too much about making it perfect, just try and make sure there are no holes around the sides.
Scoop batter into Oreo Crusts.  I used a small ice cream scoop to fill mine.  You should have enough batter to fill about 2 dozen Oreo crusts.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes depending on your oven.  The tops of the cupcakes should spring back slightly when they are cooked through.
The cupcakes take on a somewhat rustic look when cooked inside of the Oreo crusts which I think makes for a unique and surprising cupcake.  If you want a more traditional look, you can bake the same batter in regular cupcake liners.  The Oreo crust; however, bakes up to a create a nice chocolate casing around the moist cake, combining a crunchy and soft texture with each bite...I highly suggest you give it a try!
Frosting:
1 1/2 lbs of Confectioner's sugar (1 1/2 boxes)
1 1/2 sticks of softened butter
1/2 cup fluff
2-3 tbsp of milk
About 14 Oreos (finely crushed)

Combine the first 3 ingredients in the mixer and beat until smooth.  Add milk until desired consistency is reached.  Stir in Oreo crumbs until completely combined.
I decided to just cut a whole in the top of my pastry bag and frost these without a tip because I think it added to the rustic charm of these cupcakes.  You can fancy them up with different piping techniques if you prefer.
A few extra Oreo crumbles or possibly a mini Oreo on top completes this delicious cupcake.
I forgot to get a picture of inside the inside of the  cupcake (Silly, I know!), but it is very beautifully speckled with Oreo bits.  The vanilla base really allows you to taste the Oreo, cream and all, instead of overpowering you with chocolate as most Oreo Cupcake recipes do.
These are delicious!  This cupcake tastes like you are eating an OREO but in a much more decadent way.  Make up your own batch and experience the AMAZING results of making a cupcake ALL about the OREOS! (=