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Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes combine moist vanilla cupcakes with crushed Oreo cookies and a creamy, decadent frosting, making them the perfect dessert for any Oreo lover.
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 Cupcakes

Equipment

  • Stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment or electric hand mixer
  • Piping bag with Ateco 826 piping tip

Ingredients
  

Chocolate Cupcakes

  • ¼ cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup dark cocoa powder
  • ¾ cup boiling water
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Cookies and Cream Buttercream Frosting

  • 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream
  • ½ cup chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs finely ground about 5 cookies

Chocolate Ganache

  • ¼ cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream

Decoration

  • 12 mini chocolate sandwich cookies

Instructions
 

Chocolate Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
  • In a small bowl or a glass liquid measuring cup, stir together semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark cocoa powder, and boiling water until the chocolate chips are melted. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt.
  • Stir the chocolate mixture again to ensure that the chocolate chips are melted. Pour the chocolate mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk gently until just combined.
  • Add vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until the batter is well combined and smooth.
  • Portion the cupcake batter into the 12 cupcake liners. Use a large cookie scoop or pour into the cupcake liners with a large liquid measuring cup.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until the tops of the cupcakes bounce back slightly when gently touched or a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Remove the cupcakes from the oven and cool in the pan for a few minutes before transferring the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cookies and Cream Buttercream Frosting

  • In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip room temperature unsalted butter for 5 minutes on medium-high speed, scraping down the sides occasionally. The butter will become light, pale, and fluffy.
  • Add one half of the powdered sugar and mix on the lowest speed setting until fully combined. Add remaining powdered sugar and continue to mix on low until incorporated.
  • Add vanilla extract and salt and mix on low speed. Slowly drizzle in the heavy cream while the mixer is on low.
  • Increase the speed to medium-high and whip for 2-3 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure the frosting is well mixed.
  • Add the chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs and mix on low speed.

Chocolate Ganache

  • In a microwave safe bowl, combine semi-sweet chocolate chips and heavy cream.
  • Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Remove from microwave and stir.
  • Heat for an additional 15 seconds if needed and stir until the chocolate is melted and the ganache is smooth.

Assembling the Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

  • Fill a piping bag fitted with an Ateco 826 piping tip with the cookies and cream buttercream frosting.
  • Pipe a swirl of buttercream onto the cooled chocolate cupcakes.
  • Add the chocolate ganache to a small piping bag or squeeze bottle. The ganache should only be slightly warm. Drizzle the chocolate ganache over the buttercream swirl.
  • Place one Oreo cookie on top of the buttercream swirl.

Notes

Cookies and cream cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. 
 
I do not recommend making the cookies and cream buttercream frosting ahead of time. Check out my “tips” section to learn more.
Keyword Cookies and Cream Cupcakes