Paula Deen's Cookies & Cream Cupcakes

A few weeks ago I picked up Paula Deen's Best Desserts Magazine and saw this recipe and immediately put a sticky note on it.

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups whole milk
14 coarsely crushed cream-filled chocolate wafer cookies (Oreos)


Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)
Garnish: miniature cream filled chocolate wafer cookies
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 28 muffin cups with foil liners.

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with a mixer until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating just until combined after each addition. Stir in crushed cookies. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake for 16 to 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

Spread or pipe Cream Cheese Frosting evenly over cupcakes. Garnish with cookies, if desired.

Cream Cheese Frosting

(Makes 6 cups…and that is way to much. The rest is in the fridge waiting for some Carrot Cake something or other)

3/4 cup butter, softened
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
9 cups confectioners’ sugar
In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with a mixer until creamy. Beat in cream until combined. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, beating until smooth.