Oreo Owl Cupcakes Recipe 445

Steps:

• The photo is pretty much self explanatory for assembling cupcakes but basic directions are below. Bake and cool cupcakes. They need to be flat on top so trim off any excess straight across with a sharp paring knife before frosting. Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting. In the meantime, while cupcakes are cooling, prepare the Oreos by separating them in the middle to expose the filling on one half, leaving the other half clean. (A slight twist should work.) You will need 2 frosted halves and 1 clean half (cut in half), plus 2 brown candies and 1 orange (or yellow) candy for each cupcake. I recommend preparing all the cookies and attaching the brown candy "eyes" to the frosted halves (just press slightly into the filling) BEFORE you start assembling the cupcakes. Assemble the cupcakes. (Refer to photo for placement.) As I finished each cupcake I placed it in the refrigerator to set the frosting while I worked on the others. HOOT, HOOT!!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners.
• Combine 2 cups sugar, flour, 1 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a bowl.
• Whisk buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Add flour mixture; mix until well-combined. Pour in hot water; stir until batter is smooth. Divide batter evenly among muffin tins.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 12 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Whip 3/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoon heavy cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold in 1 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese, 7 tablespoons cocoa powder, and 1/4 cup sugar gently to make frosting.
• Spread 1 tablespoon frosting over each cooled cupcake.
• Twist chocolate sandwich cookies open, leaving all cream filling on 1 side. Place 2 cookies, cream filling-side up, on each cupcake to make owl eyes. Place a brown milk chocolate piece on each cookie to create pupils. Insert an orange or yellow milk chocolate piece in the center to make a beak.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Fold in crushed cookies., Fill prepared cups three-fourths full. Bake 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. , In a large bowl, combine butter, confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla; beat until smooth. Fold in cookie crumbs. Pipe or spread frosting over cupcakes. If desired, sprinkle with additional cookie crumbs and garnish with mini Oreo cookies.