Guess what I made this week? Cupcakes! But not just any ol’ cupcake…I made Oreo ‘Surprise Inside’ Mini Cupcakes! OMG so good! Take a chocolate cupcake, and make some Oreo buttercream to mound on top, then pop a mini Oreo cookie on top of it all. Pausing to visualize and drool? Well, stop drooling and start eating! (News flash: recipe below!)

And…there was a surprise inside of the cupcake! Have you heard of this trend? Basically, you bake a treat into the cupcake. ‘Surprise Inside’ usually doesn’t refer to a filling in a cupcake (although it can), but something more, something a bit unexpected…like a cookie baked into a cupcake!

Step 1: Fill 'er Up!

Oreo Surprise Inside Mini Cupcakes

1/2 batch chocolate cake batter
1 batch Oreo Buttercream Frosting (recipe below)
50 mini Oreo cookies (24 cookies for inside the cupcakes, 24 cookies for on top of the cupcakes, plus two for snacking. What, you think your willpower will hold out when faced with Oreos? Yes? Good for you! Me, not going to happen.)

Mix up batter. Place mini cupcake liners in a mini cupcake tray. Fill cupcake liners half full with batter. Place mini Oreo cookie on top of batter. Top up each cupcake liner with more cake batter, until a smidgen below the top of the liner. Cookie may float a bit, but that’s ok.

Step 2: It's All Good!

Bake in a 350 degree oven until set and the top of the cupcake bounces back when pressed gently with a finger. Cool. You may notice a slightly differently coloured part on the top of the cupcake if your cookie floated while baking; that’s ok!

Step 3: Mix Up Some Frosting

Oreo Buttercream Frosting

1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. shortening
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. milk
about 1 c. icing sugar, or more to taste
20 mini Oreo cookies

Mix butter and shortening together until…mixed. Add in icing sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. Whip until super-fluffy and then whip some more (that’s how you get that super-fluffy bakery style frosting; don’t worry if you think it’s too fluffy, as it’ll firm up later, especially if you chill it). Stir in 20 crushed mini Oreo cookies (crush in a Ziploc bag with a rolling pin). Taste test but try not to eat the entire thing with a spoon. And voila! Oreo Buttercream Frosting (oh, those sweet, sweet words!) is done!

Step 4: Frost and Enjoy!

Fit a piping bag with a round piping tip, and fill with Oreo buttercream. Make sure you do not use a fine piping tip, because Oreo crumbs will block the tip (ask me how I know) and pipe on cooled cupcakes. Top frosted cupcakes with another mini Oreo cookie. And voila! An impressive mini dessert that tastes as good as it looks!

Great for Valentine's Day treats, gifts to the loved one...or some good ol' self love!

For a sweet Kitchen Hack and other info, check out the original blog post.