Something {Baby} Blue Cupcakes!

It's a BOY!!!

Only not mine, my friends!  :)

I mentioned yesterday that I attended a baby shower over the weekend...but what I didn't tell you is that I made 48 cupcakes for the special event!  You should have seen me Saturday morning...elbow deep in powdered sugar and cream cheese frosting...desperately trying to frost those babies and get to the shower on time.  Clearly, my time management skills were lacking that morning.

Anyway...I digress!  The point is that this cupcakes turned out to be a huge hit!  The secret is the OREO!!!

Yes, these cupcakes feature half an oreo {cream side up!} on the bottom of each of them...the other half gets crushed up into the batter...and let me tell you...they are HEAVEN!

 The best part is that the oreos are soft and literally become part of the cupcake...genius!

Recipe adapted from Homemade by Holman:

{Cake}

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 2/3 cups sugar
• 3 large egg whites
• 2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 36 Oreo cookies 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 cupcake cups with liners. Separate 24 Oreos, leaving cream filling on one half. Place cream side up in the bottom of each liner. Add the other halves and remaining cookies to food processor and pulse a couple times to create large chunks. Set aside Oreo chunks.

Combine butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add egg whites, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Add milk and vanilla to a large measuring cup and stir together. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Follow with 1/2 the milk mixture, mix on low and continue alternating additions, ending with flour mixture. Stir in Oreo chunks.

Scoop batter into prepared liners, filling 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes until tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan about five minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

{Frosting}

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 T vanilla extract
• 2 T heavy cream
• 1 lb powdered sugar
• 24 Oreos for garnish {I chose sprinkles instead}

Beat butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla and cream and beat until incorporated. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating on low speed until incorporated. Increase speed to medium high and whip for 30 seconds to a minute. Fill a piping bag and pipe onto cupcakes as desired.

Garnish with an additional Oreo or Oreo halve.

If baking from scratch scares you or you just don't have time, simply buy a white cake mix and stir in the oreos...no one has to know and it's an easy shortcut.  In my opinion, the homemade frosting is what makes the difference...there is no substitute for that, my friends.

Ok, what are you waiting for?  Time to make these cupcakes and blow your families and friends away!
 

xo natasha

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