Oreo Owl Cupcakes (Printable View)
Chocolate cupcakes decorated as playful owls with creamy frosting and Oreo cookies for a whimsical dessert.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Cupcakes
01 - 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup (50 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
08 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk
09 - 1/3 cup (80 ml) vegetable oil
10 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ For the Frosting
11 - 1/2 cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
12 - 1 1/2 cups (190 g) powdered sugar
13 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
14 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
15 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ For Decoration
16 - 24 Oreo cookies (double-stuffed preferred)
17 - 24 brown chocolate candies (such as M&Ms) for pupils
18 - 12 orange or yellow chocolate candies for beaks
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract; blend until combined.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring until just incorporated.
05 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
06 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually mix in powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Add vanilla and 2 tablespoons milk; beat until fluffy, adding more milk if needed for spreading consistency.
07 - Frost cooled cupcakes generously.
08 - Carefully twist Oreos apart, keeping cream on one side for owl eyes. Place two halves cream-side up on each cupcake.
09 - Press a brown candy on each eye for pupils. Position an orange or yellow candy below the eyes as the beak. Optionally, use Oreo halves without cream on top corners as owl eyebrows.
10 - Serve and enjoy your whimsical owl cupcakes.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These are the cupcakes that disappear first at every party, partly because they are cute but mostly because the chocolate on chocolate combination is seriously irresistible
- Kids go absolutely wild for them, and adults will pretend they are taking one for the children while secretly excited about eating an owl themselves
02 -
- Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting or your buttercream will melt right off and you will have a sad mess instead of adorable owls
- Twist Oreos slowly and carefully to keep the cream attached to one cookie half, otherwise you will have to use frosting to build up the eyes which takes much longer
03 -
- Double stuffed Oreos are absolutely worth buying here because the extra cream creates much better looking owl eyes
- Bring all ingredients to room temperature before starting, especially the butter for frosting, or you will end up with lumpy buttercream that never gets smooth