Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

These Cookies and Cream Cupcakes are a moist chocolate cupcake filled with Oreo cookies and topped with an Oreo buttercream frosting.

This cupcake recipe was a happy little accident (where are my Bob Ross fans???).

While working on a quick treat and browsing the pantry…

There was a brief “mind blown” moment when I found an unopened bag of Oreo cookies. That led to the brilliant idea to mash up a few and mix them in to the batter AND the frosting.

I was so not disappointed. The end result was a moist flavor packed cupcake with a dreamy cookie filled frosting.

Given five stars and two thumbs way up from my 9 year old, he has quickly deemed these his new favorite.

I can not help but agree.

How do you make a boxed cake mix taste like it is from a bakery?

One of the ways to make a quick dessert is to use a cake mix. You can add ingredients, swap some out, and get so creative. The options are endless, but these are a few of our favorite ways to make a boxed cake mix taste like it is homemade:

1. Add an extra egg. We always use 3 or 4 eggs in a cake mix. It gives it a richer flavor that is AMAZING. Especially when it’s a chocolate cake.
2. Add a little sour cream to boost the flavor.
3. Stir in a pudding mix!
4. Substitute milk for water. This recipe is better with water, but most of the time this easy switch is enough to give it a great boost.
5. Ditch the canned frosting. Opt for a homemade version. All you need is butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk or heavy cream.

How do you make cookies and cream frosting?

Ready for a crazy secret? This was made with a classic vanilla buttercream and simply folded finely crushed Oreo cookies into the mix. The result was a beautifully speckled frosting that was gorgeous on top of the cute little mini cakes.

TIP: Use a food processor or strong blender to get coarse crumbs. This will make it easier to fold into your frosting and to pipe onto the cupcakes.

Can you put an Oreo in a cupcake?

Yep. This recipe has added crushed cookies right in the batter. Alternatively, you can add one whole Oreo cookie right into the cupcake liner and top with batter. Bake as normal for a fun surprise as people eat their cakes!

Like this recipe? You will love my BEST Chocolate Cupcakes, Red Velvet Cupcakes, and Strawberry Cake Mix Cupcakes! 

How to make Cookies and Cream Cupcakes with a cake mix:

5 from 1 vote

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Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

These Cookies and Cream Cupcakes are a moist chocolate cupcake filled with Oreo cookies and topped with an Oreo buttercream frosting.

Course Dessert

Keyword cake, cake mix, chocolate, cookies, cookies and cream, cupcakes, oreo

Servings 24 Cupcakes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

• 1 (15 oz) Box devils food cake mix
• 1 (5.9 oz) box chocolate pudding
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup oil
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1-1/2 cups crushed Oreo cookies (12-15 cookies)

For the frosting:

• 2 cups unsalted butter softened
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 1-1/2 cups crushed Oreo cookies

Instructions

For the cupcakes:

1. Line 2- 12 cup muffin tins with paper liners. Preheat the oven to 350. 

2. Stir together the dry cake mix with the dry pudding mix in the bowl of an electric mixer. Stir in the eggs, oil, water, and sour cream. Fold in the 1-1/2 cups of crushed Oreo cookies.

3. Fill your cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter. Bake 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

4. Cook completely.

For the frosting:

1. Place the softened butter in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time keeping your mixer on low speed. 

2. Stir in the vanilla and heavy cream. 

3. Beat 2 minutes or until fluffy. 

4. Fold in the crushed cookies and pipe onto your cupcakes.

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