Chocolate Oreo Cupcakes

My Mom is a chocolate freak.  I really think she could find a way to live on chocolate alone if we'd let her.  So, when her anniversary came up, it was a simple choice.  We needed a chocolate cupcake.  Then, I found a recipe that was chocolate and included Oreos.  JACKPOT!!!  The hardest thing about these cupcakes was making certain there were enough Oreos since I have two chocoholics in training.  Oh, for the icing, if you're wanting to pipe it out, using fancy tips, make certain to smash the heck out of the cookies or they will clog the opening.  Or just be lazy like me and glob the very yummy icing on the cupcakes.  These cupcakes were well received. even if they used a cake mix.  Miss Mia actually ate the entire cupcake and not just the icing.

Chocolate Oreo Cupcakes
~ adapted from instructables.com


Cake
1 package chocolate cake mix
1 package Oreos

Frosting
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
3 3/4 powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix cake mix according to directions (I, as usual substituted unsweetened applesauce for the required oil).   In the bottom of each cupcake liner, place one Oreo cookie.  I then placed 2/3 of the remaining Oreos in mixer and let the mixing paddle smash the cookies up.  Or, if you feel a little angry, maybe take a rolling pin, fill a baggie with the cookies and smash them this way.  Dump them in the cake batter, and mix them up.

Fill the cupcake liners with cake mix.  Bake for approx 20 minutes at 350 (refer to cake mix for appropriate times), or until cupcakes are done.

Let cupcakes cool.  While cupcakes are cooling, mix frosting.  Again, I just let the mixer break up the Oreos, but I didn't pipe the frosting on my cupcakes, just lobbed it on with a knife.  Cream together the butter and cream cheese.  Slowly add the powdered sugar.  Add vanilla.  Finally, add cookies.

Enjoy!

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