Oreo Owl Cupcakes (Printable View)
Chocolate cupcakes decorated as playful owls using Oreos, creamy frosting, and colorful candy details.
# What You Need:
→ For the Cupcakes
01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1 tsp baking powder
04 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
05 - 1/4 tsp salt
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
08 - 1/2 cup milk
09 - 1/3 cup vegetable oil
10 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ For the Frosting
11 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
13 - 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
14 - 2-3 tbsp milk
15 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
→ For Decoration
16 - 24 Oreo cookies (double-stuffed preferred)
17 - 24 brown chocolate candies for pupils
18 - 12 orange or yellow chocolate candies for beaks
# How To Make It:
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 tbsp 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 -
- The combination of rich chocolate cake and buttery frosting tastes way more impressive than the simple prep time suggests
- People literally gasp when they see the finished owls lined up on a serving platter
- Kids can handle almost all of the decorating themselves, which makes this perfect for baking together
02 -
- Twisting Oreos apart slowly instead of pulling keeps the cream attached to one cookie half
- Completely cool cupcakes before decorating or the frosting will melt into puddles
- Double stuffed Oreos give you more cream surface area, which makes placing the eyes easier
03 -
- Keep a few extra Oreos handy since some will inevitably break during separation
- Use clean tweezers for placing tiny candies if your fingers are too large
- Work with one cupcake at a time once you start decorating to prevent frosting from crusting over