If you’re a dessert lover with a soft spot for nostalgic treats, you’re in for an absolute delight with these Cookies and Cream Cupcakes. Imagine the classic flavor of chocolate sandwich cookies swirled into soft, moist chocolate cupcakes, topped with a cloud of creamy, cookie-speckled frosting. They’re easy enough for weeknight baking but impressive enough for celebrations—pure magic in every bite!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the ingredients for Cookies and Cream Cupcakes is a breeze, and each one has a special role in creating that unmistakable flavor and texture everyone loves. Let’s break down what makes each element key to these irresistible cupcakes.
- All-purpose flour: This forms the base, delivering sturdy but tender texture to the cupcakes.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder: The secret to rich, chocolatey cake that balances sweetness with depth.
- Baking soda: Gives your cupcakes a gorgeous, domed rise and an airy crumb.
- Salt: Just a pinch brings out the other flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Granulated sugar: Adds classic sweetness and helps the cupcakes bake up soft and light.
- Brown sugar: Introduces a hint of caramel flavor and extra moisture for unbeatable tenderness.
- Vegetable oil: Keeps the cupcakes moist for days—no dry crumb here!
- Large eggs: Provide structure, richness, and help bind everything together.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the deep flavors and gives a bakery-style aroma.
- Buttermilk: Brings tang and keeps the crumb extra soft and fluffy.
- Hot water: Blooming the cocoa in hot water deepens the chocolate flavor for a luscious result.
- Chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos), crushed: The star ingredient! These bring the “cookies and cream” swirl and irresistible cookie crunch.
- Unsalted butter (for frosting): The creamy base for your dreamy, cookie-filled frosting.
- Powdered sugar (for frosting): Sweetens and fluffs up your frosting for that perfect swirl.
- Heavy cream (for frosting): Lends an ultra-smooth, luscious texture to the finished frosting.
- Vanilla extract (for frosting): Boosts the creamy, classic vanilla flavor.
- More chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed (for frosting): Sprinkled throughout the frosting for an extra punch of cookies-and-cream magic.
How to Make Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Gather Ingredients
Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners. Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature for the best mixing results—this simple step ensures your cupcakes are super tender right from the start.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
Grab a large bowl and whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Giving these a good mix ensures the leavening disperses evenly and that every bite will be beautifully chocolatey with just the right structure.
Step 3: Combine the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each, then stir in your vanilla extract. This will be deliciously smooth and glossy, setting the stage for a perfect cupcake batter.
Step 4: Alternate Dry Mixture and Buttermilk
Now, alternate adding the dry mixture and buttermilk to your wet ingredients, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix just until everything is combined—overmixing can lead to tough cupcakes, so gentle mixing here is key.
Step 5: Add Hot Water for Richness
Slowly stir in the hot water to your batter. This thins things out for just the right consistency and activates the cocoa powder, deepening the chocolate flavor. The batter will seem thin, but don’t worry—it bakes up beautifully moist.
Step 6: Fold in Crushed Cookies
Gently fold the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies into your batter. This is where the magic happens—the cookies bring that signature cookies and cream texture and their unmistakable flavor in every bite.
Step 7: Fill and Bake
Divide the batter evenly among your lined cupcake cups. Pop them in the oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for a couple of minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 8: Make the Cookies and Cream Frosting
While the cupcakes are cooling, whip up your frosting! Beat the softened butter until super creamy, then gradually add the powdered sugar. Mix in the heavy cream and vanilla extract, then stir in the finely crushed cookies for that beautiful speckled look. Frost the cooled cupcakes with a piping bag or spatula as your style prefers.
Step 9: Garnish and Enjoy
Add extra cookie crumbles or even a mini cookie on top of each cupcake for the ultimate shop-worthy finish. Grab your camera—these beauties are definitely Instagram material!
How to Serve Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
Garnishes
The most delightful way to garnish Cookies and Cream Cupcakes is with a dusting of extra crushed cookies scattered over the frosting. For an extra-special touch, press a mini chocolate sandwich cookie or half a cookie right into the top before serving. The dark cookie flecks in the creamy frosting look as inviting as they taste!
Side Dishes
Balance out the sweetness of your Cookies and Cream Cupcakes by serving them with a tall, ice-cold glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For a party platter, offer fresh berries—their tartness is a bright contrast to all that chocolatey richness.
Creative Ways to Present
Transform your Cookies and Cream Cupcakes into show-stopping desserts by layering them in a trifle with whipped cream and more cookie pieces, or arrange them on a tiered stand for birthdays and brunches. Mini cupcake versions make perfect lunchbox treats or party favors wrapped in cellophane with a ribbon.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Cookies and Cream Cupcakes will stay moist and delicious for up to two days at room temperature in an airtight container. If you want to keep them longer, pop them in the refrigerator, where they’ll keep their freshness for up to five days. The cookie bits in the frosting stay surprisingly crisp!
Freezing
If you want to get ahead, you can freeze unfrosted cupcakes in a zip-top bag or airtight container for up to three months. The frosting can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for up to a week, or frozen as well—just give it a good mix before using.
Reheating
To bring that just-baked taste back, let your cupcakes come to room temperature if they were refrigerated or frozen. For a bakery-warm effect, you can microwave each cupcake (unfrosted) for about 8 to 10 seconds—just enough to soften it gently—then top with frosting just before serving.
FAQs
Can I make these Cookies and Cream Cupcakes without eggs?
Yes, for an egg-free version, substitute each egg with 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or plain Greek yogurt. You’ll still get a fluffy, moist cupcake with all that cookies and cream flavor.
What’s the best way to crush the cookies?
For easy, even crumbs, toss your cookies into a zip-top bag and use a rolling pin to gently crush them. For the frosting, you’ll want fine crumbs so they pipe smoothly, but for the batter, bigger chunks create fun bursts of texture.
Can I use store-bought frosting?
You can absolutely shortcut with store-bought vanilla frosting—just stir in your own crushed cookies to make it taste homemade! But whipping up the from-scratch version really makes these cupcakes stand out.
How do I make mini Cookies and Cream Cupcakes?
Simply divide the batter between mini cupcake wells, filling about two-thirds full. Bake at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. They’re perfect for parties or lunchboxes!
Can I add a filling to these cupcakes?
Absolutely! Try hollowing out the center of each cooled cupcake and filling with a spoonful of cookies and cream filling or chocolate ganache before topping with frosting. It takes them completely over the top.
Final Thoughts
Baking up a batch of Cookies and Cream Cupcakes is always cause for celebration, whether you’re treating yourself or sharing with friends. Each bite is a nostalgic trip down memory lane with the comforting flavors of chocolate and cookies, all wrapped up in a handheld treat. Give them a try—you’ll be the star of your next gathering or enjoy a little everyday luxury right at home!
