Oreo Owl Cupcakes (Printable)
Decorated chocolate cupcakes featuring Oreo eyes, candy pupils, and playful owl faces for a delightful dessert.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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
→ 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
→ Decoration
16 - 24 Oreo cookies (double-stuffed preferred)
17 - 24 brown chocolate candies for pupils
18 - 12 orange or yellow chocolate candies for beaks
# 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 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. 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 eyebrows.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These look like you spent hours at a fancy bakery but come together in under an hour with zero special skills
- The chocolate on chocolate combination is foolproof and universally beloved by both kids and adults
- You get to play with your food while decorating and nobody can judge you because its part of the recipe
02 -
- Twisting Oreos apart takes practice and about half will break at first so buy an extra package
- Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting or the butter will melt and your decorations will slide right off
- Work relatively quickly once you start decorating because the frosting will form a slight crust that makes candies hard to attach
03 -
- Set up a little assembly line with all your decorations sorted into small bowls before you start
- Wipe down your kitchen shears with hot water between cutting different candies to prevent color transfer
- Make these a day ahead and store in the refrigerator then let them come to room temperature 30 minutes before serving