Oreo Owl Cupcakes (Printer-friendly)
Playful chocolate cupcakes decorated with Oreo eyes and colorful candies to create charming owl faces perfect for parties.
# What You’ll Need:
→ 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
→ Chocolate 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
→ Owl 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. 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 until well combined.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until light and fluffy. Add milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract; blend until fully incorporated.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring gently until just incorporated. Avoid overmixing for tender cupcakes.
05 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
06 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually mix in powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Add vanilla and 2 tablespoons milk; beat until fluffy and spreadable, adding more milk if needed.
07 - Generously spread or pipe frosting over completely cooled cupcakes.
08 - Carefully twist Oreos apart, keeping the cream filling on one half. Place two cream-side-up cookie halves on each cupcake to form the owl's eyes.
09 - Press one brown candy onto the center of each cream-filled eye for pupils. Position an orange or yellow candy below the eyes to create the beak.
10 - For extra character, use Oreo halves without cream positioned at the top corners to create expressive owl eyebrows.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- These are impossible to eat without smiling, which is kind of the whole point
- The decorating process is genuinely fun, not stressful, even for people who think they're bad at cute food
02 -
- Let those cupcakes cool completely before frosting or it will melt right off the top
- Twist Oreos slowly and patiently or you'll end up with cracked cookie pieces instead of clean halves
03 -
- Warm your knife slightly under hot water to make cutting Oreos in half easier if you want smaller eyes
- Press the candy eyes gently but firmly so they stick without sinking into the frosting