Cake Day Returns

The Boy’s office Cake Day rolled around again and this year I was determined to be more prepared. So this summer, I thought about two yummy things that, combined, would likely make an incredibly yummy cupcake:

After reading other bloggers’ experiments, I had a pretty good idea of how to make my cupcake dream a reality.

• 1 chocolate cake mix
• 1 package Oreos (original)
• 1 c. unsalted butter, softened
• 6-8 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 t. vanilla extract

Prepare cake batter according to package instructions.

Split 30 Oreos, saving tops for later use. Set half with filling aside for next step.

Place scant teaspoonful of cake batter in cupcake liner. Top batter with bottom half of Oreo. (Why put cake batter in first? It keeps the cupcake’s cookie bottom from sticking to the liner paper!)

Add enough cake batter until the liner is 2/3 full.

Bake the cupcakes according to package instructions.

While the cupcakes are baking, work on the icing. Place the butter in a large mixing bowl. Add 4 cups of the sugar and then the vanilla. On medium speed of an electric mixer, beat until smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition (about 2 minutes), until the icing is thick enough to be of good spreading consistency. You may not need to add all of the sugar. Crush Oreo tops (reserved from earlier) until a fine powder. Stir into frosting until mixed well.

* Note – I adapted this from the famous Magnolia Bakery Vanilla Buttercream Frosting recipe. I changed it by removing the milk, making the frosting more Oreo-cookie-fillingish. As well, if you’re making this project over the course of several days, you can prepare the frosting up to 3 days in advance. Icing can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Do not refrigerate or the icing will set!

Now, my recipe ended up making 28 cupcakes instead of the 24 that the box promised. No worries. I was sending them off to Cake Day.

To decorate, pipe the icing onto the cupcakes in whatever creative pattern you’d like. I used a Wilton’s decorating tip 1M. I simply piped it on in concentric circles, starting on the outside of the cupcake working towards the center.

To give a polished look, top the cupcake with a cute bite-size Oreo.

Too fun!!