Cupcakes with Oreos & M&M's

OK, I've had this cupcake obsession since I took my cake decorating classes last summer! I enjoy baking & decorating cakes, but I really like making cupcakes even better! For on they are a lot easier to decorate than an entire cake! And sometimes you don't feel quite as guilty eating a cupcake for some reason. :)

So my friend, Jenna, has been experimenting with all sorts of cupcake recipes & it has been tempting me! So I decided I needed to try some too! I just had to find some reason to make & take them somewhere because I can't make them & keep them all here! WAY TOO TEMPTING!

First, I made M&M Cupcakes because I had a big bag of M&M's sitting around that kept begging me to eat them. Instead, I just found a recipe to use them in!

M&M's on top & inside!

TIP: I learned a trick from reading some blogs...if you mix just a tablespoon of flour with the "mix-in" (M&M's, Oreos, or whatever you want to mix in the cupcake batter) before you pour it in the batter, then it will keep the "mix-in" from dropping to the bottom of the cupcake. It really worked pretty well! I just love learning tricks like that!

Next, I made these scrumptious Oreo Cupcakes...

Oreos on the top...

And Oreos in the middle AND on the bottom...YUM!

I'll post the recipes soon...I'm off to watch American Idol with my sweet husband!

***OK, it's now Thursday, & I'm posting the recipes for those who might like to try these.***

Oreo Cupcakes

ADAPTED from Beantown Baker

Cupcakes

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups flour, plus 2 Tbsp for the Oreo chunks
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 2/3 cup sugar

1/3 c. plain yogurt

1 pkg. instant white chocolate pudding

4 large eggs

1 pkg Oreo Cookies (~45 cookies)

Preheat over to 325F. Insert liners into a medium cupcake pan.

Twist apart 24 Oreos. Place the wafer with filling on it, filling side up, in the bottom of each paper liner. Cut 12 of the other wafers in half. Save these 24 halves to place in the frosting.

Crush the other wafer halves, also for garnishing.

Cut the remaining Oreo cookies into quarters with a sharp knife. Toss with 2 Tbsp flour and set aside. (This helps them not drop to the bottom of the batter.)

In a large bowl cream the butter until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the milk and vanilla and mix to combine.

In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to butter mixture. Mix until integrated. Stir in sugar. With an electric mixer on low speed, beat for 30 seconds. Turn the mixer up to medium speed and beat for 2 minutes. Add the eggs. Beat for 2 more minutes. Stir in the quartered cookies.

Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in the pan.

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz cream cheese at room temp
1 stick butter at room temp
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
4-5 cups powdered sugar

Cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy (about 3-5 minutes).

Add vanilla extract. Slowly add powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached.

Assembling the cupcakes

Once cupcakes have cooled completely, frost with cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle with crushed Oreos and place 1/2 of an Oreo on the frosting of each cupcake.

M & M's Cupcakes

1 package French Vanilla cake mix
1 package vanilla pudding mix
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup milk
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs
1/3 cup plain yogurt

1 1/4 cup M&Ms (toss 2/3 cup of M&M in 1 T. flour to keep from falling to bottom of batter)

Preheat oven to 325F.
Line two 12-cup muffin pans and one 6-cup pan with cupcake paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, flour, milk, oil, yogurt, and eggs.
Beat with an electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Then beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl once or twice with a rubber spatula.
Quickly fold in 2/3 cup M&M's and divide among muffin cups
Sprinkle a few more candies on top of each.
Bake 20 to 22 minutes, until cupcakes are fully risen and golden brown on top.
Remove and let cool.
Frost each cupcake with cream cheese frosting. (The same as the Oreo Cupcake recipe.)
Sprinkle remaining M&M's on top.

Adapted from The Cupcake Club.