Hiding an Oreo cookie inside a cupcake is a fun way to surprise everyone when you serve cupcakes for dessert. These Peanut Butter Oreo Cupcakes have plenty of peanut butter and chocolate to satisfy anyone's sweet tooth.
Usually I am totally a box mix kind of girl when it comes to cupcakes, but lately I have been playing around with some homemade versions in my kitchen. It all started with these Vanilla Cherry Pie Cupcakes, and now I am slightly hooked on trying to come up with some new versions based on that recipe.
Now for all you fans of boxed cake mixes...do not worry!!! I have not given up on my favorite box mixes. There will be plenty of cupcake and cookie love from those boxes around here. I have not completely gone all homemade on you. Believe me, I still believe in the art of semi-homemade baking.
Have you seen the new Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Oreos? (I think these were a special one)
I searched high and low until I found a few packages in our town. I also came across some Oreo minis that said Reese's too. Of course those had to come home with me too. And then I teased you all on Instagram with this picture of Oreo cookie goodness 🙂
I knew that I wanted to make something with them, but what?
I kept one package of these special cookies hidden inside our cupboards until I came up with the idea of baking them in a cupcake. Hiding things inside cupcakes is nothing new here. Many years ago, I made these Oreo Truffle Surprise Cupcakes, and now I almost always have to put something into the bottom of a cupcake.
Just a few tweaks to the homemade vanilla cupcake recipe, and I came up with a delicious peanut butter cupcake recipe for you.
Make sure you do bake them the full 25 minutes. Believe me I should know this! I had to throw an entire batch out because I figured these ones would bake the same time as the vanilla. Boy was I every wrong!!! Adding peanut butter definitely changes the baking time of cupcakes.
The next batch I slowly baked a few at a time, adjusting the time a little more each time until I was happy with the texture and look of the cupcakes. Also make sure you fill the liners almost completely full of batter. Yes, almost to the very top of the liner!!! Do not worry, they will not bake over into your oven. They bake up puffy and then will settle just slightly after they come out of the oven.
After they cool, you can pipe these Fluffy Chocolate Frosting on the tops. It is so good, you just might eat a few spoonfuls before you realize what you are doing. Just saying that might happen!
Add a tiny peanut butter Oreo to the top for decoration. Then hand them out and wait for the smiles when everyone realizes you hid a full Oreo in the bottom too!
Recipe
Peanut Butter Oreo Cupcakes
Homemade peanut butter cupcakes topped with chocolate frosting and a hidden Oreo cookie are fun cupcakes to enjoy for dessert or for any party.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup peanut butter
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 ¼ cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cups buttermilk
- 1 package Reese's PB Cup Oreo Cookies (24 cookies)
- 30 small Peanut Butter Oreo cookies
For the Chocolate Frosting
- 1 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup cocoa powder (I used half regular/half dark cocoa)
- ½ cup whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 24 cupcake liners in a muffin tin.
- Beat the butter and sugars until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again. Add the peanut butter and beat until creamy.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Add alternately with the buttermilk until everything is combined. Beat the mixture for 1 minute on medium speed.
- Place one large cookie in the bottom of each cupcake liners. Spoon batter over the top of the cookie and fill the liners almost to the top. (You should have enough batter left for 5-6 plain cupcakes as well.) The cupcakes will not bake over, so make sure the liners are very full.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let sit in the hot pan for 1 minute, then remove to a wire rack. Let cool completely.
- Beat the butter until creamy. Add the vanilla and salt.
- Stir together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder and add alternately with the whipping cream until everything has been mixed in.
- Beat on high for a minute or two until the frosting thickens and becomes fluffy. Pipe onto the cooled cupcakes.
- Top each cupcake with a small Oreo cookie. Store covered in a container on the counter for a few days.
Notes
*Use peanut butter Oreo cookies if you cannot find the special Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Oreos.
**You can bake these without the cookies as well. Just make sure to fill the liners almost to the top before baking.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 30 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 419Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 353mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 1gSugar: 32gProtein: 6g
More fun filled cupcakes that everyone will enjoy biting into:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Heather
Your cupcakes look perfectly moist! My daughter just asked me for a pb cake for her bday - I wondered if this batter would work for a layer cake. Have you tried it or do you have a different scratch pb cake recipe? Bday is tomorrow!! 🙂 Thanks!
Jocelyn
I haven't tried this as a regular cake, but I'm sure it would work just fine. What size pan are you wanting to bake it in?
Jodie Brite
Looks yummy! Can you substitute a box cake mix in this recipe?
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you! Yes, you can totally use a box mix if you prefer. Here is another peanut butter cupcake recipe where I jazzed up a box mix.https://insidebrucrewlife.com/reeses-fluffernutter-cupcakes/
Hayley+@+The+Domestic+Rebel
Cookies, cupcakes and peanut butter & chocolate? YES PLEASE! That frosting -- just pass me the spoon.
Lyuba@willcookforsmiles
This is awesome, Jocelyn!! I love your surprise cupcakes 🙂 (I must find those PB Oreos!)
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Lyuba! 🙂
Chels+R.
Really??? How do you come up with this stuff! Amazing =)
Jocelyn Brubaker
Hehe, thanks Chels!
Michelle @My California Kitchen
I've been looking for a good peanut butter cupcake recipe to satisfy my insatiable peanut butter craving! Can't wait to try these.
Jocelyn Brubaker
These would be the perfect choice! 😉 Thanks Michelle!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain
I would be so happy to find a surprise cookie inside my cupcake! Especially if it's an oreo! 😀 Jocelyn this is a fabulous idea; I'll have to try something like this with all those holiday oreos as they come out in the next few months!
Krystle
Ahh I love everything about these! The chocolate frosting looks to die for!
I have been loving the Reese's oreos, but had no idea that had minis too! Those are going to be Dangerous!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Dangerous is right! 😉 Thanks Krystle!