Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

Yield: 24 cupcakes
Ingredients:
For the cupcakes:
24 Oreo halves, with cream filling attached
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
8 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 2/3 cup sugar
3 large egg whites, at room temperature
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup milk
20 Oreo cookies, coarsely chopped (I quarter them)

For the frosting:
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
6 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2 tbsp. heavy cream

For garnish:
Oreo cookie crumbs
24 Oreo cookie halves

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line the wells of two cupcake pans with 24 paper
liners. Place an Oreo halve in the bottom of each liner, cream side up. In a
medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt; stir together with a
fork to blend and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the
butter and sugar and beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy,
about 2 minutes. Blend in the egg whites one at a time, beating well after each
addition. Blend in the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, beat in
half of the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Add the milk and beat just
until combined, then mix in the remaining dry ingredients. Gently fold in the
chopped Oreos with a rubber spatula until evenly incorporated, being careful not
to over-mix.

Evenly divide the batter between the prepared cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20
minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking, until a toothpick inserted in
the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then
transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the frosting, combine the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an
electric mixer and beat on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute.
Blend in the vanilla extract. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar until
incorporated and smooth, 1-2 minutes. Add the heavy cream to the bowl and beat
on medium-low speed just until incorporated, then increase the speed to
medium-high and whip for 4 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down the
sides of the bowl as needed.

Frost the cooled cupcakes as desired. Sprinkle with Oreo crumbs and garnish
with Oreo halves.