"Death by Oreo" mini cupcakes

"Death by Oreo"....not a bad way to go, if you ask me!

When I found this recipe, it called for <<gulp!>> cake mix.  But you know me, the only place for cake mix in my kitchen is for cake pops/cake balls.  So I used that one bowl chocolate cake recipe from those mini chocolate cupcakes with nutella frosting, but then followed the directions from the recipe: lay an Oreo on the bottom of the cupcake liner and add chopped Oreos to the cupcake batter.  Oh, and if that isn't enough Oreo to kill you, there are also Oreos in the icing (and for garnish, but that's optional)!  Since I made mini cupcakes, I used a snack sized Oreo in the bottom (but I did made a few full-sized ones just to make sure it worked well in a regular cupcake).

Now I have to admit, I gushed about that nutella frosting, and rightfully so.  But this Oreo frosting.....(also) amazing!  I don't know if I've said it before or not, but I'm really not a huge fan of icing.  To find two amazing icings in the span of a few days, especially for this non-icing lover, is quite impressive!  But take note: file these away forever!  I already have a request for yellow cake cupcakes with this Oreo icing.

Death by Oreo Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 package Oreo Cookies, regular size
1 package Mini Oreo Cookies, for decoration (optional)
1 package chocolate cake mix (mix according to directions on box) - you can use your favorite chocolate cake recipe if you want to make them from scratch.  I used the chocolate cake here.  I wonder if yellow cake would work...
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), room temperature
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Make chocolate cake: Mix packaged cake mix according to directions (do not bake) or prepare your cake from scratch.
Line cupcake tins with liner, place a regular size Oreo cookie in the bottom of each liner.
Take 1/2 of remaining Oreos and chop them coarsely.
Add chopped Oreos to cake mix.
Fill the cupcake tins.
Bake for 15 minutes (or according to box directions).

Make the icing:
Cream together butter and cream cheese.
Add vanilla.
Add powdered sugar slowly until blended well.
Chop remaining regular-sized Oreos very fine (I pulverized mine in the food processor until they are very fine....but make sure they are ALL fine - I had a bigger piece and it got stuck in my piping tip when I was icing the cupcakes).
Add to frosting.

Allow cupcakes to cool and then frost.  Garnish with a mini Oreo if you so choose.