Name: Owl Cupcakes
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 62 min
Ingredients: 2 cups white sugar; 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted; 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 0.5 teaspoon baking soda; 1 cup buttermilk; 0.5 cup vegetable oil; 2 eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup hot water; 0.75 cup heavy whipping cream; 1.5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream; 1.5 cups mascarpone cheese; 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese; 7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder; 0.25 cup white sugar; 48 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreo®); 48 brown candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's®); 24 orange or yellow candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's®)

Owl Cupcakes

4.8

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Looking for fun ideas for a kid's birthday party, a bake sale, or to celebrate Halloween? Try these cute owl cupcakes that are extremely easy to make. All you need are cookies, some M&Ms, and a little creativity!

Recipe by Nesrine

Updated on August 22, 2022

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

12 mins

Additional Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 2 mins

Servings:

Yield:

24 cupcakes

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

2 cups white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup hot water

Frosting:

¾ cup heavy whipping cream
1 ½ tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 ½ cups mascarpone cheese
2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup white sugar

Decoration:

48 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreo®)
48 brown candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's®)
24 orange or yellow candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's®)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners.
Combine 2 cups sugar, flour, 1 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a bowl.
Whisk buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Add flour mixture; mix until well-combined. Pour in hot water; stir until batter is smooth. Divide batter evenly among muffin tins.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 12 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
Whip 3/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoon heavy cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold in 1 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese, 7 tablespoons cocoa powder, and 1/4 cup sugar gently to make frosting.
Spread 1 tablespoon frosting over each cooled cupcake.
Twist chocolate sandwich cookies open, leaving all cream filling on 1 side. Place 2 cookies, cream filling-side up, on each cupcake to make owl eyes. Place a brown milk chocolate piece on each cookie to create pupils. Insert an orange or yellow milk chocolate piece in the center to make a beak.

Cook's Notes:

Reserve the plain Oreo(R) halves for other recipes, such as an Oreo(R) cheesecake or milkshake, or you can crush them to make a cookie crust.

Substitute Smarties(R) for the M&M's(R) if desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

372	Calories
20g	Fat
46g	Carbs
5g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 24
Calories 372
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 20g	26%
Saturated Fat 8g	41%
Cholesterol 47mg	16%
Sodium 291mg	13%
Total Carbohydrate 46g	17%
Dietary Fiber 3g	9%
Total Sugars 29g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg	1%
Calcium 79mg	6%
Iron 2mg	12%
Potassium 162mg	3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.