Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

If you like cookies and cream icecream, you will LOVE these cupcakes. I was a little hesitant at first because I'm not a huge chocolate cake fan and I didn't want these to taste like chocolate cake, and believe me...there was no chocolate cake resemblance here. They were pure heaven.

Oreo Batter

• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 and 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 large egg whites
• 1 and 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 and 1/2 cups chopped Oreo pieces - yum!

Mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. In a larger bowl, mix together the butter with the sugar and vanilla. Then, add the egg whites, half at a time. The mixture will go from crumbly to soupy. Add half of the flour mixture and then half of the milk to the butter mixture, mixing until well-blended. Repeat with the remaining halves of each. The mixture should now have a normal cake batter consistency. (By the way, if you don't have buttermilk, just add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to your milk and let it set a few minutes). Now for the best part - stir in your oreo pieces.

Now, pour the batter into cupcake paper-lined cupcake pans and bake for about 20 minutes at 350.

Now while they cool, time to make the frosting!

• 1 and 1/2 sticks butter, softened
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1 and 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• 3 Tbsp milk
• 1 cup chopped Oreo pieces

First, mix together the shortening, butter, and vanilla. Add in the powdered sugar 2 cups at a time. Then, add in the milk, and mix until well-blended. Finally, mix in the Oreo pieces....mmmm....

Now spread on and enjoy!