MUCH ADO ABOUT MUFFINS PART VIII: COOKIE MONSTER

It was only a matter of time before these came out of my oven, scorching fingers that should really know better by now. The cookies have been in the cupboard for a while and the mutinous rumblings from just below my shoulder (the Irish rain made more than just the grass grow this summer, I could have sworn all complaints came from elbow height a few weeks ago) were steadily increasing in volume, when the arrival of these bare inch in diameter mini-Oreos increased them to fever pitch and something had to be done.

I found a few recipes for these online but all seemed to find that the muffin lacked flavour so I used my favourite, basic buttermilk muffin recipe and went a little further by icing them with a white chocolate cream-cheese icing. The little cookie monster preferred them warm and plain (a testing finger dipped in the icing bowl resulted in a scrunched up face) while I waited for some of them to cool and then iced them and gave them a jaunty little Oreo cap. I used normal sized Oreo's, quartered for inside the muffins because the minis are expensive and it would be a waste of their dinky size to hide them in muffin batter. I only had around 100g of Oreos which I think was not quite enough so next time I'll use 150g. I'll leave it up to your own inner cookie monster to decide just how many you want.

The recipe for the icing comes from Tish Boyle's The Cake Book

OREO COOKIE MUFFINS WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE CREAM-CHEESE ICING

• 300g self-raising flour
• 150g brown sugar
• pinch of salt
• 100-150g oreos, quartered
• 180ml buttermilk
• 110g butter, melted and slightly cooled
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cream-cheese icing:

• 100g good quality white chocolate, chopped
• 450g cream cheese, softened
• 40g unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tbls freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 190g icing sugar
• 12 mini-Oreos to decorate

1. Preheat the oven to 190 C. Line a 12 hole muffin tray with paper cases. Stir the flour, sugar and salt together with a whisk. Beat the buttermilk, butter, egg and vanilla together in a large jug. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients with a fork using as few strokes as possible . When almost incorporated add in the Oreos and fold in carefully.
2. Transfer the batter to the muffin cases and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and springy when lightly pressed.
3. To make the icing- Melt the white chocolate in the microwave or in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, set aside to cool slightly.
4. Beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer set at a medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. add the melted white chocolate and mix until blended. Add the lemon juice, vanilla, and icing sugar and mix until blended. Increase the speed to high and beat for another minute until smooth and creamy. Use the icing quickly before it begins to set.

Makes 12 muffins (any leftover icing can be administered with a spoon).

Comments

[Eoin Purcell]

WOW!
I am going to make these!
Eoin

[Deborah]

I love Oreos. What a great muffin!

[Lorraine@italianfoodies]

The Italian foodies were privileged to get 2 of these pictures of beauty! wow - they were so divine! Sorry Deborah, I thought of you while eating them, I know how much you love Oreo's:)thanks Laura, we are available for all tasting experiments in the future:0

[peabody]

Now that is my kind of muffin. YUM.

[Val]

Neeeoiiing!

[Meeta]

Laura you rock girl!! I have been thinking about making muffins for Soeren's birthday celebration and these are too perfect to be true. I good give you a huge hug for this one - could? I mean, I will!!
HUG!!

[Lisa]

Awww those are adorable, Laura!! And quite droolworthy as well.. I'd never think to put oreos in muffins! Perfect!

xoxo

[arfi]

OOOH YUUUMMM!! I have been thinking to make some muffins or cupcakes, but alas I am so lazy hehehe... Yours make me want to do it as well... gosh, I wish you're living next door, Laura.

[Patricia Scarpin]

Muffins with Oreos, Laura? Where do I sign? ;)

[Laura]

Hi guys thanks for the comments! I snuck away for a night so sorry about the delay in replying. Next time I make them anyone is welcome to come share. Just follow the Oreo smell! Val you're closest so I'll be expecting you first!

[Anita]

They are so cute! Most tempting muffins ever!

[Tanna]

Muffins, cupcakes, a rose by any other name . . . oh come on, just let's have a party with these! Great fun Laura!

[Tartelette]

These look delicious and sound perfect for kids and adults!
Would you mind emailing me your snail mail address? I picked something up for you at the market a couple of weeks ago...

[Katie B.]

O my gosh! I think I'm in love!

[Chris]

These are wonderful! I love Oreos...and am not ashamed to admit...I still enjoy dunking them in milk! :)

[Sarah]

Oh, I'm def going to try these out!!! I'm planning on baking the blondies on Monday night for dessert for my Dad's b-day dinner on Tuesday and am heading up to Cratloe this evening to pick blackberries for jam and for that yummy sorbet....