Owl Cupcakes

Name: Owl Cupcakes
Ingredients: Cupcakes:; 2 cups white sugar; 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted; 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1 cup buttermilk; 1/2 cup vegetable oil; 2 eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup hot water; Frosting:; 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream; 1 1/2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream; 1 1/2 cups mascarpone cheese; 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese; 7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder; 1/4 cup white sugar; Decoration:; 48 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreo(R)); 48 brown candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's(R)); 24 orange or yellow candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's(R))

23 ingredients

7 steps

Ingredients

Cupcakes:
2 cups white sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup hot water
Frosting:
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 cups mascarpone cheese
2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
7 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup white sugar
Decoration:
48 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreo(R))
48 brown candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's(R))
24 orange or yellow candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's(R))

Directions

1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners.
2

Combine 2 cups sugar, flour, 1 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a bowl.
3

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.
4

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.
5

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.
6

Spread 1 tablespoon frosting over each cooled cupcake.
7

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.