Look So Lovely: LSL {Foodie Friday} - Oreo Buttercream Chocolate filled Cupcakes

As the self-appointed chef among my group of friends, the pressure was on to come up with something visually and palatably impressive for my friend's zombie-inspired "creeping to the grave" birthday bash. Borrowing visual inspiration from Bake it Pretty I set out to find zombie hand cupcake toppers and put together the below recipe. It was a hit and definitely worth repeating at Halloween.

Oreo Buttercream Chocolate filled Cupcakes...an utterly decadent dessert.

{Very loosely adapted from For the Love of Cooking}

Makes 24 cupcakes.

For the cupcakes:

1/2 C butter, melted

100 gms bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1/4 C butter, softened

1 and 1/4 C sugar

2 eggs

2 T cocoa powder

1 t vanilla

1 and 3/4 C all-purpose flour

1 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

1 C milk

1 bag of Oreo cookies

For the chocolate cream filling:

1/2 C all-purpose cream

1 C chopped bittersweet chocolate

1. Prepare the chocolate filling first. Heat the cream in low fire until very hot but not boiling. Turn off heat and add in the chopped chocolate pieces. Stir until all the chocolate pieces are melted and everything is mixed thoroughly. Cool in refrigerator. When chilled and firm enough to be handled, scoop out chocolate and form into small balls. Arrange on a baking tray and return to the refrigerator until ready to use.

2. To make the cupcake, melt the butter in a small pan. Turn off heat and stir in the chopped chocolate. Whisk until blended and set aside.

3. Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare muffin pans by adding cupcake liners.

4. In a mixing bowl, with electric mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and beat until creamy. Stir in cocoa powder and vanilla.

5. Add the melted chocolate (we prepared in step 2).

6. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Stir this dry ingredients into the creamed mixture alternately with milk. Blend until smooth. (Do not overbeat.)

7. After mixed well put 1 spoonful of batter in cupcake holder and then add 1 Oreo cookie and fill the cupcake holder ONLY 3/5ths full. Repeat the process with the rest. Make sure there is enough room between the bottom of the cupcake tins and the Oreo.

8. Put in a chocolate cream ball (we prepared in step 1) in the middle. Then add some more cupcake batter until 3/4 full.

9. Bake for 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool before frosting.

Cocoa Buttercream Frosting:

1/3 C softened butter

3 1/2 C of powdered sugar

2 t vanilla

1/4 C milk

2 T cocoa powder

Beat the butter in a bowl until creamy; gradually pour in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Once the frosting is well combined, add cocoa powder then beat with the mixer until you reach your desired consistency.

Frost the cooled cupcakes, sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookie and top with zombie hands.

Enjoy!