Surprise Party Play Group {Cookie Dough Cupcakes!}

This week was Christy’s birthday, so we decided to throw a surprise playgroup party for her!  It all turned out so well, especially since Rachel worked her magic and brought a birthday banner and made lovely bunting.  Plus, I had a great reason to work my magic and make cookie dough cupcakes {with cookie dough filling and brown sugar frosting…see below!}.

{again, you can click the collage for a larger view}

Now, for you cookie dough lovers, check out this beauty: the cookie dough cupcake with cookie dough filling and brown sugar frosting.

If you have frosting on your spatula, make sure you come up with a plan to equally divide amongst your helpers.

Batter with 2 types of chips

Spoon it in to cupcake wrappers

Baked cupcakes cooling

Ready to be scooped out, filled, & frosted

You can see the scooped out one on the right {I used a baby spoon}

Frosted and topped with chocolate chips

Ta da!

{Find the original here.  Thank you for a great recipe!!}

For the cupcakes:

• 3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature {tip: if you forget to take it out, pop it in a warm oven or the microwave very briefly}
• 1½ cups light brown sugar, packed
• 4 large eggs
• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup chocolate chips (semisweet or bittersweet)

To make the cupcakes

1. preheat the oven to 350° F.
2. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners (24 total).
3. Using the paddle attachment on your mixer, combine the butter and brown sugar.  Cream together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, approx 3 minutes.  Add  eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
4. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.
5. Alternating  add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl with the milk on low speed,  beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing each addition just until incorporated.
6. Blend in the vanilla.
7. Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.
8. Divide the batter evenly between 24 cupcake liners.   Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

While the cupcakes bake and cool, prepare your cookie dough filling.

For the cookie dough filling:

• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 6 tbsp. light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup plus 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 7 oz. sweetened condensed milk
• ½ tsp. vanilla extract
• ¼ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

To Make the Filling

1. Cream  butter and sugar in a mixing bowl on medium-high speed until light and fluffy(approx2 minutes).
2. Add flour, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla and beat until smooth.
3. Stir in the chocolate chips.
4. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the mixture has firmed up a bit, (approx1 hour).

After cupcakes have cooled,  fill the cupcakes by cutting a cone-shaped portion out of the center of each cupcake.  Fill each hole with a chunk of the chilled cookie dough mixture.

For the frosting:

• 3 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 3½ cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ tsp. salt
• 3 tbsp. milk
• 2½ tsp. vanilla extract

Directions to make icing

1. Beat  butter and brown sugar with the paddle attachment on high speed  until creamy and fluffy.
2. Mix in the confectioners’ sugar until smooth.
3. Beat in the flour and salt.
4. Mix in the milk and vanilla extract until smooth and combined.

Frost cupcakes using a pastry bag and 1M tip {I didn’t have one, so I just spread it on}.  Decorate with mini chocolate chips and a mini cookie. {I used normal chocolate chips and did not serve with cookies- for crying out loud, the cupcake spoke for itself!}

Related posts:

1. TILT: New Friends & Play Group
2. Birthday Party Play Group
3. Delicious Sugar Cookie Pops & Buttercream Frosting
4. Rachel’s Surprise Party
5. Dallas Family Play Group