Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

On the verge of sounding too excited about these cupcakes, I'll just get my excitement out now, so I can write calmly for the rest of this post. Ready? ohmygoshthesearethemostamazingcupcakesintheentireworld!!!! Okay, I feel better now. In case you couldn't already tell, these cupcakes are incredible. One might even call them transcendent. (I think I need to add a new tag marked "transcendent recipes.") They start with a brown sugar-chocolate chip cupcake base, filled with eggless cookie dough, topped with cookie dough buttercream and decorated with a mini chocolate chip cookie. Since chocolate chip cookies are Justin's all-time favorite cookie, I made sure to save one for him. Instead of eating the homemade ravioli he was craving, he had cupcakes for dessert instead. I think that means he is addicted. :)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

For the cupcakes:
3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

For the filling:
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature
6 Tbsp. light brown sugar, packed
1 cup plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
7 oz. sweetened condensed milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

For the frosting:
3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. milk
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

For decoration:
Tiny chocolate chip cookies
Mini chocolate chips

To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350° F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and brown sugar. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir together to blend. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl on low speed, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing each addition just until incorporated. Blend in the vanilla. Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cupcake liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the cookie dough filling, combine the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the flour, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla until incorporated and smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the mixture has firmed up a bit, about an hour.

To fill the cupcakes, cut a cone-shaped portion out of the center of each cupcake. Fill each hole with a chunk of the chilled cookie dough mixture.

To make the frosting, beat together the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until creamy. Mix in the confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Beat in the flour and salt. Mix in the milk and vanilla extract until smooth and well blended.

Frost the filled cupcakes as desired, sprinkling with mini chocolate chips and topping with mini chocolate chip cookies for decoration.

Source: Annie's Eats