Sometimes I really dislike being a blogger.
Hooooold up, kids. This ain’t no quitting speech or anything and there is an influx of ridiculous treats coming your way. No worries or anything.
But if you’re a personal blogger, you know what an absolute joy it is to describe to people what you do.
“So you…Â bake… for no one?”
No. I don’t bake for ‘no one’. That would imply I have no friends and probably collect Cabbage Patch Kids and have nightly tea parties with them or something. I bake for the internet, duh. And I have plenty of internet friends I’ll have you know.
“So you’re giving away your recipes for free? Why would you do that?”Â
Because I’m doing the world a favor, obvi. I’m like a Sugar Prophet, bringing more calories and sweetness to your world. What do you do, condescending person asking me questions?!
“Hey, I’d like to order four dozen cupcakes for my cousin’s friend’s nephew’s birthday party.”
And I’d like a new car, an all-expenses-paid vacay to Paris and weekly manicures but obviously the world is cruel and that isn’t happening and neither is that cupcake order. I’m no bakery.
“But why do you make treats then if you don’t plan on selling them? That doesn’t make sense. You should just open up your own bakery.”
Please, tell me other things I “should do” that would never, ever want to do. You’re enlightening me so!
It’s like, why can’t they just understand I want to continue baking up treats for you–my sweet, awesome internet friends–and chalk up my blogging to impending world domination? Because, it’s going to happen. I mean, that is no question, folks.
In the meantime, I made you Monster Cookie Dough Cupcakes. And guess what? They’re just for you, internet pals!
I adapted Ashton‘s recipe for her Monster Cookie Dough Truffles in order to get that perfect, ooey gooey monster cookie dough in the center of my cupcakes. And just in case, I added another healthy swirl of Monster Cookie Dough Frosting on top. Because, you know, we’re friends. And I do this for you.
And since friendships are reciprocal and all that, you should probably make some of these. For me. Because I made them for you and you really oughta know about their greatness firsthand.
Monster Cookie Dough Cupcakes *inspired by Ashton’s truffles (link above)
For cupcakes:
1 box yellow cake mix, plus ingredients on back of box
For Monster Cookie Dough:
4 oz cream cheese, room temp
1/4 cup butter, room temp
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch salt
1/2 cup quick oats
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup mini M&M’s
Monster Cookie Dough Frosting (recipe & ingredients follow)
1. Firstly, make your cookie dough. In a large bowl, cream together the cream cheese, butter and peanut butter until smooth & blended. Beat in the powdered sugar to combine, followed by the brown sugar, flour, vanilla extract & salt. Your dough should be soft. Stir in the oats, mini chocolate chips & mini M&M’s by hand.
2. Using a small cookie dough scoop, scoop & roll the dough into small balls and place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Freeze the dough truffles for about 2 hours or overnight, until completely frozen.
3. Once frozen, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin pans with 24 paper liners; set aside.
4. In a large bowl, prepare the cake mix according to package directions. Portion the batter, about 2/3 full, evenly among muffin cups. Place one truffle gently into the middle of each batter-filled muffin cup; it’s okay if they peek out! Bake for approx. 14-16 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted around the edge of the cupcake comes out clean. Cool completely.
Monster Cookie Dough Frosting
2 sticks butter, room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
6-8 cups (give or take) powdered sugar
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1 cup mini M&M’s
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, peanut butter and vanilla until creamy and smooth, about a minute. Gradually add the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time, until frosting is relatively fluffy and thick. Stir in the mini chocolate chips.
2. Pipe the frosting onto cooled cupcakes, covering the peeking dough (if necessary). Sprinkle the frosted cakes with the mini M&M’s candies immediately after frosting. Best served the same day, but store leftovers airtight in the fridge for about 1 day.
These are seriously amazeballs. The ooey gooeiness of the cookie dough inside the cupcake is insanity. Peanut buttery, chocolatey, crunchy and sweet from the oats–perfect. And don’t even get me started on that frosting. I meaaaaaan, a second batch is probably necessary for eating purposes only. Craaaaazayy good, y’all.
I bet all your little monsters will love them!
Happy Tuesday!!
xo, Hayley
The Witch's Kitchen says
Those looks FABULOUS! Will have to try them out!
I get the same questions & comments. You should open a bakery/restaurant. Why don’t you charge people?
I do bake for people. I do it for fun. I refuse to put a price on my fun. If they feel the need, tip me. It’s kind of funny to watch people try to *slip* money on my stove without me seeing.
The Domestic Rebel says
Hahaha I know! Even if I did an order “pro bono” I still wonder if they’ll tip me, because that’d be nice and stuff… but there’s always that awkward moment (for me, anyway, perhaps since I’m a starving college kid or something, or have my eyes on a dress at the mall, idk) that tries not to wait around and act expectant of a cash tip and then they tip you and you either decide NOT to notice and be like “omg, thank you sooo much!!” later, or notice and do the fake pretending “you didn’t have to!” and then take it there. Perhaps I’m overthinking this; it’s highly probable.
At any rate, thanks for your sweet comment!!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
Yeah, I never tell anyone in my “real life” that I am a food blogger, because they just don’t get it. And then I have to try to explain and justify, and it’s just not worth it. Soooo glad that I have my internet foodie friends to share my passion with! =) And yes, I will definitely make you a batch of these monster cookie dough cupcakes, because they are seriously amazing. And don’t worry, I’ll eat ’em for you, too.
The Domestic Rebel says
Good! You better!! Because otherwise I will hunt you down in Kansas and eat them for you while you’re hard at work! Then that’d really make the monster cupcakes live up to their name.. and their creator, lol.
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
I love that – we are sugar prophets! Perfect summary. 🙂 Don’t tell anyone, but my internet friends are almost better friends than my non-blog friends. Because they (you) GET me and what I do and know I’m not just wasting time on my computer. LOVE these cupcakes!!
The Domestic Rebel says
Psssssh, I don’t even care if I offend my real friends–they aren’t nearly as cool as my internet pals! You guys rock and make my life and job so much easier and happier. Forreals! But FYI, since we ARE real-life friends, too, you’re still better 🙂 I mean, that was obvious but it bears restating.
Back For Seconds says
Domestic Rebel world domination? Sounds good to me! Could you make it rain cupcakes?
I have to say, I feel a little outdone. My Cookie Dough Monster Cupcakes seem lacking after seeing these guys. You are the master. 😉
And I totally appreciate you baking for me instead of cabbage patch dolls. So, thanks for that!
sweetnv says
I’m a cookie monster, so these are definitely up my alley!! 🙂 What kind of piping bag or piping tip do you use for your cupcakes?
The Domestic Rebel says
Hi there!! I used disposable Wilton piping bags found at Michael’s craft store. I usually buy them in the biggest pack since I go through so many 🙂 and for these particular cupcakes, I’m piping with an Atecco tip 807: the large open tip.
sweetnv says
Awesome! Thank you for the reminder about the disposable piping bags! 🙂
sweetnv says
I’m a cookie monster – these are definitely up my alley!! YUM! What kind of piping bag and piping tip do you typically use for your cupcakes?
peachypains says
Do you have a recommendation on what to substitute the peanut butter??? 🙂
The Domestic Rebel says
Howdy! You can omit the PB completely if you so desire, or try switching things up with Nutella, almond butter, or Biscoff cookie spread for different variations; just adjust the brown sugar and stuff accordingly in case it gets too sweet 🙂
peachypains says
THANKS!! I love PB but hubby is allergic and although eating an entire batch of these delicious cupcakes would add to my voluminous repertoire, I can’t for my damn cholesterol. Thank you again. 🙂
The Domestic Rebel says
You’re so welcome!! I’m sure the Nutella would be a cool switcharoo–a chocolate monster cookie?! Oh hell yeah!!
Brittany says
All I have to say is… NOM NOM NOM!!
On a side note, I hate when people are appalled when someone gives their recipes away “for free.”
Sharing is caring, yo, didn’t you know??
The Domestic Rebel says
Hey Brittany, I feel ya, girl!! If only Forever 21 felt so inclined to share their clothes with me for free… sigh.
Sally says
no lie, Hayley…. I had monster cookie dough cupcakes on my list to bake in the next few weeks!!! Great minds think alike. 🙂 I loove monster cookies, they are probs my favorite. I always find it hysterical when I tell people about my blog. “so umm where does all the food go?” “you have ‘interenet friends’?” YES, YES I DO! 😉
The Domestic Rebel says
Lol, right?! It’s so annoying trying to explain to them this whole other world we live in 🙂 and I am eager to see your version; I have no doubts it’ll be top-notch, straight-up DELICIOUSNESS.
kalamitykelli says
I think that maybe this has to do with American’s having the “I won’t do anything without some kind of reward” mentality. You are too young, but there was a time when people did things for others just for the joy of doing it. What’s-in-it-for-me has become a meme in our society. Okay, off my soap box. I’m glad you share all your recipes with us because I’m your internet friend and I have made several of your recipes, loving every one of them! AND you write the funniest blog posts ever!
The Domestic Rebel says
Awh, thanks Kelli! And I know, I mean, getting tips or whatever are great but I don’t need that kinda stuff. And I wouldn’t have met awesome people like yourself if I had been selling these recipes this whole time. Because uh, who buys recipes? Whack. Anyway, if you make these for Picky Boy lemme know how he likes ’em! 🙂
kalamitykelli says
Oh I will! I always like to show you my pitiful attempts at copying your works of art. How does such a young girl (you are younger than my youngest child) learn to creatively cook and on top of that – you are a stellar photographer! You are an amazing young woman and whatever you choose to do – you will be like a Plains Twister taking it by storm!
Sheyz says
I saw a very useful tip on not having to use up tons of disposable piping bags in our baking life. Basically you put your frosting in saran wrap, twist it so it looks like a sausage and shoot it inside a piping bag. Then cut off the tip of the saran wrap. Your piping bag stays clean. Ãœ i know I’m not the best explainer but here’s a link.
http://www.thekitchn.com/video-alert-use-160245
Enjoy! Ü
The Domestic Rebel says
Hey Sheyz, that’s an awesome tip! I really dislike the reusable cloth bags (I’m too lazy to clean & reclean) but I hate using mine so quickly at the same time. Thanks for the link!
Jenna says
I am definitely going to make these for a friend’s birthday coming up! How many cupcakes does your recipe make? Thanks! You rock! 🙂
thedomesticrebel says
Hey Jenna! Would you mind making me these cupcakes for MY birthday, too? Haha, you’re an awesome friend!!
This makes approx. 18 cupcakes or so! Feel free to double the icing if you need to!
G says
I don’t know what happened but I followed the icing recipe exactly and it came out crumbly.