Monster Cookie Dough Cupcakes

I’ll have to admit that these cupcakes from Wishes n Dishes may not be the prettiest or most elegant that I have come across but WOW! Cookie dough frosting (made with cream cheese!) with mini M&M’s and chocolate chips?  Sign me up!  Why do I think the frosting might be good enough to eat straight from the bowl.  Not that any of us have ever done that, right?

Monster Cookie Dough Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Cookie Dough Frosting:

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened (don’t use reduced fat or fat free!)
• 1/2 c. butter, softened
• 1/2 c. creamy peanut butter
• 1- 2 c. powdered sugar
• 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 3 Tbsp. all purpose flour
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 c. oats
• 3/4 bag plain mini M&Ms
• 3/4 cup mini or regular semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Use a hand or stand mixer to whisk together all of the cupcake ingredients except for the chocolate chips.
3. Then, stir in the chocolate chips with a spoon or spatula.
4. Fill each cupcake liner about 2/3 full of batter.
5. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack.
6. Meanwhile, use a stand mixer dough paddle to beat together the cream cheese, butter, and peanut butter until smooth.
7. Mix in the brown sugar, flour, vanilla, and oats.
8. Mix in the powdered sugar 1 cup at a time (1 and 1/2 cups worked out best for me).
9. Finally add the M&Ms and Chocolate chips, mix well.
10. Use a large cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to scoop out the cookie dough onto the completely cooled cupcakes.