Cookie Monster Cupcakes

Mmmmmm…Cooookies!!!!  Just reading that phrase puts the Cookie Monster’s voice in my head.  Love it.  I saw the picture for these super cute cupcakes about six months ago, and knew exactly when to make them…for my 41 year old brother’s birthday.

You may wonder why I would make them for an old guy like him, and I’ll be happy to explain.  He absolutely LOVED Sesame Street growing up.  He also LOVED to put a big blanket over his head and chase me around the house with a monster voice.  He’s also like a big kid, and the thought of making these for his birthday was just perfect.

I had to improvise on making his eyes though.  I didn’t have any M&M’s and didn’t have time to run to the store, so I just melted some dark chocolate and dabbed the pupils on there.  Next time, I’ll definitely be sure to get the M&M’s.  These cupcakes not only have a chocolate chip cookie stuffed inside the Cookie Monster’s mouth, but they also have mini chocolate chips inside them as well.  Oh, and white chocolate wafers as the eyes?  Holy sugar overload.  The whole family came over for dinner to celebrate my brother’s birthday, so I had to make sure there was plenty of food.  Dinner consisted of pork tenderloin, scalloped potatoes, rice, corn, and green beans…and of course, the cupcakes.  My daughter, nieces and nephews must have asked me ten times if they could have a cupcake before dinner.

Then, the glorious time came…cupcake time!  My sister-in-law actually broke the seal, because I kept telling the kids that we couldn’t have cupcakes until everyone was done with dinner.  Next thing I know, she walks in the kitchen, picks one up and starts munching away.  Then I hear my nephew yell, “Hey!!!  She’s eating a cupcake!”  Okay okay…go ahead.  It was like a swarm of bees, all covered in blue icing afterwards.

Cookie Monster Cupcakes:

1 box Duncan Hines yellow cake mix

1 small box instant vanilla pudding

1 cup oil

1/2 cup water

4 eggs

8 oz. sour cream

1 cup mini chocolate chips

1 package Chips Ahoy cookies

white chocolate wafers

brown M&M’s

Combine first six ingredients and beat with electric mixer at medium speed for 2-4 minutes.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Fill lined cupcake pan 2/3 full with batter, bake at 350 degrees for 23-24 minutes.  Remove from pan, cool completely.  Using a knife, make a horizontal cut across the top half of the cupcake.  Cut cookies in half, place one half of cookie inside slit.  Using a small star tip, pipe blue icing on cupcake.  Place two white chocolate wafers on top of cupcakes.  Attach brown M&M’s with a small dab of icing.