Chocolate Cookie Dough Cupcakes are a cookie dough lovers’ dream! A deliciously moist chocolate cupcake has a hidden chocolate chip cookie dough filling that makes every bite a mouthwatering delicious treat!
Cookie Dough Cupcakes
Chocolate cupcake + Cookie Dough = HOLY GOODNESS!!!
Baked inside this cupcake is a chocolate chip cookie dough ball. Yah, you read me right. Cookie Dough. The best thing that God ever created inside this cupcake.
This frosting works great with my black and white cupcakes, It might even be great with my simple chocolate cupcake recipe that is usually topped with a whipped ganache frosting.
How do I Keep the Cupcake Batter Moist?
There are a few tips for making your actual cake moist and delicious. My standard is to watch the temperature of my oven and cook my cake slow and low to prevent it from drying out.
Another good method is to add in ¼ cup sour cream or milk to the batter. This extra moisture really helps keep the cake moist without altering the overall texture and result.
Another super moist cupcake option is my Nutella bliss cupcakes. They are so delicious!
How do I Make the Frosting Smoother for Cookie Dough Filled Cupcakes?
Using brown sugar in your frosting can sometimes lead to a slightly grainy texture. There are easy solutions to fix this, that will keep your buttercream perfectly fluffy and delicious.
The first suggestion is to continue creaming your sugar and butter for longer to make it creamier. In fact, the longer you cream the combination the fluffier it will become.
Another great frosting that sometimes is grainy is my death by Oreo cupcake frosting. You’ll love this recipe and find it can easily work with this cupcake as well.
Does the Cookie Dough Need to be Frozen?
For the cookie dough filling in the cupcake, you will need to make sure it is chilled. You can freeze it if you want, but that is not necessary and may result in a slightly underdone cookie inside your cupcake.
I like to make the cookie dough and roll into balls then freeze it on a baking sheet first. You can bag up the dough for use in these cupcakes, or just to make as cookies later down the road.
ProTip: If you are in a hurry, you can also use ready made cookie dough for the filling in this cupcake.
Why Do You Add Flour to the Frosting?
The addition of flour to the frosting recipe helps add the flavor of cookie dough to the frosting. If you prefer to leave it out, you can, but it won’t have the same perfect cookie dough flavor.
Can I Make These Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes?
If you want to make them into mini cupcakes all you have to do is lower the bake time! You’ll make your cookie dough filling smaller, and then bake them for a shorter time. The result is delicious miniature cupcakes everyone loves.
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cookie Dough Filling:
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Chocolate Cupcakes:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp espresso powder (optional)
- 3/4 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Cookie Dough Frosting:
- 12 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 1/2 Tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Decorate:
- additional mini chocolate chips
- 12 mini chocolate chip cookies (I used Chips Ahoy)
Instructions
Cookie Dough Filling:
- In a small bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter, sugars, milk and vanilla until smooth.
- Whisk in the dry ingredients and the chocolate chips until smooth.
- Refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes or until firm.
- Scoop out dough into 12 balls. Freeze for at least 30 minutes.
Chocolate Cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 375 F degrees. Line a cupcake pan with 12 liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, sugar, baking soda and salt.
- Add the water, oil, egg and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Use a spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are combined.
- Fill each cupcake liner 1/2-2/3 full. NOTE: You may have extra batter... no worries, make extra cupcakes!
- Gently press a cookie dough ball into the center of each cupcake, only submerging the ball 1/2 way.
- Bake the cupcakes for 19-21 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cupcake portion of the cupcake (not tested through the center where the dough is), comes out fairly dry. Chunks/pieces of cake are okay, just not moist batter.
- Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting.
Cookie Dough Frosting:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugars until smooth and creamy.
- Add the flour, milk and vanilla and beat on high until well combined.
To Assemble:
- Pipe swirls of frosting onto each cupcake.
- Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top and garnish with a mini chocolate chip cookie.
Notes
Source: cupcakes & frosting slightly adapted from RecipeGirl
Ohhh Mmmmmm Geeeeee!!! i have been wanting to make some cupcakes for awhile this just might have to be made in the Taylor house this week hmmmm do i have any functions going on that would need such a fulfilling dessert???
Those look so good. I have to make them!
How does you paper tins come out so perfect?! Mine always look lightly burnt!Anyway I’ve been looking for other cupcake recipes, you know besides the classics, like java chip and coconut fudge, do you think you can make any?
It’s the liners I use from Sutton Gourmet Paper! :)
I made these for my grandfather’s birthday and they were a HUGE hit but i thought that they were a little dry. I noticed that this happens whenever I make homemade cake. It doesn’t seem to make sense! Box cake=moist and fluffy but homemade=dry and dense? Do you know why this is or what I can do to fix it? Thanks a million!
Hi Holly!
Usually cakes are dry for 2 main reasons, over baking and not enough moisture in the batter. My suggestion would be to get a stand alone oven thermometer that you can hang from the center/back of your oven to check it’s temperature. This way you can see if the temperature is accurate or not… if you still have problems with the cakes drying out, lower the temperature and bake a few minutes longer. Also, you can try adding a 1/4 cup of sour cream or milk extra to the batter or even hot water… that often helps with the moisture. :)
Let me know if you make it again how it turns out! <3
Betsy
Thanks! I’ll try that out and let you know how it turns out!
when i do boxed if i do vanilla i add a vanilla pudding cup in the batter if its chicolate i do chocolate makes it moist i am gonna try it with homade and see
Hello :)
Is the oven set to “hot air” or just regular oven? :)
I only have the option for “regular oven”…. mine doesn’t blow hot air. :)
The cupcake was yummy but I found the frosting to be WAYYYY overpowering! You could barely taste the sheer goodness of the cupcake past it. I think next time I’m just gonna make a simple cream cheese frosting with a chocolate ganache drizzle over the talk :D
I want them now. Look so tasty. Yummmmmmmmmm
I can not wait to try these, I’m on my way to get more coco powder now!
Awesome! Take pictures and let me know how they turned out!
I’m thinking of making these for my sweet hubby for Father’s Day. My question, do you remember/know what size tip you used to pipe the frosting on? Thank you..they look super yummy!
I believe I used the Wilton 1M tip. :)
I made this for my fiances work and they were a huge hit! I didn’t get to try one before he brought them in (I hate doing that, I like to know what I’m serving), but there were all around great reviews. I was wondering about the texture of the frosting (which tastes fantastic by the way) – for me, it was very grainy. I know it’s supposed to be to mimic cookie dough, but I’m wondering if I melted the butter and sugar together first to get rid of the giddiness of the brown sugar, would this work? Or would the melted butter ruin the frosting? Again, WONDERFUL cupcakes!
Hi Laura,
I wouldn’t suggesting melting the butter… you won’t get a fluffy buttercream…. you’ll get soup. haha Try adding a bit more cream to the frosting, less brown sugar, and creaming it longer. To be honest, the more you beat it on high… the smoother it will be. :)
Let me know if you make it again!
Betsy
Thanks Betsy! I WILL be making these again. My fiance told me that these had to be at our wedding – his favorite cupcakes to date. That says a lot. Thanks for the recipe. I’ll let you know how these go when I beat the frosting longer. I must have been too impatient as I shoved the frosting in my face – I mean decorated the cupcakes : )
Hahahahah….. that’s the only way to eat… I mean make cupcakes. :)
Hey I was thinkin if you are organised you may be able to melt the butter with the sugar then let it solidify again before using it?? Not 100% sure but this may get rid of the grainy problem and speed up the whipping problem…. though whipping makes it tasty tasty tasty!!
I’ll let you in on a secret I figured out because these are some of my favorite cupcakes and the grainyness (made up word) would never go away no matter what. Molasses! It gives you the flavor of the brown sugar without it being gritty. Then you just need more powdered sugar. You really do it to taste. I think I used maybe a teaspoon of molasses, and I can’t remember how much powdered sugar. But, do it gradually and it will turn out just as great as the recipe.
Shoot! Was trying to give it 5 stars. I didn’t mean 2! Darn phone!
My good friend is starting a cupcake business and I had her make some cupcakes for my wedding reception. She made the chocolate cupcake with the chocolate chip cookie dough filling but she used a peanut butter icing. They turned out AMAZING! I figured since she is running a business it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask her for the recipe. So I want to thank you for posting your recipe here so I can make more for my husband. I don’t know exactly what her recipe was but yours look really good too with the little cookie on top. There wasn’t a single chocolate cupcake left after the reception!
It makes me so happy to hear things like this! I hope your husband really enjoys these cupcakes!! <3
Hello they sound fab. Is the cookie dough still
Frozen when u add it to the cake mix??
Joanne x
Really really cold!
Would love to make these over the weekend, they look amazing!! Do you know how I can convert the cup measurements to grams, as I’m from the UK?
Thank you
You may have to convert each ingredient individually. There are charts available online. :)
Donna, it’s a bit late but I’m UK based and I bought cup measurements so recipes like this are easy – my scales are so inaccurate I often convert recipes in grams to cups instead! Otherwise, use a conversion website like Traditional Oven and note down the common measurements (e.g. half a cup = xg of flour/sugar/cocoa) for future reference
Thanks Karly!
i just made this today and they are soooooooooooooo great! i’m going to serve it for my nephew’s baptism tomorrow but i’m afraid i’ll be able to bring only half of what i did (made 3 doz) because my kids and the people in the house kept asking for more! thanks so much for posting the recipe. :)
That’s great! I’m glad you liked the recipe! <3
PS…. Did you take pictures?
Hello,
I’m going to make these lovely cupcakes tomorrow, can’t wait to be honest :)
Just wondering why you need to add flour to the frosting? And flour meaning plain flour?
The flour helps make the frosting taste more like cookie dough! :)
Hi Betsy
I love ur chocolate chip cupcakes!!!
I wonder how the cookie dough filling turns out after baking. Is it crunchy like normal cookies or is it cakey like the chocolate cake?
Thanks
Not crunchy…. thick and dense like a cookie! YUM!
I’ve made these cupcakes 3 times in the past 2 weeks and they are to die for! Tastes like i’m eating a little piece of cookie dough heaven with every bite.
Thank you for such an awesome recipe! I actually cheated a little bit when I made them a second (and third) time.. I used boxed chocolate cake mix. It turned out just as delicious!
But anyways, I also wanted to say that it’s not just me that loved these cupcakes… For starters, I brought them to a family birthday party and they were gone before the cake was even cut.
Also, most excitingly, I entered them in a Cupcake Bake Off at my work and they cbeat out 25 other cupcake variations to win first place.
Thank you again for such a delicious recipe! I love your blog! :)
Yay Amy!!! Congrats on your win at work!! :) That’s so awesome! I’m so glad everyone loved them!!! xoxo
I just made these for my boyfriend’s birthday! He loved them! He said he needed to go buy a gallon of milk so he could eat them all right now! They are delicious! Thanks so much :))
Awesome! I’m glad your boyfriend loved them!!! <3
Tried this Cupcakes today and my whole family fell in love with them!
They’re so delicious and with the dough of the Chocolate Cupcakes I had about 18 big ones and 12 small ones. Way too much, so next time (YES, a next time! And this will be soon) I’ll half the recipe.
Yum! Those look great!! :)
I made these cupcakes for a birthday party, and they were absolutely amazing. Blog post about them:
http://www.foxeslovelemons.com/2013/08/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-cupcakes.html
yummmmmmy! (I havent actually eaten one yet) but they look good! And the others say they taste good! I have a photo but dont know how to upload it??
Wonderful!! You can upload the photo to our Facebook page… http://facebook.com/javacupcake
Hi, jus wanted to know you havent mentioned whether you use plain flour or self raising flour? And why do you add flour in the frosting?
Great questions. When I just type “flour” in my recipes, it means all-purpose flour. If the recipe calls for anything different, I’ll specify. Also, adding flour to the frosting helps to create that cookie dough flavor you’re looking for with these cupcakes! YUM! It’s so good!
Ok thanks for getting back to me. I will definitely try to bake these. Also, do you have measruements in oz or grams? And did you use a cupcake tray or muffin tray to bake :)
my cookie dough filling is firm! it been in fridge an hour looks like flour! help
I made these for my co-worker / friend’s birthday this weekend and they are amazing. I posted the link on my blog as well.
Yay! :) I’m so glad they were a hit!
I am going to make these cupcakes today, for a birthday celebration tomorrow and I was Just wondering if if the cupcakes should be stored in the fridge or could I just leave them outside?
They’ll be okay at room temperature! Unless it’s really hot or humid where you live, then I’d suggest storing them in a cooler place. Have a great party!
I live in Puerto Rico jaja. Thank you Ill store them outside!
Hey,
I love this recipe! My boyfriend is in love with Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream, and I was thinking of trying to replicate that idea by making him a chocolate cake with the cookie dough inside like you’ve done here, the only catch is he is currently stationed in Bahrain…
I was going to do the whole “cake in the jar” thing but now I’m wondering how long the cookie dough inside this cake keeps, because I don’t want to poison him..
Did you keep any of these for a while and how long did they stay fresh?
Thanks in Advance!
Can theses be made as minis?
Sure. Reduce the bake time.
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