Cookie Monster Cupcakes

I made these last night and I just have to share them with you today even though I'd planned another post which will just have to wait.  They were made for an impromptu baby shower at work.  I didn't have time to order baby related cutters to make cute cookies or baby toppers (pram, bootie, etc) and I definitely was not going to try making them myself from fondant. I already knew that they were expecting a boy so here's my thought process (it makes sense in my head!) .... baby....boy.....blue...cookie....blue....cookie monster.... cookie monster cupcakes! A quick search on google for ideas and the rest as they say is history.

These are incredibly simple and fun to make and will definitely make everyone go "oooh and aaahh" :)

I'm going to do a step by step picture tutorial below so you can re-create them at home.  Next project is Elmo which should be very similar. I'm kicking myself today for not having thought of making Elmo as well last night. 

I made a chocolate chip cupcake (vanilla sponge + chocolate chips) but you can of course use any cupcake flavour you want. I also made the chocolate chip cookies as I'm a bit of a cookie monster myself! I'm sure I've referred to myself as the cookie monster a few times on this blog! Which is your favourite character from Sesame Street? 

I used dessicated coconut dyed blue to look like cookie monster's "fur".  I've seen others using blue sanding sugar but the coconut looks more authentic. Place the coconut in a bag, add a small amount of blue paste food colouring. Seal the bag and shake until the coconut is evenly coated. 

 I made 4 plain vanilla sponges in the yellow cases as a colleague does not eat chocolate (yes honestly although I can't imagine my life without chocolate!) 

 They were supposed to be domed but came out flat (you get a better 3D cookie monster effect if your cupcake is domed)

 ready for the fun to begin! cupcakes, cookies, blue buttercream icing, blue coconut and eyes made from a giant white button and a chocolate chip. 

 Dip your cupcake in the icing and twist the cupcake then lift - no need for piping. You can also use a spoon to spread the icing on. It does not have to be neat as you can't see the icing later. 

 Next dip in a bowl of dessicated coconut which has been dyed blue. Again just dip the cupcake, icing down into the bowl and twist until the cupcake is completely covered as shown. 

 Cut out a "mouth" and eat the cake scraps. 

 Place half a cookie into the hole you cut (you may have to trim the cookies if they are too wide like mine were)

 finally add on the eyes. I dipped the bottom in some icing and placed it into the cupcake. 

 who ate all the cookies? :) 

 one of my favourites - the crumbled cookie look :)

 uh oh 

Chocolate Chip Cupcake


250g butter
200g sugar
3 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
250g flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
200g chocolate chips (I used a mixture of dark and milk chocolate chips here)

Chocolate Chip Cookie


170g butter
80g caster sugar
80g light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
250g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
200g chocolate chips

Vanilla Buttercream icing


110g butter
200g icing sugar, sifted
4-6 tablespoons milk
blue food colouring

Decorations


~100g dessicated coconut
blue food colouring
giant white buttons
chocolate chips

• Preheat the oven to 180C.
• Make the cupcakes by creaming the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• Add in the milk, vanilla extract, flour and baking powder.
• Mix well and finally stir in the chocolate chips. 
• Scoop batter into cupcake cases and bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. 
• Whilst the cupcakes are baking, cream the butter and sugars for the cookie.
• Add the egg, vanilla extract and salt. 
• Mix in the flour and baking powder and finally stir in the chocolate chips.
• Place cookie dough in small round balls on a lined baking tray spaced apart. 
• Bake the cookies for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown. 
• Cool the cupcakes and cookies on a wire rack until completely cold. 
• Make the buttercream frosting by mixing all the ingredients together until you a nice, smooth blue icing. 
• Assemble the cupcakes as instructed above.