October 13, 2011

two for the price of one

Do you ever find yourself staring at a dessert table, forced to choose between digging into a big pile of cookies or tackling a tree of cupcakes? Cookies deliver a nice, satisfying chew, while cupcakes, if they're done correctly, combine a soft, fluffy cake with a smooth, creamy frosting. But what if I want the best of both worlds?


Luckily, I can have it, all in the form of an oatmeal raisin cookie cupcake. It begins with one batter that gets split into two portions, one which becomes the cupcake, and one that gets combined with coconut and more oats to turn into the cookie-like topping. It's wholly satisfying, bringing chewiness as well as cakey-ness all in one bite. Further, there's plenty of aromatic cinnamon involved, so you know I'm happy.


Speaking of two for the price of one, I'm putting up two posts today--this one, and another over on The Back Burner, the blog for the awesome site called Key Ingredient. I'll be writing about a new sweet treat every Thursday, so feel free to visit early and often! Today's feature is a caramel apple pie cupcake, and as I mention in that post, it's the best I've ever made!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookcakes
(Martha did it again)
(makes 30)

3 3/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup oat bran
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups raisins
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 3 standard 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners; set aside. Whisk 2 cups oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, bran, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; set aside.
Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Mix in eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Mix in sour cream. Stir in raisins with a rubber spatula.
Transfer 2 3/4 cups batter to a small bowl, and stir in remaining 1 3/4 cups oats and the coconut; set aside. Spoon 2 1/2 tablespoons plain batter into each prepared muffin cup; top with 1 1/2 tablespoons oat coconut batter. Bake until golden and a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to wire racks; let cool completely.

These make fun minis, too!

46 comments:

  1. Gorgeous! Their texture is fabulous.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hate having to choose between two of my favorite desserts...and really I just always end up eating one of each. But these cupcakes save me the calories and much duress! Fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Those look really good, but I miss your usual perfect swirls of cupcake frosting!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Smart move, Grace. I never can decide when I look at a dessert table either. You've solved the problem!

    Like The Back Burner. Thanks for the link. What fun you'll be writing for them!

    ReplyDelete
  5. What an idea. No question about it. Will have to try these. The idea is as much fun as cupcakes with a ball of cookie dough baked inside. The texture sounds lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I usually take one of each and try to split them with someone:-)...these look awesome! Oatmeal Raisin is one of my all-time favorite cookies so in cake and cookie form all-in-one - oh yeah! I'm guessing that the top gets all crunchy like a cookie and the bottom is cakelike - I love the sound of that!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those look wonderful. I wonder if I could pull them off for breakfast.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the name of this recipe! It's so fun :) It's definitely the best of both worlds!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, that looks fun! I've seen cupcakes with cookies bottoms, but never cookie tops; I would love to eat about 10 of these.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Perfect combo of cookie and cupcake...maybe with just a smear of frosting??!! Can't wait to try these!

    ReplyDelete
  11. A muffin with cookie topping..wow..sounds and looks so cool!

    ReplyDelete
  12. These look amazing. I'll have to bookmark them and make them myself!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great idea. Your cookcakes look absolutely fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I made a new kind of cinnamon rolls last weekend. I ought to post them. Your cinnamon reminded me. Meanwhile, maybe I can whip up a batch of these cookie-cakes!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Grace, I believe this is what's commonly know as outdoing yourself.

    Bravo!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. You know... I've been thinking that I need to simplify my life... THIS is how I want to do that. No more decision making between cookies and cupcakes. Yes. Brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I prefer cupcakes topped with cookie over frosting. Then again, I was the weird kid who removed the frosting from most desserts that came with it. But I still say a cookie on top is better than frosting :).

    ReplyDelete
  18. These look like a perfect breakfast treat- and something my in-laws would love, which is always good!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oooh, they do look delicious Grace. Heading over to Key Ingredient asap. Is this the new project you mentioned before? Well done you.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Haha could you see me nodding eagerly at your first few questions Grace? :D

    ReplyDelete
  21. Now that is an interesting idea...My husband would love these

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lovely idea I love the texture!!! look nice Grace! gloria

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'll take two for the price of one - one of those caramel apple cupcakes and one of these oatmeal raisin cookie cakes! Or would that be a buy 1 get 2 free? I love a good deal :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. You mean we are supposed to decide between a cookie OR a cupcake?? Oh, my goodness. Let the apologies begin.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Cookie and cupcake in the same place? Love this concept. I must have this in my life.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Brilliant, just brilliant, is what I say to this! The best of both worlds works for me!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I just love two for the price of one!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. wow...sounds amazing...love it..;)
    happy following u..
    do drop by mine sometime.
    Tasty Appetite

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'd be perfectly happy with these muffins as well.I just put some pumpkin muffins in the oven but I am on a baking spree.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anytime I see oatmeal in a recipe, I am instantly drawn to it.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I think you may have just out done yourself this time Grace, this is a work of genius!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oooh I love the idea of cookies and cupcakes together! These sound perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  33. This is intriguing indeed. And really, no need to choose between a cookie and a cupcake--you deserve both!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Grace, this look so amazing, nice texture and the ingredients in it are just heaven. The pictures are awesome as always.
    Hope you have a great week ahead :-)

    ReplyDelete
  35. So now I can have my cake and cookie too? Sounds good to me! These look fabulous. :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thanks for stopping by my blog during my batter splatter. I have to say ... your delicious oatmeal cookie/cupcake sounds like it may help things a bit. I look forward to making some bad decisions and eating the whole batch. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for stopping by my blog during my batter splatter. I have to say ... your delicious oatmeal cookie/cupcake sounds like it may help things a bit. I look forward to making some bad decisions and eating the whole batch. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  38. A cookie and a cupcake all in one? Genius! And I'm sure it has half the calories of both, right? LOL I wish!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I need to make these ASAP! My kids are going to think I am such an awesome mom - thanks Grace!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Missed your blog, but glad to see this featured..these look amazing!! My hubby would love these!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Yumm! Love the coconut!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Awesomeness. But I would sub in chocolate chips for the raisins, I admit. :) Hey have you ever gotten on facebook or twitter? I want to pick your brain about what new shows you are watching! :)

    ReplyDelete
  43. the ground cinnamon and vanilla... i love the way they were combined into your recipe.. great job!

    ReplyDelete

Tell me things!