Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes w/ Fresh Strawberry Glaze

I love baking cupcakes. I usually research and read a ton of recipes before deciding on one. So, it was quite uncharacteristic of me to do what I did today.

I decided to use whatever was in my pantry at the time, to make a cupcake. Oreos, strawberries and cream cheese - that's what I came up with. So I give you, Oreo Cheesecake cupcakes with a strawberry glaze.

 
I originally considered a heavier frosting, like a strawberry butter cream, but decided against it. This glaze is lighter and fresher on the palate and goes well with the creaminess of the cupcake. The cupcake itself has an unusual texture. It is half-cake, half-cheesecake. So, it is very moist. I did not want it to be a cheese cake in cupcake liners. Hence, the addition of flour and baking powder.

I did look at a few pictures on the internet for inspiration, especially with regards to the base. I got that idea from the 52 cupcakes' post on Martha Stewart's Cookies & Cream cheesecakes.

How can you go wrong combining cream cheese, Oreo cookies and strawberries? The cupcakes are very good.

Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes w/Strawberry Glaze
Makes 12 cupcakes
Ingredients for Cupcakes
8oz  cream cheese
16 Oreo cookies
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup yoghurt
1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
Ingredients for Strawberry glaze
1/4 cup fresh strawberry puree
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Line your cupcake tray with paper liners. Inside each liner, place one whole Oreo cookie.
3. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer set to medium, beat the cream cheese until light.
4. Add the sugar and the vanilla and beat until well incorporated.
5. Add the beaten egg a little at a time.
6. Add the the yoghurt to the bowl and continue beating.
6. Sift the flour together with the baking powder and add to the cream cheese mixture. Mix until completely incorporated.
7. Crush the remaining four Oreo cookies and add to the batter. Stir into the batter to evenly distribute the cookie crumbs.
8. Spoon the batter over the Oreo bases until each liner is 3/4 full.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
10. When completely cool, dip the tops of the cupcakes in the strawberry glaze and let it set.

 I took these pictures before the glaze set and that's why the glaze looks so runny.

Strawberry Glaze -  Mix the strawberry puree with sifted, powdered sugar to make the glaze. Add more sugar if the mixture is too runny.

 I thought I wasn't pleased with the cupcake at first, but I realized these cupcakes taste better with time. And my husband, who is my best critic, loved it and even ate a second cupcake - something very unusual for him!

Think about it - Oreos + Cream cheese + Strawberries. How could you go wrong?