Circus Animal Cookie Cupcakes

These Circus Animal Cookie Cupcakes have vanilla cupcakes filled with a circus animal cookie infused cheesecake center, then topped with vanilla buttercream. Top it all off with a circus animal cookie for a fun, playful and delicious cupcake!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 18

Total Time 48

Servings servings

Calories 323kcal

Author Deborah Harroun

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter softened
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups buttermilk

Filling:

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 oz cream cheese at room temperature
3 oz frosted circus animal cookies crushed (about 23 cookies)

Frosting:

1 cup butter
5 cups powdered sugar
Pinch of salt
3-4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
36 frosted circus animal cookies

Instructions

To make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line 36 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat to combine.
3 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt
In a large bowl, cream the sugar and butter together on medium speed. Add in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl and beating after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.
2 cups sugar, 1 cup butter, 4 eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add 1/2 of the buttermilk and beat, followed by another 1/3 of the flour, the remaining buttermilk, then the remaining flour mixture, beating just until combined.
2 cups buttermilk
Divide the batter evenly between the 36 cups, filling each about 2/3 full.
Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack to cool completely.
To make the filling: Combine the cream, powdered sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until stiff peaks form. Add the cream cheese and continue to beat until completely combined. Stir in the crushed cookies.
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 4 oz cream cheese, 3 oz frosted circus animal cookies
To make the buttercream: Beat the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or in a medium bowl with a hand mixer until light. Slowly add in the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating completely between additions. Once all of the powdered sugar has been added, mix in a pinch of salt. Add in the cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. If desired, add 1-2 drops of red food coloring to color the buttercream pink.
1 cup butter, 5 cups powdered sugar, Pinch of salt, 3-4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
To assemble: Use a sharp knife to cut a cone out of the center of each cupcake, reserving the cut piece. Fill the center with 1 teaspoon of the filling, the replace the cut out piece back to the cupcake. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes.
Pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. Top with a frosted circus animal cookie and sprinkles if desired.
36 frosted circus animal cookies

Notes

Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts.

Nutrition