Owl Cupcakes (Harry Potter Inspired)
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These Owl Cupcakes are a fun and whimsical treat inspired by Harry Potter’s beloved pet, Hedwig. Not only are they adorable and perfect for any Harry Potter party or movie night but these easy cupcakes taste just as good as they look!
Adorable Owl Cupcakes (Harry Potter-Inspired)
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, or if you just happen to like adorable owls, you’re going to love these Hedwig owl cupcakes. They are so light and fluffy, with a delicious chocolatey Oreo base. Topped with a melt-in-your-mouth, sweet and creamy frosting that’s filled with more bits of Oreo cookies, they’re completely irresistable.
What really makes these little guys a real showstopper is their cute owl shape. The cupcakes are decorated with big round eyes, and a cute little Oreo beak, making them resemble Hedwig. They’re perfect for Harry Potter-themed parties or just as a fun baking project to try out with the kiddos.
If you’re hosting a Harry Potter or Halloween party, you’ll also want to check out this Easy Butterbeer Recipe or this decadent Butterbeer Frosting Board.
Why We Love This Recipe
- Easy recipe: The cute owl cupcakes start out with Oreos and a boxed cake mix. It only takes a few extra ingredients to create these bakery-worthy treats.
- Adorable cupcakes: With their whimsical big eyes, these little owls will be a huge hit at Halloween parties, birthday parties, or just a fun treat for a Harry Potter movie night.
- Delicious: The cupcakes themselves are moist and fluffy. But the homemade vanilla frosting is absolutely amazing and sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Recommended Tools
- Mixing bowls
- measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Stand mixer
- Hand mixer
- muffin tin
- Ice cream scoop
- Cupcake liners
- Piping bag
Ingredients
- White or Vanilla Box Cake Mix
- Eggs
- Water
- Oil
- Oreos
- Butter
- Vanilla Extract
- Salt
- Powdered Sugar
- Heavy Whipping Cream
- White food gel Color
- Yellow Eyeball
- Sprinkles
How to Make Cute Owl-Themed Cupcakes
For the cupcakes
Step 1: Preheat your oven according to the directions on the box cake mix. Line the cupcake pan with white cupcake liners. You will need enough for 6 cupcakes.
Step 2. Place one Oreo cookie in each cupcake liner.
Step 3. In a large bowl, add the box of cake mix and the ingredients listed on the box to make it (eggs, water oil).
Step 4. Using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the ingredients just until the dry ingredients are well incorporated with the wet.
Step 5. Using your ice cream scooper, put a scoop of cake mix over each Oreo.
Step 6. Place your cupcakes in the oven and bake according to the instructions on the box.
Step 7. Take the vanilla cupcakes out of the oven and let them cool while you make the vanilla buttercream frosting,
For the frosting
Step 1. You’ll want to take 6 Oreos sandwich cookies and separate the Oreo halves. Remove the cream and place it in a small bowl for later.
Step 2. Put 8 of the individual cookies in a zip lock, seal it. Break them into small pieces.
Note: Make sure the pieces are small enough to fit through the piping bag, but not so small that you’ve crushed them into dust.
Step 3. Take the remaining Oreo cookies and break them into bigger chunky triangle pieces. Save these to make the owl beaks later.
Step 4. In a large bowl, whip your room temperature butter with your electric mixture on medium speed for about 2-3 minutes or until it’s light and fluffy.
Step 5. Next, add the cream from the Oreos, the vanilla extract, salt and powder sugar. Mix the ingredients together on slow speed until smooth.
Step 6. Add the heavy whipping cream to the frosting mixture along with about 3 drops of white Food Gel Color. Continue to mix until everything is well combined and has a smooth frosting texture.
Step 7. Using a kitchen spatula, fold the tiny Oreos pieces into the frosting, making sure not to fold too much. You want to see speck of the cookies but you want the frosting to keep it’s white color (just like Hedwig in the movies).
Step 8. Fill your piping bag with the frosting, securing the end. Use scissors to cut an opening on the front end of the piping bag.
Step 9. Place the cupcakes on a flat surface.
Step 10. Lightly squeeze your piping bag and move counterclockwise around the edges of the cupcake.
Step 11. Continue to do this around the cupcake moving up a layer as you go until you reach a peak. Place the cupcakes in the fridge to firm up.
Note: Don’t worry about piping perfection. It’s okay if each cupcake looks different.
Step 12. Once out of the fridge, add the yellow eye sprinkles to the top of the cupcake.
Step 13. Use your bigger triangle Oreo pieces to make a beak for the owls.
Place the frosted cupcakes on a table or platter to be served and enjoy!
These cupcakes will need to be stored in an airtight container in the fridge to make sure the frosting stays fresh. They should stay fresh for about 3-4 days.
Easy Owl Cupcakes Variations
- Chocolate frosting: Though these cupcakes are designed with white frosting to look like Hedwig, you can use chocolate frosting if you prefer. Just add a tablespoon of cocoa powder to the frosting mixture and blend.
- Cake mix: While cake mixes make baking a breeze, you can always use your favorite homemade cupcake recipe.
- Chocolate cupcakes: If you have chocoholics in your family, feel free to swap out the white cake mix for chocolate.
- Can of frosting: If you need a short cut, you can cheat with a can of frosting from the grocery stop. To give it a fluffy texture, add it to a bowl and blend it with your electric mixer for a minute or two.
- Cookies: While the chocolate Oreos work best for the beak, you can use golden Oreos as the base. You can also omit the cookie bottom all together if you’d like.
- Chocolate chips: To change it up, trying using mini chocolate chips in the frosting instead of cookie bits.
Tips for the Best Oreo Owl Cupcakes
- Make sure not to overfill the cupcake liner. You’ll want to fill them about 2/3rds of the way full.
- Don’t overmix the batter. This can cause the cupcakes to become tough and chewy when they’re baked.
- To prevent the frosting from melting and sliding off the cupcakes, allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
- If you can’t find the candy eyes, you can make Oreo eyes. Pull the Oreos apart and remove the filling. Use the two chocolate cookies with a little colored frosting to create the pupil.
- Add the heavy cream a little bit at time. You want the frosting to be thick enough to hold it’s shape, but thin enough to pipe smoothly.
What More Harry Potter Inspired Dessert Recipes?
- Harry Potter Acid Pops
- Butterbeer Ice Cream
- Butterbeer Cupcakes
- Harry Potter Treacle Tart
- Butterbeer Poke Cake
- Chocolate Frogs
Owl Cupcakes (Harry Potter Inspired)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 Oreo cookies
- 1 box white cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
- white food gel color
- large yellow candy eyes
Instructions
For the cupcakes
- Preheat your oven according to the directions on the box cake mix. Line the cupcake pan with white cupcake liners. You will need enough for 6 cupcakes.
- Place one Oreo cookie in each cupcake liner.12 Oreo cookies
- In a large bowl, add the box of cake mix and the ingredients listed on the box to make it (eggs, water, oil).1 box white cake mix, 3 eggs, 1 cup water, 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- Using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the ingredients just until the dry ingredients are well incorporated with the wet.
- Using your ice cream scooper, put a scoop of cake batter over each Oreo.
- Place your cupcakes in the oven and bake according to the instructions on the box.
- Take the vanilla cupcakes out of the oven and let them cool while you make the vanilla buttercream frosting,
For the frosting
- Take 6 Oreos sandwich cookies and separate the cookies from the cream. Place the cream in a small bowl and set it to the side.12 Oreo cookies
- Put 8 of the individual cookies in a zip lock, seal it. Break them into small pieces. Make sure the pieces are small enough to fit through the piping bag, but not so small that you’ve crushed them into dust.
- Take the remaining Oreo cookies and break them into bigger chunky triangle pieces. Save these to make the owl beaks later.
- In a large bowl, whip your room temperature butter with your electric mixture on medium speed for about 2-3 minutes or until it’s light and fluffy.8 Tbsp unsalted butter
- Next, add the cream from the Oreos, the vanilla extract, salt and powdered sugar. Mix the ingredients together on slow speed until smooth.12 Oreo cookies, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp salt, 2 cups powdered sugar
- Add the heavy whipping cream to the frosting mixture along with about 3 drops of white Food Gel Color. Continue to mix until everything is well combined and has a smooth frosting texture.2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream, white food gel color
- Using a kitchen spatula, fold the tiny Oreos pieces into the frosting, making sure not to fold too much. You want to see speck of the cookies but you want the frosting to keep it’s white color (just like Hedwig in the movies).
- Fill your piping bag with the frosting, securing the end. Use scissors to cut an opening on the front end of the piping bag.
- Place the cupcakes on a flat surface.
- Lightly squeeze your piping bag and move counterclockwise around the edges of the cupcake.
- Continue to do this around the cupcake moving up a layer as you go until you reach a peak. Place the cupcakes in the fridge to firm up.
- Once the frosting has chilled, add the yellow candy eyes to the top of the cupcake.large yellow candy eyes
- Use your bigger triangle Oreo pieces to make a beak for the owls.
Notes
- Don’t overmix the batter. This can cause the cupcakes to become tough and chewy when they’re baked.
- To prevent the frosting from melting and sliding off the cupcakes, allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
- Add the heavy cream a little bit at time. You want the frosting to be thick enough to hold it’s shape, but thin enough to pipe smoothly.
Nutrition
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