Lemon and Oreo Cupcakes (2 recipes... not together... gross!)

Lucky you! Today you get double the fun... because, really, there's been a lot of excitement in my life lately.

First of all, last week = yearbook camp = madness. Crazy, fun, nerdy, yearbooky madness. But all in a good way! Yearbooks West kicked off with cupcakes two ways--Oreo Creme Cupcakes AND Dark Chocolate Pomegranate. Let's just say, I might have been really popular at camp. My plan was to post the recipe before I left for Orange County, but with that whole thesis business, it just didn't happen.

Second... My house almost burned down today. For real. AND NOT BECAUSE OF MY BAKING!!! How dare you even think that! I was off taking care of business at the gym, then gettin' my hairs did, and I come home to a HUGE FREAKING FIRE TRUCK in front of my house! Not quite what I wanted to see, right?

photo by Jessica Y.

Oh, hello firemen...

Apparently, my neighbors saved my house. Some neighborhood hooligans were down in the ravine, smoking their blunts and they either sparked something or lit something on fire on purpose, and then when the blaze started going, they bolted. Luckily, the folks across the ravine, saw the fire and called 911. The lady across the street dispatched her son in law and he grabbed our garden hose, while the mailman hopped our fence and grabbed the hose from the back yard. Their efforts kept the blaze under control until the fire department showed up. Our fence is a little scorched, but it could have been a lot worse!

And what better way to thank these people than with cupcakes!?!? And what says, "Hey, thanks for not letting my house burn down" better than lemon cupcakes? Nothing, of course!

photo by Jessica Y.

Delicious, lemony goodness that screams, "arson sucks!"

Summertime Lemon Cupcakes

1 Cup Butter
2 Cups Sugar
3 Eggs
2 Teaspoons Grated Lemon Zest
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Teaspoon Lemon Extract
3 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
2 Cups Sour Cream

1. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

2. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add the vanilla and lemon, along with the zest.

3. Sift together dry ingredients.

4. Alternate between adding the flour mixture and the sour cream.

5. Scoop into muffin cups and bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

6. Cool, frost, enjoy!

Oreo Creme Cupcakes

photo by Jessica Y.

These taste JUST LIKE cookies and milk!

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 ground oreo cookies
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup whole milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place muffin cups in tray. Split oreo cookies in half and place the side with the creme in the bottom of the muffin cup.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. 
3. Combine flour, oreo dust and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared cups, ensuring that the oreo remains in the bottom.
4. Bake for 25 minutes. Yum!