Owl Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour , sifted
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 0.5 cups vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup hot water

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 muffin tins with paper liners.

2. 2

   Combine 2 cups sugar, flour, 1 cup cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a bowl.

3. 3

   Whisk buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Add flour mixture; mix until well-combined. Pour in hot water; stir until batter is smooth. Divide batter evenly among muffin tins.

4. 4

   Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 12 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 20 minutes.

5. 5

   Whip 3/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoon heavy cream in a bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Fold in 1 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese, 7 tablespoons cocoa powder, and 1/4 cup sugar gently to make frosting.

6. 6

   Spread 1 tablespoon frosting over each cooled cupcake.

7. 7

   Twist chocolate sandwich cookies open, leaving all cream filling on 1 side. Place 2 cookies, cream filling-side up, on each cupcake to make owl eyes. Place a brown milk chocolate piece on each cookie to create pupils. Insert an orange or yellow milk chocolate piece in the center to make a beak.