Valentine’s Day is all about showing love. We have a very untraditional tradition: a basketball game and a bar for munchies. It started at some point before we were married – a game my husband really wanted to go to just happened to fall on February 14. I thought agreeing to go made me a super-awesome girlfriend, but the truth is I enjoyed it so much we’ve kept it going. Doing something he really enjoys – instead of just the stereotypical girl-pampering – has always felt like a great way to say I love you/I love us. Of course, life got busy and we didn’t end up getting tickets for a game this year.

I still want to do something, though, so I’ve been looking for some other inspiration. And, when I need inspiration I end up baking. Usually something sweet. Like cupcakes. I pink-ed these out so I could call them Valentine’s Day cupcakes but they’re really just “hey, I needed a cupcake in my life today cupcakes”.

I mean, showing love is coming home to freshly baked cupcakes, right?

Oreo Cupcakes
(adapted from Cupcakes From The Cake Mix Doctor)
Makes about 2 dozen

For the cupcakes:
20 Oreos
1 package plain white cake mix
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the icing:
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/8 tsp. salt
10 Oreos, finely ground
Optional: Food coloring

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and line a cupcake pan.

Crush Oreos into medium-sized crumbs. Set aside.

Beat together the cake mix, sour cream, oil, eggs and vanilla for 2 minutes, scraping down the side as needed. Fold in crushed Oreos.

Fill the each well of the prepared cupcake pan about 2/3 of the way. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until cupcakes are lightly golden and they spring back when lightly pressed.

Remove cupcakes to a cooling rack and cool completely before frosting.

To make the frosting, beat the butter in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the sugar 1/2 cup at a time, beatining until well blended after each addition. Add in the milk and vanilla and beat for another 3-5 minutes, until very smooth and creamy. Add food coloring as desired and beat until incorporated evenly, scraping down the bowl as needed. Fold in the finely ground Oreos.

Frost cupcakes and enjoy!