Gluten-free Dairy-free Oreo Cupcakes are your favorite cookie made into a tall, tender dessert. Soft, dark chocolate cupcakes are topped with thick, creamy Oreo frosting–with real Oreo crumbs running through it. So tasty, so spot on–no one will know that this dessert is gluten free and dairy free. There’s even an egg free option to make these gluten free vegan as well! With easy modifications, this dessert should work for just about any dietary restriction so everyone can enjoy America’s Favorite cookie…in cake form.
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WHY WE LOVE THESE OREO CUPCAKES
Calling an oreo fan (or cookies and cream–however you want to put it)! If you love the taste of Oreo, but want something bigger and better–this is it. As much as I like Oreo’s–I’ve ever loved how stale and crispy they are. This cookies and cream dessert gives you all the taste plus better texture. My kids inhale these, and I admit I do too. I have to literally count and divide them, otherwise fights break out claiming someone got more. Pretty sure that this is going to be the official birthday dessert of our family now. The dark chocolate base counteracts the sweet frosting to give you something craveable…and dare I say addicting. Moist chocolate cupcakes topped with creamy frosting that has real oreo cookie pieces in it just can’t be beat!
HOW DO I MAKE THE OREO CUPCAKES GLUTEN FREE?
In order to make these oreo cupcakes gluten free only requires two easy switches: use a gluten-free all purpose flour and use the official gluten-free Oreos. I like to use Great Value (Walmart brand) all purpose gluten-free flour blend or make my own homemade gluten free flour blend. As far as store bought blends go, I find the Great Value blend to be very similar to Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 flour blend, but less expensive. Feeding a family of six takes all the budget shortcuts I can get. I find as long as the gluten-free flour has these components: rice flour, potato starch and tapioca starch that it will work well. If it has sorghum flour in it too, that doesn’t hurt. I like to use ones that already have xanthan gum in it. If your blend does not, add 3/4 teaspoon to your batter.
I can find the gluten-free Oreos at my local Walmart, and many other big box grocery stores, as well as on Amazon. If you can’t find Oreos, or need some different options, Kinnickinick has K-Too’s and Glutino has their Chocolate Vanilla Creme Cookies that would work well too.
*If you do not need them to be gluten-free, you can simply swap in regular flour at a 1:1 ratio (and don’t worry about the xanthan gum) and use regular Oreos.
HOW DO I MAKE THE OREO CUPCAKES DAIRY FREE?
Thankfully, Oreo cookies are naturally dairy-free. So, the only two swaps you need to make are using dairy free/vegan butter and rice milk. I have used both Earth Balance Buttery Sticks or Country Crock Plant Butter Olive Oil Sticks just fine. I would think using other brands would most likely work too. Let me know in the comments if you try another brand.
For the dairy free milk substitute, you’ll notice I call for rice milk. I do this because it doesn’t have an after taste or a strong flavor to compete with the Oreo flavor. If you can’t have rice milk, or need to use something else, I would assume it wouldn’t affect the texture, but may affect the taste. Use at your own discretion.
*If you don’t need these to be dairy free, you can use regular milk and butter at the same ratios.
CAN I MAKE THESE OREO CUPCAKES EGG FREE AND VEGAN?
My son used to have an egg allergy, so I have made these oreo cupcakes successfully using 2 flax eggs (2 Tablespoons of ground flax meal + 5 Tablespoons warm water). If you swap out the eggs, because you’re already using vegan butter and rice milk, this entire dessert will also then be vegan.
WHY DO I USE APPLESAUCE IN THIS RECIPE?
I used to use a dairy-free sour cream in this recipe to give it extra an extra moist and soft crumb, but I realized that was difficult to find and expensive. I tried subbing it out for applesauce and it totally has the same affect, and everyone has applesauce in their pantry! I’ve been making these cupcakes for over a decade, and even “regular eaters” at all of our family birthday parties rave about them, and claim they look forward to being invited to our parties just to get their yearly cupcake fix. Trust me, this really is the best oreo cupcake recipe!
HOW DO I FROST THESE CHOCOLATE OREO CUPCAKES?
I really don’t think there’s a wrong way to frost these fluffy chocolate cupcakes. You can use an official piping bag (either disposable or washable) and use a coupler and a large open star tip (also known as a 1M tip). That will give you a classic look. I am lazy and just fill a sandwich baggie with the frosting and snip the end off, as you can see in the video. I think it still gives a nice swirl as an end result and I’ve never heard anyone complain saying they’re not perfect. Besides–this favorite cupcake recipe gets eaten so fast they hardly notice what they look like! No matter the tool you’re using, I find the best results happen when you start from the outside and make smaller and smaller circles as you move towards the middle.
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO I NEED FOR THESE GLUTEN FREE OREO CUPCAKES?
The best oreo cupcakes can be made with these ingredients:
Cupcake Batter Ingredients:
- Non-dairy butter, I prefer Country Crock Plant Butter
- Water
- Applesauce
- Large eggs or flax eggs (see notes above)
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Xanthan (if not included in the all purpose mix)
- Granulated sugar
- Dark unsweetened cocoa powder
- Gluten-free flour
Oreo Buttercream Frosting:
- 6 gluten-free whole oreo cookies (leaving plenty in the package to snack on!)
- Non-dairy butter
- Powdered sugar
- Rice milk or other non-dairy milk of choice (see above)
- Salt
Can I bake your Gluten-free Oreo cupcakes with less sugar?
I do not recommend baking the cupcakes with less sugar. These are rich cupcakes, so you don’t find you want to gorge yourself on them, like some other cupcakes. One is plenty. I only make them for special occasions or birthdays, which to me, deserve to be celebrated full out! Where these are also already missing typical key baking ingredients: wheat and dairy, changing up the sugar can mess with the recipe and you won’t have the same pictured results you see.
Can I make your Gluten-free Oreo cupcakes in a food processor or standing mixer?
Where the cupcake base is made over the stove by melting the butter, I like to have less dishes and just finish making the cupcakes in the pot that I melted the butter in. If you want to pour the melted mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and finish making the rest of the recipe in the stand mixer you can do so. Just be sure to wash it out in between making the frosting.
I prefer making the frosting in the kitchenaid standing mixer. It’s much easier to whip until it’s creamed using a stand mixer. If you do not have a stand mixer, I recommend electric hand beaters.
If you do not have a food processor to crush the Oreos into a fine sand for the frosting, you can place them in a zip top baggie and beat them with your rolling pin until they are completely broken. It may not be as fine of a powder, but it will be close enough. Your frosting just may have bigger crumbles in it.
WHAT SUPPLIES DO I NEED FOR THESE DAIRY FREE OREO COOKIE CUPCAKES?
You will need:
- A large mixing bowl and electric hand mixer (alternatively, you can use a stand mixer with a whisk or paddle attachment… either works)
- Large mixing spoon
- Measuring cup and spoons
- Cupcake liners / also known as cupcake papers (optional–I don’t bother using them, but some really like to)
- Cupcake batter scooper (optional)
- Cooling rack
- Muffin tins (also known as a cupcake pan)
- Food processor or rolling pin to pulverize the oreos into fine crumbs
- Piping bag and desired piping tip (I am lazy, and just snip a corner of a plastic sandwich bag, as shown in the video)
- Airtight container to store leftovers in. I love this cupcake holder!
Storing Oreo Cupcakes
I like to store my frosted Oreo cupcakes at room temperature, covered. I love this cupcake carrier, and use this all the time when I make cupcakes and gluten free muffins and have leftover ones that need to be covered because it gives it plenty of space. Versus if you just cover them with saran wrap which can touch the frosting and tops of the cupcakes and mess them up.
The cupcakes last 2-3 days, covered.
If you live in a humid or hot place (I live in Idaho–a drier climate) you may find if the frosting starts to melt, to keep them in your fridge.
DO I HAVE OTHER GLUTEN FREE DAIRY FREE CUPCAKES AND FROSTINGS?
I do! What is a party without a cake or cupcakes? Below you’ll find a mixture of cakes and cupcakes, and all should be able to be made into either 13×9 or cupcakes. Just be sure to watch the bake time, as ovens can vary, especially when baking different sizes. One sure way to know if something is done is if you touch the top of the cupcakes or cake and it is springy and bounces back, then it should be good to go–and it will smell done! Enjoy these sweet treats!
- Gluten free Dairy Free Carrot Sheet Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
- Gluten Free Dairy Free Vanilla Frosting
- Gluten Free Dairy Free Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Gluten Free Dairy Free Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Gluten Free Vegan Yellow Cake
- How to Adapt a Gluten-free Box Mix to Make It Vegan (Top 8 Free too!)
- Allergy Friendly Halloween Cake
- Gluten Free Dairy Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake
- Gluten Free Dairy Free Chocolate Sheet Cake
- Gluten Free Dairy Free Lemon Raspberry Streusel Cake
- Gluten Free Dairy Free Cherry Chocolate Cake
- Gluten Free Dairy Free Red Velvet Cake with Marshmallow Ganache
DO I HAVE A VIDEO SHOWING HOW TO MAKE THESE GLUTEN FREE DAIRY FREE OREO CUPCAKES?
Yes I do! I love seeing how to make a recipe from start to finish and I know you will too! The video should auto populate for you, but if it does not, it should also be at the bottom of the recipe card. If that still does not work, you can view it on my YouTube channel.
Gluten Free Dairy Free Oreo Cupcakes
Gluten-free Dairy-free Oreo Cupcakes are your fav cookie made into a tall, tender dessert. Cookies & cream at its finest! (eggless and vegan option too)
Ingredients
CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS:!
- 1 and 1/2 sticks vegan butter (12 Tablespoons)
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 2 eggs [or 2 flax eggs (2 Tablespoons ground flax seeds mixed with 5 Tablespoons of water) if you need egg free]
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon xanthan (if not included in the all purpose mix)
- 1 and 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup dark cocoa powder
- 2 cups all purpose gluten-free flour
FROSTING INGREDIENTS:!
- 6 whole gluten-free Oreo cookies, pulverized into fine crumbs
- 1 cup non-dairy butter, (I prefer Country Crock olive oil butter)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1-2 Tablespoons rice milk or other non-dairy milk of choice
Instructions
- Grease a muffin tin and preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large stock pot over medium heat, melt your butter. Stir in your water.
- Remove from heat.
- Add your applesauce, eggs and vanilla. Stir.
- Add in your salt, baking soda, sugar and cocoa powder. Stir.
- Stir in the gluten-free flour until everything is mixed.
- Scoop 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of batter in each muffin tin.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until middle is done and thoroughly cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest in the muffin tin for an additional five minutes.
- Afterwards, turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
- While the cupcakes cool, make the frosting.
- Pulverize the Oreo cookies until they are a fine crumb--either with a food processor, or a rolling pin (with the cookies in a plastic baggie).
- In a stand mixer, or a large bowl with electric hand beaters, beat your butter.
- Add in your salt and powdered sugar a cup at a time.
- Add in your rice milk 1 TBSP at a time, to help the frosting come together, until it reaches your desired texture. I find I only need 2 TBSP. The frosting will be thick and creamy.
- Stir in your oreo crumbs.
- Frost the cooled cupcakes with the frosting mixture. Store covered, at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Notes
Chocolate cupcake recipe slightly tweaked rom my birthday cupcake recipe.
Oreo frosting tweaked from Cake by Courtney's Cookies and Cream Cake.
See the post above for FAQs. And see the video below for a visual example of how to make it.
*Our allergies, while severe and that get re-tested frequently, are such that we can go strictly by what's on the label. I do not call companies to see what things are derived from, or call manufacturers to see about potential cross contact. If your allergies require you to do so, please do your own homework. I cannot assure you of any ingredient's safety, only you can do that. I simply share what works for our family
**If you are going to feed this to someone with food allergies, and you yourself do not have food allergies, I HIGHLY recommend having them check every single brand and ingredient you are using, to ensure they're OK with each part of the recipe. And, to make sure you've talked to them about how to avoid cross contamination in your kitchen.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 390Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 408mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 1gSugar: 34gProtein: 5g
DON’T FORGET TO PIN IT, SO YOU DON’T LOOSE IT! WHILE YOU’RE THERE, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY OTHER DIETARY SPECIFIC PINTEREST BOARDS!
Hi! I’m Megan, a mom to four kids, two with multiple food allergies & one with EOE. I’m a published cookbook author that constantly tweaks recipes to make them allergy friendly–it’s an addiction. I share every recipe & tip with the hope that they help you as you manage your food allergies & dietary restrictions. You can still be awesome, even with food allergies!
Christopher
Hi!
Could you use instead of 1:1 GF flour, oat flour of the same amount + the recommended xanthan gum? Can’t eat rice/corn , so was curious about subbing that out.
Megan Lavin
Hi Christopher, I’m sorry but you cannot swap a single oat flour in place of an all purpose gluten free flour blend. If you can’t have rice and corn, I’d check paleo recipes out that use almond flour as they will not have grains. I do have an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie that only calls for oat flour: https://allergyawesomeness.com/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies-gf-df-soy-peanutnut-free/
Chris
Hi! Could I replace the 1:1 GF flour with equal amounts of GF oat flour with the recommended xanthan gum amount? I can’t do corn or rice, so I was wondering how to substitute this out.
Thanks
Megan Lavin
Hi Chris, I wish I could help, but my recipes are built around this type of flour. You’ll probably have more luck finding almond flour or other type of nut flour recipes that are specifically built for those than trying to sub such a different quality flour. Each grain absorbs liquid differently and cooks differently.
Kate
Do you think I could use oil instead of applesauce? My niece is allergic to apples.
Megan Lavin
Hi–as I mention above, I used to use dairy-free sour cream; but found that it was expensive, so I switched to applesauce. If you cant’ do applesauce, I’d go back to the dairy free sour cream. Or, you could try another mild fruit puree (I haven’t tried this, just a guess.)
Kate
I made them with dairy free sour cream, and they were delicious. My whole family loved them and couldn’t believe they were dairy and gluten free. Thank you!!
Megan Lavin
Thanks so much for the kind feedback, Kate!
Gail Miller
These aren’t bad for being dairy-free. I baked them for 19 minutes. (Tried 17 minutes and not quite done yet.) I think the cake itself wasn’t quite as moist as I’d like, so next time I might add a little more applesauce, by increasing the 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup. Taste and texture is good. I used regular cocoa powder instead of the dark. Still is good ????! Frosting is super yummy, but maybe a bit too salty for some, so you might want to use less salt to your taste.
Megan Lavin
Thanks for the feedback, Gail. Have a lovely day.
Lynsey
I just made these today. (With flaxseed) and holy cow this is amazing. The frosting is so so good! And the cupcakes are so chocolatey and delicious. Put together and it’s the perfect cupcake. (I tried the cupcake and frosting separately and then together *for research*) hahaha. This is a repeat.