Cookie Dough Cupcakes :)

I'm realizing that the further I get into this blog, the more and more it turns into a food blog--specifically a baking blog. Not exactly a bad thing...nor is it really surprising. Anyways, I've been finding myself with a lot of free alone time these past couple weeks which has been amazing. It has given me time to think, relax, and most importantly concoct some pretty delicious things in my little kitchen :)  Last Friday, for instance,  I perfected a recipe that I tried for the first time a few months ago; cookie dough cupcakes. Originally I had followed the directions for these cupcakes and used box mixes for both the cake batter and cookie batter. It almost killed me but I didn't have the time or ingredients to do either :'( They were good, but not right. SO, I made them again for a tailgating party with my coworkers (my first Brewers game!) and they turned out much better :)

^^^^there's cookie dough inside there^^^^ :O

Cookie Dough Cupcakes
Step 1: Cookie Dough
*Make this in advance! Waiting the hour for the dough to freeze can be rough!

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

-Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and sea salt; set aside.

-Mix the softened butter and sugars in a large bowl until smooth.

-Add the egg and the vanilla extract and mix until smooth.

-Mix in the flour mixture, just blended.

-Fold in the chocolate chips; mixing just enough to evenly combine. 
-Form the dough into tablespoon-sized balls. Place onto a baking sheet, and freeze until solid (about an hour).

Step 2: Basic Yellow Cake
*Perfect for a double layer round cake too :)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 1/3 teaspoon baking powder
2/3 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 large eggs
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
-Line cupcake pan with paper baking cups.
-In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, mixing well.
-In a small bowl mix together the milk and vegetable oil. Add the milk and vegetable oil mixture as well as the softened butter and vanilla to the dry flour mixture.
-Add the eggs and continue mixing until well blended.
-Pour into prepared cupcake pans, filling each about 2/3 of the way full. Place a frozen cookie dough ball on top and press it down slightly into the batter.
-Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted (not in the center--avoid stabbing the cookie dough) comes out clean.
-Let cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then place on wire racks and cool completely...or eat immediately ;)

I made another amazing batch of cupcake last night, but I'm exhausted and have to be up early tomorrow (eeek, today? :/) for a shift. Buuut here's a hint; eanutpay utterbay othay udgefay upcakescay. Riddle me that.
"The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude." -Julia Child