I was just telling my mom the other day that I used to hate New Year’s Eve, and now I love it.

These fun, festive Countdown cupcakes would make a fun treat for a New Year's Eve Party!!! Have the kiddos make them while they wait to ring in the new year

It used to mean something totally different.

It used to mean the end of a warm and festive holiday break, and the re-emergence into school. Sometimes, that was an ok thing – probably, mostly – and sometimes, often, it was utterly soul-crushing. Like the end of any good thing that was filled with all the feels. I don’t like missing people. Often, I’ll do anything to avoid it. Yes, there are people I will miss at the end of this break. That hasn’t changed. However, we throw such a fun, foodie party with a big group of friends and we have out-of-town guests. Then January comes, and brings with it new resolutions and inspiration. Then we go to Florida for a week. We will plan new house renovations (phase 2), a potential exotic trip, and just plain shiny newness. I love shiny newness.

New Year’s Eve Countdown Cupcakes:

What You Need:

6 Vanilla Cupcakes
6 Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (OREO or any off brand will work)
½ Cup Chocolate Melting Disks
½ Container of Vanilla Frosting
Gold and Silver Sugar
Nonpareil and Gold Star Sprinkles

What You Do:

1 – First, with a piping bag or knife, frost all the cupcakes

2 – Then, sprinkle each cupcake with sugar and sprinkles

3 – Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl in 30 second intervals or until melted

4 – Next, make sure to stir each time you check it

5 – Place melted chocolate in a small baggie and cut the corner just a tiny tiny bit

6 – After that, take your sandwich cookie and split apart. You only need the side with the cream

7 – Next, with your chocolate, pipe on the clock numbers 12, 3, 6, and 9

8 – Then, draw a little second and minute hand pointing at any of the numbers

9 – Place clock on the cupcake and push down a little so it stays put

10 – Lastly, enjoy these festive cupcakes!

Looking for more New Year’s Eve treats. Check out our Sprinkle Dipped Fortune Cookies!

What do you do for New Year’s Eve?

These Gingerbread OREO Cupcakes are pretty much Christmas perfection and are tasty and easy to make! Perfect for the class or office holiday party or event!

As you can maybe imagine, I’m in a weird post-Hamilton state of mind.

Maybe I don’t recommend seeing Hamilton on a weekend, because then you have to wake up that Monday morning – potentially dark and stormy and so scattered that you give one of your kids two water bottles and the other none – and face the post-Hamilton life. I’ll be fine, I swear, and I’ll be sharing some stories and photos later this week – after I’ve had time to process it. It’s going to take a LOT of soundtrack-listening while roaming around the New England countryside in my minivan. That’s right. It’s also going to take cupcakes. What else is there? I don’t even LIKE cupcakes, but I like these.

It’s the cute faces, the melted chocolate, and the OREO cookies, of course. What else is there?

Gingerbread OREO Cupcakes:

What You Need:

One dozen of your favorite vanilla cupcakes
12 OREO cookies
1 cup brown candy melts
¼ cup white candy melts
2 tsps coconut oil
1 stick butter, softened
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
4-5 tbsp milk
1 tsp red gel food coloring

Yields: 12 decorated cupcakes

What You Do:

1 – Before decorating, ensure your cupcakes are completely cool. Line a plate or baking sheet with wax paper and place both candy melts in a microwave safe bowl. Add coconut oil.

2 – In 30-second intervals, microwave your candy until completely melted.

3 – Use a fork to dip each OREO cookie into the candy melts. Coat completely and place gently on lined sheet and/or plate.

4 – Allow for the candy to set on the cookie.

5 – Make your buttercream by beating butter, confectioners’ sugar and milk on medium speed. Gradually increase to high.

6 – Once the ingredients are smooth and form semi-stiff peaks, the buttercream is done. Take ¾ of the buttercream and place it in a separate bowl.

7 – Color your remaining ¼ buttercream with red gel food coloring and mix until completely tinted. Scoop into a piping bag with a small decorating tip and pipe out two small dots on each coated OREO cookie.

8 – Scoop ¾ of the white/uncolored buttercream in one piping bag with a frosting decorating tip and frost each cupcake.

9 – Scoop the remainder of your uncolored buttercream in another piping bag with a small decorating tip and draw out your gingerbread man’s smile, eyes, and decorative touches (we used a “swirl” technique for the top of his head).

10 – Enjoy, and happy holidays!