If you love Oreo cookies, then you're going to love this Oreo buttercream frosting. It's perfect spread over layer cakes or cupcakes, and it's easy to make too!

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Make your cake extra delicious with this cookies and cream frosting. Spread it over a layer cake for a cookies and cream flavored dessert, or pipe it over cupcakes for a fabulous treat. This frosting recipe is perfect for any occasion.
For plain yellow cakes or boring chocolate cakes, this frosting can cover and upgrade them all. With your favorite cookies and a sweet buttercream frosting, there's nothing here that you won't love and enjoy.
Spread a dollop over some Microwave Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes or Cake Mix Mug Cakes or take breakfast to the next level by spreading it over some Homemade Cinnamon Roll Recipes.
If you love frosting recipes, be sure to check out my Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting. For more Oreo recipes, take a look at my Cookies and Cream Milkshake.
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💛 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients. We don't need much to make this Oreo cupcake frosting, and the ingredients that are needed are very simple and basic too. You may have some in your home already.
- Perfect for any occasion. Serve up some of this frosting over a weekend dessert or at the next birthday party or holiday event. It'll be a nice change of pace from the regular vanilla and chocolate buttercreams. Even an Easter Confetti Cake would be fun with a cookies and cream twist, just dye the frosting light blue and it'd be like a robin's egg.
- It's frugal. Making your own frosting from scratch is a pretty great way to cut costs and get more for your buck. Oreo buttercream is a great way to make a "fancy" cake without the high costs of retail. Meal Planning on a Tight Budget is made a lot easier when you make some items from scratch, and a large batch of frosting if definitely cheaper than buying it premade!
🛒 Ingredients

Butter- For added richness, you'll want to use butter, although shortening will work fine too. I like to use half salted butter and half unsalted butter.
Milk- Adding in just a little bit of milk will help to give us a nicer consistency for spreading or piping.
Oreos- You will need Oreo cookies to get that delicious cookies and cream flavor. If you have cookies leftover be sure to check out my Oreo Banana Bread and Seedling Cupcakes to help find some tasty reasons to use them up too.
See the recipe card below for full ingredients and instructions.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
Butter. Instead of butter, you can use Crisco shortening. Plain or butter-flavored shortening will work well in this Oreo buttercream recipe.
You can make this cookies and cream buttercream as fun and unique as you want thanks to the dozens of flavorful Oreo cookie options! Use mocha flavor cookies, mint Oreos, golden Oreos, etc.
Every time you make this cookies and cream frosting recipe, you can swap out the flavor of Oreo and experience it with a new flavorful twist! Think of all of the delicious possibilities.
💰 Budget-Friendly Tips
Use store-brand sandwich cookies. Off-brand "chocolate sandwich cookies" taste nearly identical to Oreos and cost half as much.
Buy in bulk. Large value packs of cookies are cheaper per ounce and let you use some for frosting and save the rest for snacking or other desserts.
Save the crumbs. If cookies break or crumble, don't toss them! Crush and mix them right into the frosting, no one will notice.
Stretch your butter. Use a mix of butter and shortening for a stable, pipeable frosting that costs less but still tastes rich.
🥄 Instructions for Oreo Buttercream Frosting

Step 1: Add your cookies to a food processor (Image 1) or a large gallon sized baggie.
Step 2: Pulse or mash into fine crumbs (Image 2). The smaller the better, especially if you plan on using a piping tip as large cookie pieces can clog the tips. Set aside.

Step 3: In a large mixing bowl, add the butter and powdered sugar (Image 3).
Step 4: Mix well with an electric mixer until the mixture is creamy and light (Image 4).
Step 5: Add in the vanilla (Image 5).
Step 6: Mix again to combine (Image 6).

Step 7: Add in your cookie crumbs (Image 7).
Step 8: Mix well to combine (Image 8). The frosting will be thick.
Step 9: Add in the milk (Image 9), one tablespoon at a time, mixing after each until your desired consistency (Image 10).
The cookie crumbs will soften as the frosting ages. If needed, place the cookies n cream frosting into the fridge to chill until easy to use.
Spread or pipe frosting over cooled cakes, cupcakes, or cookies as desired.
Enjoy!

👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Crushing cookies tip. I typically crush the cookies for this recipe using a food processor, but you can also place them in a large ziplock baggie and crush them with a rolling pin. It's a bit tougher than crushing graham crackers for a No Bake Graham Cracker Crust, but it's a fun activity that kids love to help with and should only take a few minutes.
- Proper frosting tip sizes. If you're planning to pipe the frosting using frosting tips, opt for large open tips like a Wilton M1 or similar "border tips." Ensure your Oreo crumbs aren't too large to fit through the tip.
- Adjusting frosting consistency. For a thinner frosting, gradually add more milk, but be cautious as a little goes a long way. If your frosting becomes too thin, you can thicken it by chilling it or by adding more powdered sugar.
🎂 How to Use
This frosting goes great spread over the top of sugar cookies or would be a great addition to my Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies. Sandwiching it between two chocolate cookies for a whoopie pie also sounds delicious.
You can top a cupcake with this frosting or pipe it into the center of a cupcake for a nice hidden surprise.
Adding it to a layer cake is also a great idea. The frosting spreads pretty easily and thanks to the texture, you can cover any imperfections in the cake.
❄️ Storage and Make Ahead
Storage: Keep Oreo buttercream in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, let it come to room temperature and re-whip to restore its fluffy texture.
Make Ahead: You can prepare this frosting up to 5 days in advance and store it in the fridge until needed. For longer storage, freeze it and thaw overnight in the fridge, then whip again before spreading or piping.
🥗 Side Dishes or Pairing Ideas
Use this Oreo buttercream to frost cakes, cupcakes, or brownies for a cookies-and-cream twist. It also makes a fun filling for whoopie pies or sandwich cookies. Spread it between graham crackers for an easy treat, or use it as a dip for strawberries and pretzels.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
No, I don't recommend doing that. The margarine won't hold up as well as butter or shortening would and will give you a different consistency as well as flavor. Shortening can be used just fine though!
This buttercream recipe makes enough to cover about a dozen cupcakes or one small cake (2 8-inch layers or 3 6-inch layers) with minimal decorations or borders.
If you place a frosted cake in the fridge or freezer for a few hours and then bring it to room temperature you will notice condensation or "sweat" on the frosting. This is a result of the changing temperatures and the moisture in the frosting. It's normal and completely fine. But for pictures or events, you may wish to wait to pull the cake from the fridge until just before serving.

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🐝 If you tried this Oreo buttercream frosting, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your buzz in the 💬 comments below. I'd truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Oreo Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
- 10 Oreo cookies - ($1.20)
- 3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature - ($2.97)
- 4 cups powdered sugar - ($1.44)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract - ($0.06)
- 3-4 tablespoons milk - ($0.04)
Instructions
- Crush cookies. Add Oreo cookies to a food processor or a sealed bag and crush into very fine crumbs. Set aside.
- Cream base. In a large bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until light and creamy.
- Add vanilla. Mix in vanilla extract until combined.
- Add crumbs. Add cookie crumbs and mix until fully incorporated. The frosting will be thick.
- Adjust consistency. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing after each addition, until desired consistency is reached.
- Chill if needed. Refrigerate briefly if the frosting is too soft for piping.
- Use. Spread or pipe onto cooled cakes, cupcakes, or cookies as desired.
Notes
- Piping Tips. Large open tips, such as Wilton M1, work best to prevent clogging.
- Texture Control. Add milk slowly to thin. If too soft, chill or add more powdered sugar.
- Make Ahead. Prepare up to 5 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Storage. Refrigerate for best freshness or freeze up to 3 months. Thaw and re-whip before using.
Nutritional Information
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