Cream-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes

Cream-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes

The base cake batter is delicious but a chocolate cake mix is a good subsitute.

Cake:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup white sugar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup water

1 tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Filling:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 egg

1/3 cup white sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two 12 cup muffin pans with paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup sugar, oil and water until blended. Stir in the vinegar and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture until incorporated. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, egg, 1/3 cup sugar and salt. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.

Fill muffin cups 1/3 full with chocolate batter, then top with a heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes.

Ice with buttercream icing and sprinkle with additional mini chocolate chips or chocolate jimmies. Or dust with powdered sugar.