Black Bottom Cupcakes

Drop everything and make these right now! They are SO good! Like most things that I bake, I did these for Mike because he "needed something good to eat." I have a really bad habit of stalking the internet for recipes, putting them in giant notebooks, and never cooking/baking them. So, lately, when I've had a desire to make something different, I've decided to delve through my volumes and find something there rather than just add to the madness :) This one has been in its notebook for so long, I don't even remember where I got it from! It even says "Submitted by Erin" on it. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO ERIN IS!!! Anyways, I think you're really going to love it!

Black Bottom Cupcakes
8 oz cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 c. sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 (6 oz) pkg semisweet chocolate chips (I would recommend the mini ones! They're absolutely perfect for this!)
1 1/2 c. sifted flour
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. soda
1/4 c. cocoa
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. water
1/3 c. oil
1 Tbs. vinegar
1 tsp. vanilla

Beat cream cheese, egg, sugar (1/3 c.), and salt in a bowl. Stir in the chocolate chips (Again, I can't say enough that you need the mini ones!). Set aside; beat all remaining ingredients until blended. Fill cupcake liners 1/3 full. Top each with a heaping spoonful of cream cheese mixture. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Makes about 1 1/2 dozen.

Cream cheese frosting
4 oz cream cheese, softened
3 Tbs. softened butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 to 1 1/2 c. powdered sugar

Beat together, adding milk and more powdered sugar to desired consistency and quantity. *If you have the desire to pipe this onto the cupcakes, you will need to double or even triple the amount of ingredients you use.







You really don't want to fill up the liners a whole lot...



...because once you add the cream cheese to it, it's going to fill up fast! Also, you really should use liners. I know there are those of you out there who feel that cupcake pans should be greased and floured. However, because of the heavy, cream cheese center, if you don't use a liner here, when you pull them out they'll just collapse everywhere.



Some of them might sink in the middle, where the cream cheese is, when they're done. It's okay!



Simply frost and VOILA! These are so easy to make and sooooo delicious! Those mini chips really make all of the difference :)
(Those sheep keep showing up... I think that, like the toys in Toy Story, they come to life when I'm not in the kitchen...)