Black Bottom Cupcakes

I came across this recipe, and had to try them. I never saw, heard, or even knew black bottom cupcakes existed before this! I was definitely missing out :( The combination of the chocolate cupcake and the cream cheese filling is amazing. Amazing. I love the mini chocolate chips in the filling too! I think the only thing I need to be careful of in the future is not over filling the cupcakes..some of mine turned out with a very tiny "black bottom" when cut open. Oops. (^^;)



Black Bottom Cupcakes
from Baking Bites

Ingredients:

Cream Cheese Filling
16-oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 large egg whites, room temperature
2 tbsp sour cream, room temperature
1/3 cup miniature chocolate chips (not full size*)

Cake
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup sour cream
1 1/3 cups water
1/2 cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.

2. In a medium bowl, make filling. Beat together cream cheese, sugar and salt until smooth.

3. Beat in egg whites and sour cream. Stir in chocolate chips and set aside.

4. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, salt, flour, cocoa powder and baking soda.

5. Make a well in the center and add in sour cream, water, butter and vanilla. Stir together until just combined and no streaks of flour remain.

6. Divide cake batter evenly among 24 cupcake liners. Top each portion of batter with 1 rounded tablespoon cream cheese mixture (It is ok to have a little left over).

7. Bake for 20-25 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the side (cake only part) should come out with a few moist crumbs on it. Rotate pans halfway through baking if you are using two racks.

8. Cool in pans for 5 minutes. Cream cheese filling should sink slightly in this time. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes 24 cupcakes.

*Full-sized chocolate chips will sink to the bottom of the cupcakes, while miniature chips will remain suspended in the cream cheese center.