Birthdays have always been special at our house! Time to celebrate – take a break – eat good food – make fun desserts! Now that all the kids have their own homes, it is a good reason to get everyone together to celebrate.
A “few” years ago, Cathy Oesterling shared this recipe with me when we were working together for University Extension and teaching a class on how to use microwave ovens. (OK – maybe more than a few years ago…)
Cupcakes from the original recipe were cooked in the microwave, but I have baked them in the oven. These cupcakes have been a celebration tradition for many years at our house. Chocolate, cream cheese and chocolate chips combine to make a very special cupcake – yet so easy!
Chocolate Party Cupcakes
Delicious chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese and chocolate chip filling.
Servings: 24
Ingredients
Cupcake
- 1 Chocolate Cake Mix
Cream Cheese Fillings
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips (plus a few more to add to filling layer, if desired)
Frosting
- 1 1/3 cup butter, softened
- 2 pounds powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon vanillla
- 1/4 cup sprinkles, optional
Instructions
Filling
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, salt and egg together in a bowl. Stir in chocolate chips. Set aside.
Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place 24 cupcake liners in cupcake pan.
- Prepare cake mix according to directions.
- Fill each cupcake liner approximately 1/4 full of chocolate cake batter. Using a small pitcher to fill the cupcake liners makes it easier – and is less messy than using a spoon.
- Put about 1 tablespoon of filling on top of chocolate layer in the center of each cupcake. Can add a 2-3 chocolate chips to center, if desired.
- Add layer of chocolate over filling, so liner is filled about 2/3 full.
- Bake according to cake mix directions, about 12-15 minutes, or until cupcake top bounces back to touch.
- Let cool in cupcake pan for a few minutes, then cool on a cooling rack.
Frosting
- After cupcakes are completely cool, can frost with your favorite frosting or use the Buttercream Frosting above.
- Cream butter with mixer. Add powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth and creamy, scraping sides of bowl often, about 2 minutes. Add a few drops of milk at a time, if too stiff and add a little bit of powdered sugar at a time if you want a stiffer frosting.
- Pipe or frost with a knife. Add sprinkles and other decorations, if desired.
Notes
This is a version of a recipe Cathy Oesterling shared when we worked together for University Extension.
