Cream-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes

Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 teaspoons vinegar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°. Either grease cupcake pans or line them paper liners and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and cocoa powder. Mix the baking soda with oil and hot water in a bowl, then add the vinegar and vanilla. Pour this mixture into the dry mixture and beat until smooth.

Fill each cupcake pan half full with batter and top with a large tablespoon of filling (below). Spoon additional batter on top of each cupcake, filling the pans 2/3rds full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.

You can frost the cupcakes with your favorite chocolate frosting if desired.

Filling

Ingredients:

• 1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 (6oz) package chocolate chips

Instructions:

In a bowl, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in the egg, salt and sugar, then fold in the chocolate chips.