IMBB13: Black Bottom Cupcakes

click to enlarge

When Maki, of I was just really very hungry., announced that she would be the hostess with the mostess for this month's IMBB?, IMBB13: My Little Cupcake (or Muffin), I realized that I'd be able to make one of our family favourites that's going into the cookbook for my niece, which is always nice when you're trying to multi-task!

These cupcakes are fast to make, loved by adults and kids alike, and are perfect for little ones' birthday parties. I like them a bit larger and with more filling, so I end up with about 16, rather than 24 cupcakes. Of course, you can make them however you like best. You'll also get a slightly larger cupcake with the use of paper liners- again, it's all up to you.

Black Bottom Cupcakes
Makes 16-24 cupcakes


FOR THE FILLING:

1 cup CREAM CHEESE, softened
1 EGG, unbeaten
1/2 cup SUGAR
6 ounces CHOCOLATE CHIPS

FOR THE BATTER:

1 1/2 cups FLOUR
1 cup SUGAR
1/4 cup COCOA
1 teaspoon BAKING SODA
1/2 teaspoon SALT
1 cup WATER
1 cup OIL
1 tablespoon VINEGAR
1 teaspoon VANILLA

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter muffin tins (or fill with liners) and set aside.

Beat together the cream cheese, egg and sugar. Stir in the chocolate chips and set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla, and beat until well combined.

Depending on the size cupcakes you'd like, fill cups 1/3-1/2 full with batter, and top with 1 generous spoonful of cream cheese mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Comments

[Jessica "Su Good Eats"]

Wow, these look delicious, but the ingredients are deadly!

[Moira]

Hi Jessica...it's true- they're not the healthiest cupcakes on the block. ;-) You're definitely not supposed to eat this kind of thing on a daily basis, but they hit the spot when you're looking for a treat!

[tanvi]

healthy, schmealthy- i want one (maybe two) or those right now! Moira, this is a *superb* use of chocolate- well-done!

[Julie]

Yummy yummy Moi! I've been wanting a good recipe for these. I love cream cheese and chocolate. These look like my favorite cheesecake brownies but in muffin form -- sheer perfection.

[rowena]

Hmmmm...I was just thinking that these would be perfect for the next 'guinea pig' adventures. But then there's that one guy that can't eat chocolate! Arggh!

I took a break from TESSA's BOOK (god I could just cook all day from her recipes), and checked me mail... thanks for the photos! They're beautiful photos and they took me out of my one-track in-the-cucina mind. Really wish I could have smelled them!

I am eyeing Tessa's recipe for octopus---the one that suggests to dry your octopus outside on the clothesline. Whaddya think? I've got the cojones to do that, but maybe it wouldn't be in proper form for the neighbors. Hmmmm.... ;-)

[Dawn]

OH MY GOD do your cupcakes look good!!! I'm saving this recipe for when I can have sugar again. It will be the first treat I make for myself!

[celiaK]

great cupcakes Moira! Another one for my to try. Now I gotta make that list of recipes from blogs I've always wanted to do.

[Moira]

Hi Tanvi...thank you! Yeah, I don't really look for healthy in my desserts, either.

Hi Julie...oooh- you're going to have to give me your cheesecake brownie recipe...my husband will be ever so grateful!

Hi Rowena...bwwaaaahaaahaaa! If you do end up hanging it on the line, pleeease take a photo...preferably with a scowling mama in the background!

Hi Dawn...they really are kind of deadly, you know. ;-) They don't look like anything special, really...then you take a bite and get to the filling....YUM! I hope you enjoy them as your first treat- I'm honoured!

Hi Celia...thank you! My 'must make' list of blogger recipes is really getting out of control...and that's not exactly a bad complaint to have, is it? ;-)

[ejm]

Yum yum yum!! I don't believe in healthy cupcakes either. The more calories, the better!! :^D

This has suddenly reminded me of some banana cream cheese muffins I made years ago. I don't know why I haven't made them again because they were phenomenal - so good that my father-in-law insisted on having the recipe. I really should make them again! (They are basically banana muffins wiht an orange cream cheese mixture placed into the well of the banana muffin mixture.) Remind me to get some cream cheese and make them soon!!

Oooh, if I get LOTS of cream cheese, I could make banana cream cheese muffins to have for decadent breakfast and then I could also make blackbottom cupcakes for decadent dessert. Who cares about clogged arteries and if I live one or two fewer years!! How does that Edna St. Vincent Millay poem go?? Ah, here are the applicable lines:

"My candle burns at both ends
[...]It gives a lovely light."

Ah, and one mustn't forget Alfred E. Neuman either:

"who, me worry?"

-Elizabeth

[Alice]

Excellent photo!! The cupcakes look great, too. :)

[O.G.]

Wow, I have to admit, these are my favorite kind of cupcakes. The kind I can't resist. Its a perfect combination of chocolate and cheese. Doesn't get much better than that. Great blog.

[Moira]

Hi Elizabeth...you. must. make. those. muffins. now. and post about them, of course. They sound phenomenal! And, yes, why not make the black bottom ones for dessert? Life's too short to miss out on stuff like this!

Hi Alice...thank you!

Hi O.G....thanks a mil! These have always been my favourite kind, as well. Nothing but goodness, as far as I'm concerned. ;-)

[Giao]

Ooooh, those cupcakes look so decadent and divine! Mmmmmm!

[Nic]

Delicious, Moria. I made up a batch of black bottom cupcakes a while ago and swore I wouldn't make another... only because I ate the whole batch in two days (eek!). Ok, I felt a little sick after that but they taste so good!

[Moira]

Hi Ms Giao...thank you, sweetie! How is the move going?

Hi Nic...it is VERY easy to eat too many of these...hee, hee...they really sneak up on you!

[santos]

hi moira--it's been killing me, i've been trying to load this post all day, but the photo didn't come up until now. they definitely look as decadent as they sound :-D i had an idea for a cupcake i was going to make tonight, but i just might make these instead!

[Bakerina]

Well, so much for my plan to eat a bit lighter before heading off to Scotland. Ah, well. :) These are indeed beautiful, Moira.

[ejm]

Okay okay!! I'll look for bananas at the fruit and vegetable store today. But then I'll have to wait til they're on the over-ripe side before I can make the muffins. (Besides, we have to eat our hot cross buns first!)

-Elizabeth

[Moira]

Hi Santos...did you end up making these? You make so many fabulous cupcakes yourself, that I can't really imagine you being too impressed with these! Let me know if you give them a whirl.;-)

Hi Ms. Bakerina...thank you! I'm sure you guys will have a wonderful time on your trip...I'll drop you a line from N.C. when you get back!

Hi Elizabeth...get your priorities in order and make those muffins! Hot cross buns= bleechcchch....banana muffins with orange cream cheese filling= yummm.

[ejm]

Bite.Your.Tongue. Hot cross buns are fabulous.

If it's any consolation, I bought bananas yesterday ($0.29/lb - very inexpensive for here!) They aren't quite ripe enough yet for the muffins. And I still have to get the oranges and cream cheese. (not to mention that we have to finish eating the hot cross buns - delicious slathered with butter.)

-Elizabeth

[Reid]

Hi Moira,

These look so yummy. I'm going to have to make them sometime. =)

[Moira]

Hi Elizabeth...nope, you're never going to get me to agree with that-it's the raisin hang-up, you know! I'm looking forward to hearing all about the banana & orange cream cheese muffins...I'm sure they'll be fab.

Hi Reid...forget about it! Your chocolate monster muffins are way too fantastic to even think about making these...you're sweet to say so anyway, though! ;-)

[ejm]

I forgot about your problem with the raisins. Goodness how sad!! If it's any consolation, I use Thompson raisins in our hot cross buns. I would NEVER use Golden raisins. If I had had currants, I would have used currants.

Hmmmm, I bet currants would be good in the banana and orange cream cheese muffins ;^>

-Elizabeth

[caryn]

Oh, gosh, Moira. I check in to your site every so often to look for new posts and I keep seeing these cupcakes. They're calling to me. I'm just gonna have to make them...

[foodie]

I can feel the dense fudgy-ness of those lovely morsels against my tongue, just by looking at your picture. I've seen cupcakes as being more of snacks than 'elegant' desserts, but I think this is one that fits the latter category! Also, I love your attention to detail and layout in your photo. The vivid, whimsical colors in the background are a wonderful foil to the moist focus in the foreground. The cookbook that you're compiling will be beautiful, I'm sure!