Jan 31 2012

chocolate cream cheese cupcakes {i’m 25}

69 Comments

Today is my birthday. I’m officially in my mid-twenties. It’s my quarter century, y’all.

So as conceited as it may be, I baked myself cupcakes and decided to gift y’all with them.

And these aren’t just any regular cupcakes. These are my favorite cupcakes in the entire world. Yes, this is a contender to my favorite flavor, red velvet. You know what that means. These are THAT good.

I mean, just look at them. They’re oozing with chocolate and cream cheese. They’re so super moist on the inside too. So sinful. And so appropriate for a birthday celebration.

Did you know me and N*SYNC hottie, JT, share the same bday? Yup. I’m super-duper cool. OH, and guess who else? Give up? JULIE from The Little Kitchen and I not only share the same names, we share the SAME FREAKING BIRTHDAY too (oh, and we’re both Asian — coincidence??) !! Yeah, this revelation had us thinking “are we in the twilight zone?” So, go tweet at her & wish her a happy freaking birthday! Happy birthday Julie!!

I had these cupcakes years ago, in high school, and I told myself I was going to make them. I got the recipe from my friend and it was forever lost in my inbox. Then Saturday evening rolled around and I suddenly thought of these cupcakes. I had all the ingredients so I woke up early Sunday morning and baked my little heart out. These cupcakes make me so happy :) they’re so decadent and perfect. Want to know my birthday wish? For you to go make these :)

Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes

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Yield: 2 dozen cupcakes

Ingredients:

For the filling:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 egg

Pinch of salt

1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

For the cupcakes:

3 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar

2/3 cup cocoa powder

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

2 cups of water

2/3 cups vegetable oil

2 tbsp. white vinegar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare muffin pan by lining with muffin liners or by spraying with cooking spray.
In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the ingredients for the filling (except the chocolate chips) until light and fluffy. Gently fold in the chocolate chips. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add in the water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla extract. With a whisk or wooden spoon, mix together the dry with the wet ingredients until well combined.
Fill muffin cups with 2/3 full of batter then spool 1 level tbsp. of filling into the center of each cupcake. Repeat until all batter and filling have been used up.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until cake portion comes out clean with a toothpick. Let cupcakes cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing and transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
Store in airtight container.

Julie’s notes: I baked mine for only 20 minutes because I wanted them to be moist on the inside. They continue cooking even after you pull them out of the oven so that’s why I pulled them out at 20 minutes. You also should try to use mini chocolate chips instead of the regular large ones. They work better :)

From Hershey’s

Tags: chocolate cream cheese cupcakes, chocolate cream cheese surprise cupcakes

69 Comments

Jordan Lynn (Ciao Cow) - January 31, 2012 - 6:27 AM

Happy Birthday! I stumbled across your blog when someone wished you a happy birthday on twitter, and I am so glad I did. These cupcakes look absolutely amazzzzing. :)

Kathryn - January 31, 2012 - 6:49 AM

These cupcakes look like a perfect way to celebrate your birthday ! I love that cream cheese filling – I’ve got to make some cupcakes for my friend’s engagement party in a couple of weeks and I’m so making these!

Samantha - January 31, 2012 - 8:35 AM

Happy Birthday, Lady! Cupcakes are a great bday gift to yourself.

Elizabeth @ Chronic Venture - January 31, 2012 - 8:51 AM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIE!!!! These cupcakes look dreammyyyyy. I want to eat one right now with you. Cheers lovely!

amanda @ fake ginger - January 31, 2012 - 8:56 AM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! The cupcakes look delicious! I normally like my cupcakes loaded with frosting but I could get into these!

Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray - January 31, 2012 - 9:30 AM

Gaaah so much yum. These are a fantastic birthday treat!! I hope you have a wonderful day–eat one or three or twelve of these. ;)

Amber @ Amber's Confections - January 31, 2012 - 9:32 AM

Happy Birthday!!! Fabulous cupcakes!

Megan @Country Cleaver - January 31, 2012 - 9:32 AM

1) HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAUTIFUL!! I hope 25 is even better than 24.
2) I need a stack of these cupcakes, STAT!! :)

Gina @ Running to the Kitchen - January 31, 2012 - 9:54 AM

First of all, Happy Birthday! I feel so old saying this but enjoy 25! It was one of my favorite years in my 20′s (says the girl with less than 3 months left in the decade)
Secondly, OMG I want these! That second picture is gorgeous. Makes me want to jump into the screen!

Bev Weidner - January 31, 2012 - 10:08 AM

Happy Birthday, sweet thang!!

Julia - January 31, 2012 - 10:20 AM

These look awesome and are the perfect bday treat! Have a wonderful day :)

Carrie @ Kiss My Whisk - January 31, 2012 - 10:24 AM

Happy Birthday you young chickadee! I need to use up all of my food/baking goods before I move, so perfect timing, I’m going to give these a try!

amy @ fearless homemaker - January 31, 2012 - 10:32 AM

happy, happy birthday, friend! hope 25 is a fabulous year for you. can’t wait to cheers with you this weekend! oh, + these cupcakes? they look insanely delicious. YUM!

Natalie@DeconstructingTheHome - January 31, 2012 - 11:15 AM

Happy Birthday! When I turned 25 I told my dermatologist I was having a quarter life crisis and asked what I should do to prevent aging! I think she thought I was crazy! These cupcakes look delicious! Thanks for sharing!

Cassie @ Bake Your Day - January 31, 2012 - 11:37 AM

Yum, what a perfect birthday treat. Enjoy and happy, happy birthday love!

Rachel @ Baked by Rachel - January 31, 2012 - 1:47 PM

Happy birthday!!! :)

the little kitchen » The Best Chocolate Cake Ever with Pudding Frosting - January 31, 2012 - 1:50 PM

[...] more thing, I wanted to say happy birthday to my friend, Julie. We have the same name and [...]

JulieD - January 31, 2012 - 1:54 PM

Happy Birthday, Julie!!! :D Thanks for the shout out. We were thinking the same thing…chocolate!! Hope your day is sweet and can’t wait to meet you in March!

Simply Tia - January 31, 2012 - 3:06 PM

Wishing you all the great things in life Julie. I hope this day will bring you an extra share of all that makes you happiest. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

These cupcakes look fabulous. Perfect way to celebrate your quarter century!

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 3:58 PM

Thank you for the birthday wishes!! :)

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 3:59 PM

Please let me know if you make them! They’d be perfect for the engagement party :)

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 3:59 PM

Thanks! Eating does seem like a great gift ;)

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:00 PM

Well, I still have probably 1.5 dozen so if you really do want one, you should swing by my place after work :) let me know! you know my #

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:00 PM

Thanks, Amanda!

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:00 PM

Thanks, Tara — I could probably eat 12 of these…who’s counting? I’ll just shove them in my mouth and pretend I did nothing wrong. It’s my birthday, after all ;)

claire @ the realistic nutritionist - January 31, 2012 - 4:01 PM

Holy freaking cow these look incredible.

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:01 PM

Thank you, Amber!

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:02 PM

1. THANKS MEGAN! <3
2. Haha, I wish you could just come overrrr..we need to be neighbors :)

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:03 PM

Thank you, Gina! I sure hope 25 is a great year to remember. I have a feeling it is ;) I wish I could give you some of these cupcakes!

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:03 PM

Thanks, lover!

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:03 PM

Thank you :)

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:04 PM

Awesome! I hope you enjoy them as much as I have :) good luck with your move!!

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:04 PM

Can’t WAIT for Saturday!!

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:04 PM

Haha, hopefully I’ll be ok…thanks! :)

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:05 PM

Thanks, Cassie and thanks for that sweet text message this morning. Can’t wait to see you sometime :)

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:05 PM

Thanks! :)

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:05 PM

I can’t wait to meet you in March either!! Thanks for everything you’ve done so far. Enjoy your chocolate! Have some for me :)

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:06 PM

What a sweet comment. Thank you!!

Julie - January 31, 2012 - 4:06 PM

:) thanks! You should make some!!

Jen @ pretty plate - January 31, 2012 - 5:00 PM

These look so delicious! Can’t wait to try them.

Have a Happy Birthday!

: ))
Jen

Maggie @ A Bitchin' Kitchin - January 31, 2012 - 6:29 PM

Happy birthday!!! These are one of my fave cupcakes too. They look delicious!

Katie {Epicurean Mom Blog} - January 31, 2012 - 9:13 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GORGEOUS!! 25 huh?? When I hit 25 (only 3 years ago) I had a slight mental breakdown. Scared for what 30 brings! *Yikes!* ;-) These cupcakes look phenomenal! Can I come by to celebrate and eat with you??

Krissys Creations - January 31, 2012 - 9:33 PM

Happy Birthday Julie!!!!! I will definitely make these cupcakes, thats for sure :)

myfudo - January 31, 2012 - 10:06 PM

Perfect cupcakes! Enjoy your special day…I am bookmarking this recipe because this will have to be the next birthday cupcakes I will have. Thanks for sharing. Hugs!

Maria - January 31, 2012 - 10:23 PM

Love the cupcakes! Happy Birthday!

Tiffany @ Snack Snark Bark - January 31, 2012 - 10:24 PM

These look absolutely fabulous! Happy birthday—25 was a great year for me, hope you have an awesome one :)

Tracey - January 31, 2012 - 11:05 PM

Happy Birthday Julie! I hope you had a great day :) Your cupcakes look like the perfect way to celebrate!

Deborah - February 1, 2012 - 12:49 AM

Happy, happy birthday!! I hope you’ve had a wonderful day! These cupcakes look so good – they remind me of a cupcake my mom would make growing up. Yum!

goddessnene - February 1, 2012 - 1:39 AM

Happy Birthday Julie, I hope u enjoyed ur day and enjoy ur whole year. Those cupcakes look amazing and I’m totally going to try them my girls will looooove them. By the way I’m aquarius too my birthday was the 29th.

Skye (Skye Loves...) - February 1, 2012 - 4:39 AM

Happy Birthday, Julie! Those cupcakes look like the absolutely perfect way to celebrate. Now, if only I had a similar excuse…

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:17 AM

Thanks, Jen! :)

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:18 AM

Thanks, Maggie! These cupcakes are definitely my top favs :)

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:19 AM

Thanks, Katie! I hope to see you at FBF Orlando in March! Embrace 30 :) but I know what you mean, I’ll probably freak out too lol..and yes, I’d LOVE for you to come by and celebrate & eat with me :) door’s open!

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:19 AM

Thanks, Krissy! I hope you make them and enjoy them as much as I did :)

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:19 AM

Thanks, Maria!!

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:19 AM

Thanks, Tiffany! I hope it’s an awesome one too :)

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:20 AM

Thanks, Tracey!!

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:20 AM

Thanks, Deborah :) those dishes/desserts are always the best when they remind you of childhood!

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:21 AM

Thanks, Skye :) hehe, you don’t need an excuse to make these :) or if you want one, your excuse could be it’s the first day of February so you must bake!

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:22 AM

Thanks! And happy belated to you :)

Julie - February 1, 2012 - 7:25 AM

Thank you!

Lauren at Keep It Sweet - February 1, 2012 - 8:41 AM

I want 10 of these cupcakes! Hope you had a great day yesterday:-)

Jordan - February 1, 2012 - 9:50 AM

I am SO EXCITED!! My mom used to make these all the time when I was younger, and they are my favorite cupcake. She said she couldn’t remember where she got the recipe or how she made them though. I tried one I found on the internet a while ago, but they didn’t come out quite right. I can’t wait to try these! :) Thanks!

Jordan - February 1, 2012 - 9:51 AM

and happy birthday too! :)

Leah | So, How's It Taste? - February 1, 2012 - 2:43 PM

Happy (day late) Birthday! Glad your dessert turned out better than mine, lol! So many blogger birthdays this time of year! Us Aquarians know food! :)