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Decadent chocolate cream cheese cupcakes (also known as black bottom cupcakes) are a fudgy, moist chocolate cake base filled with a chocolate chip cream cheese filling. Every bite is filled with chocolatey and creamy, tangy delight!
Celebrate with Me: Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes
I made and posted this chocolate cream cheese cupcake recipe on my 25th birthday 12 years ago. I feel like that was a lifetime ago, and it honestly was. It had just been a year of starting the blog and I was recalling a specific black bottom cupcake recipe my friend had given me a few years back. These were it! They are very memorable because of the chocolate cake base that’s extremely tender and moist. When you take a bite of the cupcake, the center of it with the chocolate chip cream cheese just has this creamy, tangy bite that balances out the sweetness of the chocolate cupcake.
Chocolate cream cheese cupcakes are so simple to make and they’re the best of both worlds with chocolate and cream cheese all in one! The chocolate cake base is light, fluffy, and airy while the center where the cream cheese filling sits is dense and luscious. Trust me when I say everyone will love these black bottom cupcakes with cream cheese filling!
Recipe Tips and Variations
- In cupcake and muffin making world, it is usually suggested to fill muffin cups 2/3 of the way full. In the case of black bottom cupcakes, you’ll want to make sure you fill it 1/3 of the way full and then add the cream cheese filling in the center. If you fill it too much, the chocolate batter will “swallow” the cream cheese filling and you won’t get that nice cream cheese topping that you typically see in black bottom cupcakes.
- Use muffin/cupcake liners and lightly spray them with cooking oil just to make doubly sure that they’ll release easily. I don’t suggest baking these cupcakes without liners.
- Use dark cocoa powder if you want a dark chocolate cake base. It will be slightly richer and not as sweet, but still so good.
- Add a splash of espresso to the batter to really bring out the chocolate.
Storage Instructions
Since these cupcakes have a cream cheese filling, I would recommend allowing them to cool to room temperature then storing them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When you want to eat one, bring it to room temperature then enjoy!
Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes (Black Bottom)
Equipment
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 8 ounces (227 g) plain cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup (236 g) mini semisweet chocolate chips
For the cupcakes:
- 3 cups (375 g) all purpose flour
- 2 cups (400 g) sugar
- ⅔ cup (57 g) cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (473 ml) water
- ⅔ cup (158 ml) vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Prepare muffin pan by lining with muffin liners and lightly spraying the liners with cooking spray.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a bowl with a hand mixer), beat together the ingredients for the filling (cream cheese, sugar, egg, and salt) until light and fluffy. Gently fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula. Set aside.8 ounces (227 g) plain cream cheese, 1/3 cup (67 g) granulated sugar, 1 egg, Pinch of salt, 1 cup (236 g) mini semisweet chocolate chips
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.3 cups (375 g) all purpose flour, 2 cups (400 g) sugar, 2/3 cup (57 g) cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt
- Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add in the water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla extract. With a spatula or wooden spoon, mix together the dry with the wet ingredients until well combined, but not overmixed.2 cups (473 ml) water, 2/3 cup (158 ml) vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons white vinegar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Fill muffin cups with ⅓ full of the chocolate cupcake batter then spoon 1 generous tablespoon of the cream cheese 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. They will sink a little and it's okay!
Nutrition
Photographs by Meg McKeehan Photography
Happy Birthday, sweet thang!!
Thanks, lover!
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!
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!
1) HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEAUTIFUL!! I hope 25 is even better than 24.
2) I need a stack of these cupcakes, STAT!! :)
1. THANKS MEGAN! <3
2. Haha, I wish you could just come overrrr..we need to be neighbors :)
Happy Birthday!!! Fabulous cupcakes!
Thank you, Amber!
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. ;)
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 ;)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! The cupcakes look delicious! I normally like my cupcakes loaded with frosting but I could get into these!
Thanks, Amanda!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JULIE!!!! These cupcakes look dreammyyyyy. I want to eat one right now with you. Cheers lovely!
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 #
Happy Birthday, Lady! Cupcakes are a great bday gift to yourself.
Thanks! Eating does seem like a great gift ;)
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!
Please let me know if you make them! They’d be perfect for the engagement party :)
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. :)
Thank you for the birthday wishes!! :)