Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar, divided
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 tablespoons baking cocoa
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 6 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans

Recipe

• 1 for filling, in a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until smooth. beat in egg and 1/2 t. salt until combined. fold in chocolate chips; set aside.
• 2 in a bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and remaining sugar and salt. in another bowl, whisk water, oil, and vinegar; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
• 3 fill paper lined muffin cups half full with batter. drop filling by heaping tablespoonfuls into the center of each. bake at 350 for 24-26 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
• 4 for frosting, in a large mixing bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, cocoa, butter, milk and vanilla; beat until blended. frost cupcakes; sprinkle with pecans. store in the refrigerator.