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Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes would be perfect for a holiday or any other festive occasion.
Although this was an entirely different circumstance, I felt the same can't-wipe-it-off grin plastered on my face as I stood at the airport eagerly scanning the weary travelers emerging through the customs/immigration gate. In fact, had you been there, you would have seen two "cats" sporting classic Cheshire smiles. My husband Scott and I were both as happy as two little pigs in mud!
Why, all the excitement? We were waiting for our daughter Cait and her two youngest children who had just spent the previous eight hours winging their way from the UK, where they've lived for the past three years. Cait was arriving with Lilly, who's almost three and baby Luke, born this past September. They're visiting for the holidays and Daddy will be arriving in a few days with the two older girls.
Suddenly a blond, curly-haired, blue-eyed little imp came bounding through the immigration doorway, eyes darting everywhere 'til she spotted the two of us and promptly jumped into our waiting arms. ............ All of a sudden it just didn't matter that two grown adults had been sporting goofy "cat" grins for the past thirty minutes, it was totally worth the wait ................. and the embarrassment.
A festive party was in order that evening, not only to commemorate the happy reunion but to celebrate our daughter's recent birthday. We had a lovely dinner and time catching up with Cait, our son Nick and his wife Lindsay.
I love celebrating special occasions with cupcakes as they can be made ahead, they freeze well and they can be dressed up in a zillion different ways. Earlier this week, a friend reminded me of this cupcake recipe I had given her several years ago. I had forgotten all about them until she told me they were one of her very favorites. "Really?", I said. "Oh yes, I make them all the time and everyone goes crazy over them!" "Really?" "Yes, really!" That sealed the deal, I had to see what all the fuss was about, and guess what? She was right - not only are they delicious, but amazingly simple to make! How in the world had I forgotten about them? 🙂
Please don't tell anyone that the little star-like adornments atop the cupcakes were supposed to be snowflakes. Mine didn't quite turn out looking like snowflakes, but I still thought they were quite fun. Check out the simple technique* below to make decorations like these!
These Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes would be perfect for a holiday or any other festive occasion. I have a feeling that, as my sweet friend has, you'll find these special cupcakes will become an all-time favorite. Be sure to expect rave reviews!
Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint-Cream Cheese filling and Buttercream Icing
Ingredients
Ingredients for the cream cheese filing:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (I usually use the lower fat, NOT the fat-free)
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
Ingredients for the cupcakes:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ¼ cup cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup oil
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Buttercream Icing
- Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups 12 ounces butter, softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese, I use the low fat, NOT the fat-free softened
- 1 2- pound bag of powdered sugar, approximately 8 cups
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 6-8 tablespoons milk or half and half
Instructions
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line cupcake pans with 18 paper liners.
- In a small bowl, combine first five ingredients and mix well. Add chocolate chips and crushed peppermint and stir to combine. Set aside.
- Mix sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt and stir to combine. In a separate bowl, combine water, oil, vinegar and vanilla . Add wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients and stir until well combined.
- Fill prepared muffin tins ½ full with this mixture.
- Drop a rounded tablespoon of cheese mixture on top, dividing mixture evenly. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes. Cover for last 8-10 minutes if getting too brown. Don't under bake or your cupcakes will sink in the center.
- Allow to cool in the pan for five minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Cool completely before icing.
Instructions:
- Using the wire whisk attachment of your stand mixer, whip the butter and cream cheese on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, stopping to scrape the bowl once or twice.
- Reduce the speed to low and gradually add the powdered sugar. Once all of the powdered sugar is incorporated, add milk slowly till soft fluffy consistency and then increase the speed to medium-high and add the vanilla, mixing until incorporated. Whip at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes, scraping the bowl as needed.
- Place icing in a decorator bag and swirl onto cupcakes. I use a 1M Wilton tip. If you haven't done much cupcake icing swirling, here is a great but simple tutorial.
www.you-made-that.com says
How sweet to see the lovely photo of you with your daughter and grandchildren, you look like a proud grandma. Your cupcakes are beautiful and I'm sure a wonderful treat to have. Enjoy the holiday's with your family.
Mary Hirsch says
Loved this Post, Chris. We grandparents can be excused of any silly emotion. It's a Right we won by raising our own children. What a wonderful holiday you will have. I saw these cupcakes on Facebook and just loved your presentation. I happen to like the snowflake adornments. I knew what they were. They sound yummy and I will try them AFTER the holidays. Have a wonderful and merry holiday. By the way, I have a Lindsay also. A lawyer. A wonderful girl.
Magic of Spice says
Chris this are just beautiful as is your lovely family! So wonderful that you can spend time together at the holidays...precious!
Blond Duck says
Those look fancy to me! 🙂
kelly @ kellybakes says
My mom smiles like a cheshire cat and runs up to me with her arms open when I come home for the holidays too. I can't think of a happier moment than when I first see her as I get off the train 🙂 I'm glad you could be reunited with your family for the holidays. Thanks for sharing this recipe--the snowflakes are adorable and I love the surprise centers!
Food, Fun and Life in the Charente says
Such a happy photo. Love those cup cakes they look delicious. Have a great Christmas and New Year. Diane
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
Nothing wrong with being overjoyed to see your daughter and grandkids - you all look so happy to be together again!
The cupcakes sound great for a celebration, and I think they look like snowflakes!
Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking says
Such a sweet post Chris. I wish I was going to see my parents for the family. Those goofy moments at the airport are all forgotten when you see the ones you love after months and months of being apart
Kim - Liv Life says
The smile on your face is positively contagious!!! I couldn't help but to smile along with you. And I'm also more than certain that those cupcakes were the hit of your celebration. I've discovered just how much I love crushed peppermint these last few seasons, and these cupcakes are right up my alley.
You have a beautiful family, my friend!!