Chocolate Surprise Cupcakes

I made these cupcakes for my friends going away party and everyone seemed to enjoy them. These cupcakes were super light and moist.

Ingredients:

Cupcake:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 Filling:

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I used the mini chocolate chips.)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, 1 teaspoon salt and baking soda. Stir in oil, water, vinegar and vanilla until blended. Pour mixture into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. (I filled mine too full and these cupcakes will rise so be careful to not put too much of the cake mix in the muffin cup.)
3. To make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, egg, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt until light and fluffy. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop a heaping teaspoonful of the cream cheese mixture into each cupcake. 
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Allow to cool. 

I topped my cupcakes with cream cheese icing (my favorite).

Cream Cheese Icing: 

• 1 (8oz) package of cream cheese, softened
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 box of powdered sugar
• 1 tblsp of vanilla extract

1. Cream together the softened cream cheese and the butter.
2. Mix in the powdered sugar and the vanilla extract until smooth.
3. Ice your cooled cupcakes and enjoy!