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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!
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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.
Nutrition
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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.
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.
Chris this are just beautiful as is your lovely family! So wonderful that you can spend time together at the holidays...precious!
Those look fancy to me! 🙂
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!
Such a happy photo. Love those cup cakes they look delicious. Have a great Christmas and New Year. Diane
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!
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
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!!
What sweet smiles full of pure happiness. That peppermint filling is lovely. So pretty and these would make me smile like a Cheshire cat;)
These look so amazing!!! They are beautiful.
What a great celebration! I love the picture with your daughter and grandkids 🙂 My first grandson was born in October. I have yet to meet him and I'm sure I'll be smiling like the Cheshire cat 😉
It looks like Christmas will be pretty special this year!! Enjoy!!!
These cupcakes are so festive! Actually these are perfect to welcome your daughter and her childs!!!!
These are beautiful, they sound delicious and your photos are fantastic - especially the one of you and your daughter and grandchildren. How wonderful!
What a beautiful way to celebrate,Chris!Happy birthday to your daughter, I wish you a great time together..(I'm sure they'll ask for a repeat of those amazing cupcakes..)XOXO
What a beautiful celebration! These cupcakes are a true work of art. I mean really - a true work of art. They are simply stunnning!!!
my jaws are dropping!! these are too beautiful and the toppers are just as fantastic looking!! I really envy those who can get to eat your cupcakes! envy and jealous! wishing you a wonderful time with your family!
Gorgeous cupcakes! I'm so excited for you to have your family with you! I know I'll have that same grin waiting in the airport for my grandson in a couple of weeks. 🙂
Beautifully done! I love that peppermint candy-infused cream cheese filling!
Your family is absolutely adorable. 🙂
Happy belated Birthday Cait! What beautiful cupcakes. I might just have to make a batch of these to freeze for my Christmas party next weekend. Love the choc-peppermint filling and I totally thought they were meant to be snowflakes!
Chris watching people waiting for loved ones at the airport makes me teary every single time I go. I love the look on the waiting people's faces and then watching the weary travelers turn from blank face to a bursting smile when they spot the person they're looking for. Such a happy place! I also like trying to match the waiting people to the arrivers.
Hi Chris, very gorgeous cupcakes. Look extremely good and beautiful frosting. Too good to be eaten.
Thanks for sharing your lovely family photos. Your grandchildren are so adorable.
Have a lovely week ahead.
Chris, your cupcakes are just beautiful! They are very professional-looking - they looks straight out of a Martha Stewart magazine!
And I commend your daughter Cait for having 4 kids (?). I have 3 - and that's more than enough for me! Hehehehe...
Have a good week ahead!
Very sweet Chris!!!!
Love the cupcakes, of course and the lovely photo of you with your family-perfect way to celebrate the holidays-thanks for sharing and enjoy the visit;-)
These cupcakes are stunning! I love how you decorate them. Beautiful!
Lovely post! Cupcakes, grins, blond curls and all! Happy Birthday to your daughter and I wish for you a wonderful time of family and fun... and of "spoiling" those adorable little grandbabies!
What a wonderful way to celebrate the family coming to visit for the holidays! These cupcakes as brilliant 🙂
Chris, this cupcakes are just lovely! My favorite flavors :). You decorated them so beautifully!
I thought they were snowflakes from the very first photo as well. they look amazing. But, once again, you're expecting us to see the food when you've posted photos of your adorable grand children. Even worse, there's you with your Cheshire grin, obviously over the top excited to see your little girls again. There were cupcakes in here somewhere?
Enjoy the glorious visit!
The cupcakes are beautiful and peppermint is a delicious flavor! Have a great time!
Beautiful cupcakes...wow!! But, your smile with half of the family arrived is picture perfect. Enjoy your visit. This will certainly be a Christmas special at your home this year!!!
Forgive me if this is a duplicate. I thought your decorations were snowflakes right from the start. Your cupcakes ate very festive and you have a beautiful family. All of our kids will be home by the 23rd and I'm already grinning.
Finally - a male grandson for the Shores family!
Your family is so beautiful! Your Granddaughter is simply adorable and you can see how happy she is to see you!! I love the cupcakes! Peppermint is one of my all time favorite flavors and I think your cupcakes are absolutely stunning!!