BLACK BOTTOM CUPCAKES

Today is my friend Robert Lee Fosters birthday and a little birdie told me he likes cupcakes and loves chocolate, so I am thinking this should hit his spot. Happy Birthday Robert, I wish for you the most fabulous day!

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Line muffin tins with cupcake papers. Using wooden spoon, blend cream cheese, egg, sugar and salt in mixing bowl. Carefully fold in chocolate chips, set aside.

Combine dry ingredients in another bowl, mixing well. Add remaining ingredients and blend thoroughly. Fill cupcake papers about 3/4 full with bater. Drop 1 heaping tablespoon cream cheese mixture into center of each. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
Yield: 18 cupcakes

COOKS NOTE: These stay moist for several weeks. Yummy...

"A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip."~Author Unknown

MARGARITA CUPCAKES

Say Ole! These marvelous cupcakes will give you the perfect excuse to indulge in a Margarita any time of day.....

Cupcakes:
1 box white cake mix
8 oz margarita mix (liquid)
2 oz tequila
1 oz Grand Marnier
3 egg whites
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp grated lime zest

Preheat oven to 350º and prepare muffin pans.

Combine margarita mix, tequila, and Grand Marnier in a large glass and stir well.

In large bowl, combine cake mix, egg whites, lime zest, vegetable oil, and margarita mixture from step one. Stir ingredients together, then beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for approximately 2-3 minutes.

Spoon the batter into prepared muffin pans. Fill each cup/liner about 2/3 full.

Bake at for 20 – 25 minutes at 350 degrees or until toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean


Lime Buttercream Icing:

8 Tbsp butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp lime juice (approx 2 fresh limes)
1 Tbsp margarita mix
1 tsp lime zest
5 cups powdered (confectioners’) sugar
cane sugar & fresh limes (for garnish

In a large bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, lime juice, margarita mix, and lime zest. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and continue beating until smooth. If icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar, a couple tablespoons at a time.

Spread icing generously on cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle cane sugar around the edges of the cupcake for a “salt rimmed” look and garnish with lime wedges.


“I have my own parties. They involve being barefoot with a piece of fried chicken and margarita in each hand.”
littlewhiteliar Tori Amos quotes (Pop Rock Singer, b.1963)