The chocolate cupcake to end all cupcakes! The cream cheese center makes it incredibly moist. (Nothing worse than a dry cupcake, can I get an amen?). These are the best black bottom cupcakes I’ve EVER had. You totally don’t need the frosting…but I mean come on, live a little. Originally posted August 7, 2015.
Table of Contents
- What are black bottom cupcakes?
- Chocolate cream cheese cupcake ingredients
- How to make black bottom cupcakes
- Tips for black bottom cupcakes
- Storing chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese filling
- Black bottom cupcakes recipe FAQs
- More amazing cupcakes
- Black Bottom Cupcake Recipe (Cream Cheese Chocolate Cupcakes) Recipe
You know what is awesome? When all your friends read the Japanese tidying up book, and you don’t. I already told you about how my BFF came to visit me and spent her whole vacation organizing my pantry. Since then, I’ve had two more friends read the book and purge their closets. You know what this means? Free clothes for Karen.
I tried to explain a capsule wardrobe to my brother Nathan. “Basically it’s where you give away all of your clothes that you don’t wear, and just keep the things you really love.”
“You just described a man’s wardrobe.”
I think he’s right. Why do women complicate everything??
In other news, Charlotte was reading a book today when suddenly she looks up and says, “Mom, what do dinosaurs eat when there are not persons around?”
I told her they eat these cupcakes. (Although REALLY I should have told her what my brother tells his kids: that dinosaurs ate spinach, and if they want to be cool like dinosaurs, they better eat their salad.)
What are black bottom cupcakes?
My sister-in-law Sandi gave me her mother’s recipe for these cupcakes after I was telling her once that all cupcakes are dry and not worth the calories. (Who’s with me??) But these cupcakes are SO GOOD. And not dry at all. It’s kind of impossible for them to be because the center is made of molten cheesecake basically.
They are completely from scratch, but not hard at all. Usually, I am all for the doctored cake mixes, but I thought this was pretty simple. These cupcakes are so rich that you really don’t need the frosting, but I included it because what’s a cupcake without a little bling?
Featured Comment
“Made these for a gal I work with….oh man oh man oh man…gooooood stuff those cream cheese chocolate cupcakes.” – Donna
Chocolate cream cheese cupcake ingredients
Here’s a quick shopping list to help you gather your ingredients. Jump to the recipe card below for the full ingredients and instructions!
- cream cheese (regular/full fat, not the lite stuff)
- eggs
- sugar
- mini chocolate chips
- flour
- baking cocoa (not hot chocolate powder!)
- baking soda
- oil
- sour cream
- vinegar
- vanilla extract
- butter
- powdered sugar
- coconut extract (optional)
- semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional, for chocolate curls)
- shortening (optional, for chocolate curls)
How to make black bottom cupcakes
Using the same (now empty) bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
First up, let’s make the filling. Beat the cream cheese, egg, sugar, and salt until smooth. Stir in half the mini chocolate chips, then scoop it into a separate bowl and set it aside for now.
Add the wet stuff—water, oil, sour cream, vinegar, and vanilla—and mix until everything’s nice and smooth. Fold in the rest of the chocolate chips.
Line your cupcake tin with paper liners and fill each one about halfway with the chocolate batter. Then drop a spoonful of the cream cheese filling right in the center of each.
Bake until they’re puffed and set, then let them cool on a wire rack.
Want to go the extra mile? Make the frosting! Just beat together the butter and cream cheese until creamy, then add the sugar, salt, and a splash of coconut extract. Spread or pipe it onto the cooled cupcakes.
Feeling fancy? Top things off with homemade chocolate curls. Melt chocolate chips and a bit of shortening in the microwave, stir it all together, then spread it thinly on the back of a baking sheet. Pop it in the freezer for a few minutes, then use a metal spatula to scrape up curls. Sprinkle them over your cupcakes and serve. Boom! Bakery vibes.
Tips for black bottom cupcakes
If you are piping the frosting, throw your bag into a tall glass to give it structure while you spoon the frosting in. Here’s my recipe for How to make Cream Cheese Frosting. It’s super easy!
If your cupcake liners are sticking, it might be the liners or the timing. Cheaper liners tend to cling more, and these cupcakes are on the delicate side. Try using high-quality liners and make sure the cupcakes are completely cool before peeling them. Popping them in the fridge for a bit can also help the wrappers release more easily.
Storing chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese filling
You can keep black bottom cupcakes in a container in the fridge for up to a week. Since they have cream cheese filling, it’s best not to keep them on the counter.
Can you freeze black bottom cupcakes?
Yes, you can totally freeze black bottom cupcakes! Just be sure to add the frosting after they’ve thawed. To freeze, place the cupcakes in a ziplock bag and press out as much air as you can.
When you’re ready to enjoy them, you can let them defrost on the counter if you’re in a hurry, or pop them in the fridge for a slower thaw. But remember to keep the bag sealed so they don’t dry out. Once defrosted, they’ll stay fresh in the fridge for 2–3 days.
Black bottom cupcakes recipe FAQs
Moist ingredients make for moist cupcakes. A recipe for moist cupcakes will use fatty ingredients like oil or butter, eggs, and dairy products like milk, cream, sour cream, or yogurt. These black bottom cupcakes use oil AND sour cream, so the cake is nice and moist. Of course, then we’re adding a delectable cream cheese filling. Even more moistness!!
If you’re following instructions when it comes to oven temperature and bake time, but you’re still ending up with burnt-bottom cupcakes, you can simply layer one muffin tin/cupcake tin inside the other. If you don’t have two muffin tins, then you can place a cookie sheet on the bottom rack of your oven, baking the cupcakes on the top rack.
More amazing cupcakes
- Chocolate Cheesecake Cupcakes with Cherry Hearts >> super decadent with a cheesecake center. NO dry cupcakes here!
- Homemade Hostess Chocolate Cupcakes >> if you love the store bought version, these will totally blow you away!
- Upside Down Almond Crunch Cupcakes >> so moist and almondy with the perfect crunch
- Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Pecan Frosting >> extra moist and flavorful thanks to the addition of browned butter!
- Hummingbird Cupcakes from Cupcake Project
- Piñata Cupcakes from Little Sunny Kitchen
- Birthday Cake Cupcakes from Creme de la Crumb
Black Bottom Cupcake Recipe (Cream Cheese Chocolate Cupcakes)
Ingredients
For the filling:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 10 ounces mini chocolate chips, divided
For the cupcakes:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 & 1/2 cups flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa, I used special dark
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup oil
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
For the frosting:
- 1/2 cup butter, 1 stick, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- dash salt, optional
- 1/4 teaspoon coconut extract, optional
For the chocolate curls (optional):
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon shortening
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Start by making the filling. In a stand mixer or large bowl, beat together cream cheese, 1 egg, 1/3 cup sugar, and a pinch of salt. Fold in 6 ounces of the mini chocolate chips. (A little more than half the bag, no need to measure). Scrape the mixture into another bowl.
- Add 1 cup sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt to the empty bowl (no need to wash). Whisk to combine. Then add the water, oil, sour cream, vinegar, and vanilla.
- Beat until combined, then fold in the remaining 4 ounces of mini chocolate chips.
- Line about 20 cupcake tins with paper liners. Fill each one about halfway with the cupcake batter.
- Top the center each cupcake with 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture. It’s okay if it sinks down a bit.
- Bake at 350 for about 19-23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake part comes out clean. If you see any golden spots on the cheesecake filling, take it out right away.
- Let cool on a wire rack.
- To make the frosting, beat together the butter and cream cheese. Add the sugar, salt, and coconut extract, if you’re using it. Beat well.
- Pipe or spread the frosting on top of the cupcakes when they are cool.
- If you want to make chocolate curls, add the chocolate chips and shortening to a small bowl. Microwave until the shortening is melted, then stir together until combined. Pour the mixture onto an upside-down baking sheet and spread thin with a spatula.
- Place the pan in the freezer for 4-5 minutes, then use a metal spatula to scrape the chocolate off the pan. Sprinkle on top of the cupcakes and serve.
Blah of course right when I declare I’m giving up dairy, I stumble into your DELICIOUS CRAZY MOIST looking cupcakes!!!!!!! Geez Karen thanks a bunch ;) Ugh. I’m just sitting here imagining you and your fam feasting on these and trying to pretend that brings me joy instead of insane jealousy.
OMG ALSO! My friend JUST told me about the Konmari method and I totally did it with my closet! It’s so great! I feel way less stressed whenever I step into my closet now! Baha if only we could all be so great about our closets all the time like…men…*side eye*
Oh heck yes. Just call me a dinosaur because I’m going to destroy all of these cupcakes!
Oh my goodness! I wish I had friends who were getting rid of clothes!! I like to get rid of things in my pantry.. but to get rid of clothes.. they have to sit in there for about a year not being worn THEN I’ll get rid of them!
Oh my goodness! These look like the cupcakes that make all other cupcakes envious. :). They look so decadent and yummy. I’m definitely making them soon. Yum.
I love Oreo’s, they are one of my favorite type of cookies. I am going to pin this recipe. I think this would be perfect for me to bring to my next bunco night.
I have that Marie Kondo book in my Kindle, but I still haven’t cracked it open yet!! Maybe that’s why my apartment is still such a mess!
These cupcakes look AMAZING! Love that cream cheese filling!
I TOTALLY agree with you on the cupcake thing. I am down with eating all the desserts, but not if they aren’t worth it. This look so incredible! I always say I have no problem cleaning out my closets but don’t make me clean out my kitchen! :)
Lucky you! I need someone to come organize for me…and I need one of these cupcakes!
These look incredible! Love the chocolate chip cream cheese filling!
Thanks Jessica! I love it because the chips get all melty and gooey…mmm.
Omg that cheesecake filling. Must make ASAP! I’m totally a cupcake person, but I’ve never had one like this! :)
If you are already a cupcake person then you have GOT to try these ones Beth! Love at first bite :)
I’m with Taylor (that cream cheese though!) and YES I normally hate cupcakes- like, I just want a fudgy dense brownie that’s probably healthier! But these cupcakes look so rich and moist- def worth it :)
Right?? Brownies all the way normally. This recipe is literally my only exception!
Ha, I’m using that spinach line on my girls. Lol. I totally agree that dry cupcakes are not worth the calories. These however, totally worth every single one! Yummmm :)
The spinach line worked for a long time on my nephews, though they have been catching on lately, haha. Glad to hear I’m not the only dry cupcake hater!!
Oh, my word! Those cupcakes are screaming at me to make them! Love how gooey they are and the frosting is a must for me.
Yeah, let’s be real…the frosting is a must for me too :) Thanks Jocelyn!
Karen now these are the way I want to indulge in dessert! All the chocolately goodness that I want to stuff my face with!
Thanks Meg! I personally am done with all the light summer desserts, in case you couldn’t tell…haha. Bring on the rich.
I have an urge to just write “that cream cheese center though.”
And that’s it.
BECAUSE that is EVERYTHING. Chocolate with creamy goodness on the inside? I want ALL of these! Pinned!
Right though?? It’s allll about that cream cheese :) Thanks Taylor!