Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes

Ingredients
4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1 3/4 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups chopped pecans

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. In the top of a double boiler, combine chocolate and butter. Heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.

Sift flour and sugar together into a large bowl. With mixer on low speed, beat in eggs one at a time. Stir ¡n chocolate mixture, vanilla and pecans. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Do not overbake. Tops should be shiny but give slightly when touched.

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Black Bottom Cupcakes

Ingredients
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/3 cup white sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line muffin tins with paper cups or lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, egg, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt until light and fluffy. Stir in the chocolate chips and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, 1 cup sugar, cocoa, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center and add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Stir together until well blended. Fill muffin tins 1/3 full with the batter and top with a dollop of the cream cheese mixture.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

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Blackforest Stuffed Cupcakes

Ingredients
1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
1 (250 g) package PHILADELPHIA Brick Cream Cheese, softened
1 egg
2 tablespoons sugar
1 (19 ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 1/2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare cake batter as directed on package for the light or low-fat version; set aside. Mix cream cheese, egg and sugar until well blended.

Remove 3/4 cup of the cherry pie filling for garnish; set aside. Spoon 2 tablespoons cake batter into each of 24 paper-lined medium muffin cups. Top each with 1 tablespoon each of the cream cheese mixture and the remaining cherry pie filling. Cover evenly with remaining cake batter.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centres comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan to wire racks. Cool completely. Top with whipped topping and reserved cherry pie filling just before serving.

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Easter Surprise Cupcakes

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup margarine, softened
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4cups milk
24 small chocolate eggs, unwrapped

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the margarine, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Fill each muffin cup 1/3 full, and place a chocolate egg ¡n the center of each. Top with remaining batter until cups are 2/3 full.

Fill each muffin cup 1/3 full, and place a chocolate egg in the center of each. Top with remaining batter until cups are 2/3 full.

Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown, and tops spring back when lightly tapped.

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Carrot-Ginger Cupcakes with Spiced Cream

Ingredients
1 (16 ounce) package pound cake mix
3/4 cup shredded carrots
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
1/2 cup PLANTERS Walnut Pieces, toasted
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare cake batter as directed on package; stir in carrots, ginger, 3/4 tsp. of the cinnamon and walnuts.

Spoon batter into 24 paper-lined medium muffin cups. Bake 15 min. or until toothpick comes out clean.

Beat cream cheese in medium bowl with wire whisk until smooth. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spread over tops of cupcakes. Sprinkle with reserved 1/4 tsp. cinnamon. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Lemon-Cream Cheese Cupcakes

Ingredients
1 package (2-layer size) white cake mix
1 (3.4 ounce) package JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding
1 cup water
4 egg whites
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (16 ounce) package powdered sugar
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat cake mix, pudding mix, water, egg whites and oil in large bowl with mixer on low speed until moistened. (Batter will be thick.) Beat on medium speed 2 min. Spoon batter evenly into 24 paper-lined 2-1/2-inch muffin cups.

Bake 21 to 24 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, beat sugar, cream cheese, butter and juice with mixer on low speed until well blended. Frost cupcakes.

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Lemon Cupcakes

Ingredients
3 cups self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 cup whole milk, divided
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided.


Lemon Cream Icing
2 cups chilled heavy cream
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 30 cupcake pan cups with paper liners.

Sift the self-rising flour and salt together in a bowl. In another bowl, beat the unsalted buffer and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, beating each egg until incorporated before adding the next. Mix in the vanilla extract and lemon zest.

Gently beat the flour mixture into the buffer mixture, one third at a time, alternating with half the milk and half the lemon juice after each of the first 2 additions of flour. Beat until just combined; do not over mix.

Fill the prepared cupcake liners with batter 3/4 full, and bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before removing them to finish cooling on a rack.

To make the icing, beat the cream in a chilled bowl with an electric mixer set on Low until the cream begins to thicken. Add the confectioners sugar and lemon juice, a little at a time, beating after each addition, until fully incorporated. Increase the mixer speed to High, and beat until the icing forms soft peaks, about 5 minutes. Spread on the cooled cupcakes. Refrigerate leftovers.

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