"Cooking Isn't Rocket science" : Cream Cheese Filled Chocolate Cup Cakes in Chocolate Cups

That was an awesome experience competing for a Cup Cake contest conducted as part of the Utah State Fair. This Cup cake Won 2nd Prize and that was the unforgettable Birthday in my life and the most valued Birthday Gift.

Last week they had a similar contest when I made some Indian cookies , but then more than me my NA - my helper , was so disappointed that she started crying when she came to know that we didn't get a prize :) and I had to rush from there so that the people wouldn't come to know the reason for her sadness...However this time I taught her how to react when you lose , though I knew that she would definitely cry as

And I was happy to see her all excited , jumping and laughing when we heard that our Cup cake won. Even I wanted to jump out of excitement but I restricted my self as in India , while I was brought up Girls were taught to stay calm and quiet and not to over react to situations especially when we are out side our house :(
Glad that there are slight changes happening these days for the good.

Here's the recipe for - Cream Cheese Filled Chocolate cup cakes in Chocolate Cups

Ingredients

For Cream Cheese Filling

Cream Cheese - 1 - 8oz Pack in Room Temperature
Egg - 1
Sugar - 1/3 cup Sugar
Vanilla Essence - few Drops
Salt - a pinch

For the Cake

Cocoa powder - 1/3 cup
Boiling hot water - 1 cup
All purpose flour - 1 and 1/3 cup
Baking powder - 2 Tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Unsalted butter in room temperature - 1/2 cup
Granulated white sugar - 3/4 cup
Eggs - 2 Small
Curd - 2 Tbsp
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Instant Coffee /Espresso Coffee - 1/4 tsp

Method

For the Cream Cheese Filling

* Beat all the ingredients till nice and smooth , keep aside.

For the Cake

* Preheat the Oven to 350 Degree F , Lightly butter 16 Muffin Cups or line with Cupcake Liners and keep aside.

* Mix Cocoa Powder & Espresso coffee to 1 cup Boiling water , stir and Keep aside to cool.

* Sift Together Flour , Baking powder and salt, Keep aside.

* Beat Butter and sugar till light and fluffy , add in eggs one at a time , continue beating.

* Add in curd and Vanilla essence , beat again, slowly add in the flour and Cocoa -water mixture alternately.
Fold in all the ingredients using a spoon. until well combined.

* Fill in the muffin cups 1/3 full with the batter , top with a dollop of Cream cheese mixture,
Cover this again with a tbsp of batter.

* (Place the rack in the middle of the Oven) Bake in 350 Degree F for 16 to 20 Minutes until a Tester comes out clean.

* Let sit to cool.

For Frosting

Semi sweet chocolate Chips - 1/4 cup
Unsalted butter in room temperature - 1/3 cup
Confectioners (icing) sugar - 1 and 1/3 cups
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp

Method

* Melt the Chocolate pieces in a double Boiler

* Beat butter until smooth , add in the sugar , continue beating till light and fluffy

* Add Vanilla essence and melted chocolate to it, combine well.

Once the cup cakes are cooled , frost these and serve, may simply spread the frost over the cake or else transfer to a piping bag and pipe designs on the cake.

These Cakes were placed in Chocolate molds made by melting Semi sweet Chocolate -
Step by step procedure for making of chocolate cups
Click " Gift Box Cake / Strawberries in Chocolate Cups "