Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Filled Cupcakes

One of the best things my mother ever taught me how to make was homemade icing.  Growing up I never had the pleasure of eating icing out of a can....I had it ten times better....I had the pleasure of licking beaters!!! That is the best past time any little girl can have.  I remember running to the kitchen when I heard the mixer because I knew very soon my mother would say "What to lick the beater?".  I don't think I ever turned that down!! If think homemade icing is too intimidating then you just haven't done it!! My first batch came out like soup but it was a quick lesson learned and I moved on.  The following recipe will not only introduce you to homemade icing but you will also learn how to really impress your friends with very little effort.  You'll love seeing your friend's face when they bite into your cupcake and find a truly yummy treat in the middle!!

Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Filled Cupcakes

1 box of Devil's Food Cake Mix

Mix cake as directed on box and place in cupcake liners.

*Filling

1 8 oz cream cheese, softened

1/3 c sugar

1 egg

1 c chocolate chips

Blend cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Add egg and beat until well blended.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Place about a teaspoon, or a little more, on the top of each unbaked cupcake.  The filling will sink into the batter as it bakes.

Bake as directed on the box of cake mix.

Once cooled completely they are ready to be iced!!

Cream Cheese Icing

1 8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 box of powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla flavoring
3 T milk, plus more as needed

Blend cream cheese and butter until smooth.  Add 3 T milk and vanilla flavoring.  Add powdered sugar a little at a time until well blended.  If you're icing is little too thick and you need to thin it out you can add a little more milk.  Add only a teaspoon at a time and blend if this is your first time making icing.  It is very easy to add too much before you know it.  If you do add too much milk you can always add more powdered sugar to thicken it back up.

Happy Baking!!!!