Cheese Chip Cupcakes

If I had to say which Christmas goodie was the absolute most favorite at the Peaden household - I would say Cheese Chip Cupcakes without hesitation. These are kept frozen in little Christmas tins, and are best if you take them out of the freezer and let sit for just a couple of minutes. That way they are still cold, but not frozen anymore. They are super yummy and the perfect Christmas treat to snack on while playing a rousing game of Canasta.

Cheese Chip Cupcakes
Source: McAllister Family Cookbook; Sue Peaden

Ingredients:
3/4 cup finely chopped pecans
3/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 egg
1/2 cup sugar
1 (6 oz) package chocolate chips
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp  salt
1 1/2 cup water
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 Tbs vinegar
2 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Mix together chopped pecans and brown sugar. Set aside.

Soften cream cheese in the microwave for 2 minutes on power level 3. Mix together cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar. Add egg and beat to incorporate. Add chocolate chips. Set aside.

Mix remaining ingredients and beat until blended. Fill cups 1/3 full, add 1 heaping teaspoon of cream cheese mixture, sprinkle top with 1 teaspoon brown sugar and nut topping.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. When done, remove from pans (without disturbing the topping). After cooled, place in Christmas tins and freeze. Makes 2 1/2 dozen.

These cookies are best served just barely thawed.

Sweet Surprise Cupcakes

I got this recipe from the Foods I cookbook that the other Foods teacher at Westlake uses. We worked out a system where were were on the same schedule. Valentines Day was one of my favorite cooking days, because each lab did a different recipe and then we all shared for a fun Valentine party. This was a delicious recipe. I made it again the other day for a football game treat - which is what this picture is of. Yellow cake mix and blue filling. However, i've posted the recipe as it is found in Mrs. Wilson's Foods I recipe book.

Sweet Surprise Cupcakes 

Ingredients:
Devils Cake Mix
Cream Cheese Surprise Filling
Chocolate Frosting

For Cream Cheese Surprise Filling:
1 (8 oz.) block cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg
6 drops red food coloring
24 cupcake liners

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Mike Devils Cake mix according to package directions in
kitchen aid mixer bowl. Remove better attachment and scrape
bottom and sides of bowl to blend all ingredients.
3. While two students are doing step one two students will do the
following in another kitchen aid bowl.
4. Blend together cream cheese, egg, sugar, food coloring until
smooth and creamy set aside. Place liners in muffin tins
5. Fill each muffin cup ½ full of cake batter. Place dollop of cream
cheese mixture in center of each cupcake.
6. Fill with remaining cake batter scrapping down the sides of
mixer bowl with rubber scraper.
7. Bake for 23-26 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center
comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan 5 minutes then remove
to cooling rack to cool completely for the next class to frost.

To decorate cupcakes:

While your cupcakes are baking you will decorate 24 cups for your
class to eat.
1. Frost each cupcake with prepared chocolate frosting. Sprinkle
white, pink or red candies on top. Place on serving trays for
the buffet line.