So…I’m writing the third book in the Cupcake Club Series, titled BABYCAKES…and I’m coming in to the final stretch. Book is due next week, which means…oh yeah: I’m. On. Deadline. And we all know what that means.

Yes. Chocolate. And lot’s of it.

So, today, in the Cupcake Kitchen, I went full tilt. Chocolate Fudge Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip cupcakes. Seriously. I don’t mess around when it’s deadline hell time. And these? SO worth it!!

I started with a recipe from the Original Martha…yes, I’m talking about Betty Crocker. And while I liked the cream cheese chocolate chip filling, the cupcake batter called for cocoa. And cocoa on deadline? Yeah, just won’t do. I need the real stuff. The kind you have to chop up and melt. The kind where I wield sharp things and melt stuff and risk having to call that cute EMT over again when something catches on fire or I (inevitably) nick a finger while in a chocolate chopping frenzy. (How do chefs chop so fast? I make a chop like, once every ten seconds, and I still end up with bandages.)

So, I went searching and dug up this chocolate fudge cupcake recipe in my “family” folder. Not sure which family member this came from, or where they got it, but they are my new, Most Favorite Family Member, that’s for sure!

It’s an easy recipe, as there is no frosting. Because, a sugar rush is one thing, a sugar coma…well, just make sure Cute EMT Guy is there before you collapse. But with this one, it’s sort of like the frosting is on the inside.

Here we go!

Preheat oven to 350. Line 24 muffin cups with cupcake papers. (You may want to double line these as there is a lot of melting chocolate going on!)

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Filling:

1/2 cup sugar
6 ounces cream cheese (two 3oz packs)
1 egg
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Steps:
1. Beat sugar and cream cheese until smooth
2. Beat in egg
3. Stir in chocolate chips. Set aside.

Fudge Cupcakes:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
3 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups milk
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate melted

Steps:
1. Chop chocolate and melt in double boiler, let cool.
2. Whisk togethe flour, baking powder, soda and salt.
3. In separate bowl, use mixer set on med high to cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 4. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping sides as needed.
5. Stir in vanilla
6. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. 7. Add melted chocolate and mix thoroughly.

Filling cups:
Fill each cupcake liner approximately half full, reserving at least 1 1/2 cups batter for later. Then drop a tablespoon size dollop of cream cheese/chocolate chip filling onto the top of each cup. Finally, add a teaspoon size drop of cupcake batter on top.

Bake for 19-22 minutes, or until the toothpick test says you’re done. Let cool on rack for 10 minutes, then remove and cool the rest of the way on a rack.

Then pour yourself a big ol’ glass of very cold milk and enjoy! SO good, am I right?? And you don’t even have to be on deadline, to enjoy them!

Okay, okay, before you race out to buy cream cheese and chocolate chips…don’t forget to enter this week’s Free Stuff Friday Contest! (And don’t forget to come back and check on Friday to see if you’re a winner! Yes, I’m talking about you, Last Week’s Winning Blog Babes!)

This week, up for grabs is an advance copy of Cupcake Club Book #2, SWEET STUFF, which your friends and neighbors can’t get their hands on all the way until January 31. So, be the envy of your block and be the first one to snag a copy! To enter, just send me an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Cupcake Coma isn’t enough! I need SWEET STUFF, too!” in the subject line. I will pick TWO lucky happening blog babe winners and announce them here Friday. Don’t forget! You gotta check in to see if you win!

And don’t forget to Like my Fab New Facebook Fan Page & follow me on Twitter for all the latest daily goings on. Today we took the What Cupcake Flavor Are You quiz. I’m Key Lime. Come join the fun…and find out what flavor you are!

And yes, yes, I know I promised you all the MAC you could stand, but this week’s first Morning After Commentary will have to wait until tomorrow. I was too devastated when my beaten up Steelers couldn’t stop the Tebow Train, so I only got as far as the season premiere for Downton Abbey. (And if you are not watching this, head right on over to www.pbs.org and watch the first season for free. LOVE this series!)

I will have all the dish on that, Once Upon a Time and Good Wife AND Castle when I finish my TV Junkie Marathon in the wee hours after coming out of Deadline Cave.

Because nothing, and I mean, nothing ends a Monday better than Chocolate Fudge Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip cupcakes with Nathan Fillion on top. Seriously.

Bon apetit!

Tags: Writing //