Chocolate Cupcakes with Cheesecake Filling and Chocolate Ganache Frosting

These cupcakes are Heavenly!!

For the cake batter:
2 1/4 c flour
3/4 c brown sugar
3/4 c white sugar
3/8 c cocoa
1 1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 c boiling water
1/2 c canola oil
1 1/2 T apple cider vinegar
1/2 T pure vanilla extract

For the filling:
8 oz cream cheese softened
1/2 c powder sugar
1 egg
1 t pure vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the glaze:
2/3 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 c butter
1/8 cup corn syrup
1/2 t pure vanilla extract
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 cupcake tins with paper liners.

To make filling: cream everything together except chocolate until smooth and creamy. Stir in the chocolate chips.

To make cupcakes: mix dry ingredients. Whisk wet ingredients together. Make a well in center of dry ingredients and pour liquid in and mix well. Fill each paper cupcake liner 1/4 full of batter and top with heaping T of filling. Divide evenly and use it all. Top filling with remaining batter. Bake cupcakes for 25 minutes.

To make ganache: combine ingredients in microwave safe bowl and cook on high for one minute. Remove and stir until smooth. If needed, continue to microwave for 30 second intervals.

Remove cupcakes and let cool. Dip top of each cupcake in the chocolate ganache and let cool in fridge. These are also delicious with cream cheese/buttercream frosting. I hope you enjoy these cupcakes as much as me and my family do!