Black Bottom Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS (Makes 3 dozen)

CREAM-CHEESE MIXTURE
  • 16 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 2 eggs
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 12 oz semisweet chocolate chips

    • FLOUR MIXTURE
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa, or more to taste
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • LIQUIDS
  • 1-1/3 cup water
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 Tbsp white vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla
  • 2 Tbsp dark rum (Myers's)-optional
  • 16 oz sour cream

    • PROCEDURE
    1. Preheat oven to 375 deg. F.
    2. Make the cream-cheese mixture: blend cream cheese, eggs, sugar, and salt with a wooden spoon.
    3. Carefully fold in chips. Set aside.
    4. Make the flour mixture: combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt in another bowl.
    5. Mix in the liquids. Blend thoroughly.
    6. Line muffin tins with cupcake papers. Fill papers about 3/4 full with batter.
    7. Drop one heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture into the center of each.
    8. Bake until done, about 30 minutes. Do not over- bake.