Black Bottom Cupcakes

This has been a favorites for years -- from my aunt Judy, who has since passed away.
They always remind me of her. :)

Cupcake Ingredients:
1½ C flour
1 C sugar
1 tsp soda
¼ C cocoa powder
1 C water
¹/₃ C oil
1 Tbls vinegar
1 tsp vanilla

Filling Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
¹/₃ C sugar
¹/₈  tsp salt
6 oz chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°.

Prepare Filling: Place cream cheese, egg, sugar and salt in a bowl; beat until creamy. Stir in chips. Set aside.

Prepare cake batter: Combine dry ingredients. Stir in water, oil, vinegar and vanilla until well blended. Fill 18 cupcake liners equally with batter -- about ½ full. (Do NOT overfill...with the filling, these cupcakes won't 'crown' above the liner, they'll spill out over the muffin tins when baking.) :( Top each with a heaping teaspoon of cream cheese filling mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Frost if desired, but with the filling these cupcakes are moist and delicious on their own...or dusted with powdered sugar just for a more 'finished' presentation.