When it comes to baking, I always have milk, eggs, and chocolate chips available in the kitchen. A rarity is cream cheese. However, during my last grocery run I decided to grab a pack of cream cheese, should I crave tiramisu. Sadly, I have not been in the mood for tiramisu; Instead, I’ve been wanting chocolate cake.

Cakes have been around for thousands of years, but the thought of crushing cocoa beans to make chocolate didn’t come about until the mid-1700s in America, by Dr. James Baker. His chocolate was originally used to make drinks.

Today, chocolate is loved by many–myself included–throughout the world. Not only do we enjoy chocolate beverages (some boozy) but chocolate candy and cakes as well.

I came upon this Chocolate & Cream Cheese Cupcakes recipe by YouTuber Todd’s Kitchen, and instantly wanted to give it a try. Not only would I be satisfying my chocolate cake craving, but I would also be using up that cream cheese in the back of the fridge.

Instead of adding the chocolate chips to the cream cheese mixture, I mixed them into the cake batter. I also choose to pipe the cream cheese mixture into the center of the cupcakes, and form a marble effect in the cakes.

After baking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 C) for 25-30 minutes, I ended up with 21 Chocolate Chip and Cream Cheese Marble Cupcakes (You may end up with more of less, depending on how much batter you use per cupcake). They are not only aesthetically pleasing but very delicious. I highly recommend them if you also have a chocolate cake craving. And if you are part of a small family, like myself, do give some away as gifts.

Enjoy^-^