American

Judy Hesser's Surprise Cupcakes

May 10, 2021
4
2 Ratings
Photo by Mark Weinberg. Food stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. Prop stylist: Ali Slagle.
  • Prep time 15 minutes
  • Cook time 20 minutes
  • makes 20 to 24 cupcakes
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Watch This Recipe
Judy Hesser's Surprise Cupcakes
Ingredients
  • For the filling
  • 8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 whole large egg plus 1 egg yolk
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • For the cupcake batter
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup natural cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1/3 cup vegetable, canola, or other neutral oil
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
Directions
  1. Heat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
  2. In a small bowl, beat together the cream cheese, egg, egg yolk, and salt. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Put the egg white in a 2-cup liquid measuring cup and fill it to 1 cup with water. Whisk in the oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Pour this mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until smooth.
  5. Fill the lined muffin tin cups 1/3 full with the chocolate batter. Spoon the cream cheese batter in the top center of each cupcake batter (about 1 tablespoon each). Sprinkle with the sliced almonds.
  6. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until just set.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

Recipe by: Amanda Hesser

Before starting Food52 with Merrill, I was a food writer and editor at the New York Times. I've written several books, including "Cooking for Mr. Latte" and "The Essential New York Times Cookbook." I played myself in "Julie & Julia" -- hope you didn't blink, or you may have missed the scene! I live in Brooklyn with my husband, Tad, and twins, Walker and Addison.

1 Review

Kate C. January 28, 2022
I haven’t made these delicious looking cupcakes yet because you all left out important information for the recipe! Myself and others responding to the video requested the amount of chocolate nibs to add and more importantly the temp of the oven, to be which you did not respond. Please, when you show your videos make sure you include ALL the information to make the recipes! Thank you. Please post the oven temp!