Just when you think Red Velvet Cupcakes couldn’t get any better, then they get stuffed with a cream cheese surprise! I think you will be swooning over these for a long time!
The other day I was helping my 10 year old with his homework but I really needed to make a dessert. You know, dessert is a necessity. Truly it is! The kids need a treat in their lunchbox every day. And that’s the only reason dessert is a necessity! Ha!
Okay, maybe I needed a little dessert too! I’d been dreaming of making red velvet cupcakes for a few days. The other day I opened my fridge and noticed that sometime during the holidays I must have gotten a little carried away with my cream cheese buying. You see I live and hour from the grocery store and a girl can’t be caught without cream cheese.
I knew it would be delicious to add a cream cheese surprise to my red velvet cupcakes. But…I had no idea how incredible they would be. There is something magical about taking a bite of your cupcake and finding a surprise inside. Especially a cream cheese and chocolate chip surprise!
My cupcakes began with a cake mix. Remember, I was helping do homework while I was making my cupcakes. There’s no way I could divide fractions and Red Velvet Cupcakes from scratch at the same time. Besides, I use substitute milk for the water in the cake mix and it makes all the difference. Why can’t the whole world substitute milk for water? That would help dairy farmers you know!
I frosted a few of my cupcakes and they were good. It makes the cream cheese filling a secret too. Honestly though, I think it was a little too much. I like them even better without frosting on top. Which makes me happy, because who has time to spend icing cupcakes anyway?
These cupcakes are going to become one of our new Valentine’s Day traditions! What are you making for dessert to celebrate Valentines Day?
Red Velvet Cupcakes (with cream cheese surprise inside)
Ingredients
- 1 box red velvet cake mix prepared as package directs, except substitute milk for water
- 1 8 oz. pkg cream cheese (room temperature
- 1/3 c. sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 dash salt
- 1 c. mini chocolate chips
- Cream cheese frosting optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Beat cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and salt. Beat again. Stir in chocolate chips. Refrigerate while making cake mix.
- Prepare cake mix as directed on package except substitute milk for water.
- Line cupcake pan with liners. This recipe makes about 30 cupcakes.
- Fill cupcake liners 1/2-2/3 full with red velvet cake mix.
- Add 1 T. cream cheese filling on top of cake mix.
- Bake as package directs for cupcakes. I baked mine 22 minutes.
- Let cool in cupcake pan for 5 minutes. Remove to wire rack to finish cooling.
- If desired, frost with cream cheese frosting.
- Store leftovers in refrigerator.
Look yummy. Bet they would be good with chocolate frosting as well.
Come to think of it I can’t think of a thing that wouldn’t be delicious with chocolate frosting!
I heard of these being done with white chocolate chips. What are your thoughts on that. I made this same recipe once before and used pumpkin cake as a base instead of red velvet and used chocolate frosting. It was quite tasty, but I want to try the red velvet for Halloween this year.
I love that you are already thinking about Halloween! It’s such a fun holiday! Different flavors of chocolate chips won’t affect the overall outcome of this recipe at all. In fact, I think it’s fun to experiment with lots of different kinds! Good luck!
Hey!! I am in the process of making these right now 🙂 my husband and brother love love love red velvet and just like you, I love cream cheese!! But, I have a quick question..I am in the process of doing the first step now, my cream cheese looks kind of chunky (like cottage cheese) is that normal? I accidently did the cream cheese right out of the fridge, so should I let it be till it melts a bit or what?
Naomi, sorry I am so late getting back to you. If cream cheese isn’t room temperature it will get be lumpy when you mix it up. If you forget to take it out of the fridge in advance you can always cut it in smaller cubes (it will get to room temperature faster), or microwave it at half power for a few seconds at a time. I would have let it sit on the counter top until it softened up. Sounds like your family will love them anyway!
I made this for a cookout and they were a big hit. I have been asked to make them for a wedding. The bride fell in love with them.
You are brave! Making cakes for a wedding would scare to death! Thank goodness these cupcakes are super simple to make! Best wishes!
Great recipe! Just made them and they turned out great. I made half with icing and half without. Either at they’re delicious
I agree! They are a hit either way! Oh, and they are so easy! Isn’t that one of the best parts?
I was looking into making these cupcakes, do you think if I added a mini oreo on the inside with the cream cheese instead of chocolate chips it will still work out good???
Great idea! Oreo’s never hurt anything! It’s worth trying. Let me know how it goes!
Love your page. I want to make your red velvet cream cheese surprise cupcakes for a huge valentine party with about 80 guests. Can these be frozen in advance? O course without frosting.
I’ve never frozen them before but I don’t see why you couldn’t do that. Let me know if you try it!
They freeze well if not frosted. We make something very similar in mini size and always make a huge batch. We freeze them and get
Them out to thaw about an hour before serving. So good!
That’s a great idea! Being able to make food in advance makes life so much easier! Thanks for sharing!
These are amazing. Easy and baking time was perfect! I am making these for my granddaughter’s high school graduation open house.
Congrats on your daughter’s graduation! These cupcakes will be a perfect way to celebrate!
Sounds like a Great Family you have, always wish I could’ve grown up on a farm, with others doing all the work required to keep the farm going of course.
Thanks for sharing, I will make as soon as I return home, hopefully this weekend.
Have a great day guys!
Hi Rod! Yes to enjoying farm life without all the extra work! That would be a dream come true! At the end of the day I think it’s the endless responsabilities that never go away that shape farm kids into what they are. It’s the late nights, early mornings, and nonstop work that helps them learn how to stick with a task, solve problems, and never give up. If we could get rid of all of the work they probably wouldn’t learn those important lessons. However, I do wish all of that responsability could go away at least once a week! Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy!
Hi. Is it possible to have cream cheese surprise in cake instead of cupcakes
I haven’t ever tried making this recipe into a cake instead of cupcakes. I’m guessing it would work just fine though. I think I’d spread the cake batter in the pan, then drop all the cream cheese on top.
How far ahead can you make these? I am making for a wedding on Sunday and want to make ahead of time. Can I freeze them without frosting ?
I’ve never tried freezing these before. I think it would work just fine, although I’d wait to frost them just like you mentioned. I think you could probably freeze them up to a week before serving them. Good luck with the wedding.
My cupcakes turned out amazing!! Thanks so much for the recipe!!!
Yay! The surprise inside is my favorite part! Glad you enjoyed them!
Doing a lot of baking with my teenage daughters and these turned out great! We really appreciated the substitutions since we can’t go to store easily to buy things.
I love that you are getting in the kitchen with your daughters and making memories! Since I live about 60 miles from the nearest grocery store I’m all about substitutions. It’s a necessity! Glad you enjoyed the cupcakes!
Hi! This recipe sounds so good! Silly question but what is the texture of the cream cheese mixture in the middle when baked? Is it just like a regular cheesecake inside the cupcake? Thanks in advance!
They are so yummy! The cheesecake filling inside is more like a baked cheesecake than a no-bake cheesecake, although I think it’s a little drier and more set up than a baked cheesecake. Hopefully, that makes sense!
Great recipe, very easy to make! I didn’t have buttermilk so I subbed it out with natural yogurt and normal milk, it worked very very well. Love this recipe will use it time and time again!
I love substitutions! They’re delicious with different flavors too!
Its color looks so impressive. But for my very first time it did not work so well, anw the taste is quite good. Thank you for your so impressive beautiful sharing!
They are a gorgeous color. I love them on Valentines Day and Christmas. I’m glad they tasted good and would love to help you figure out why they didn’t turn out so good.
So cute !
Thank you!
I love your recipes and directions. Desserts are a must–and yours are effortless. Congrats on all fronts!
Thank you! Dessert happens every day at our house and most of the time it has to be quick and easy! I’m glad you’re enjoying the recipes!