Chocolate Surprise Muffins

This recipe makes two dozen delicious, moist chocolate muffins with a tasty cream cheese/chocolate chip filling. They are more suitable as a dessert and are rich enough not to need any frosting.

Ingredients:

- 3 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup baking cocoa
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt

- 2 cups cold water
- 3/4 cup canola oil
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt

- 2 tablespoons beaten egg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease muffin tins or line with muffin papers.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.

In another bowl, combine the water, oil, egg, vinegar, and vanilla. Stir the moist ingredients into the dry ingredients, just until moistened.

For filling, beat cream cheese, sugar, and salt until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Fill each muffin cup half full with batter. Drop a rounded tablespoonful of cream cheese filling into the center of each cup; top with remaining batter.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pans, then remove to wire racks. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.