Chocolate Cupcakes

Copyright 2011 Christine's Pantry. All rights reserved.

On Valentine's Day, give the perfect gift... homemade snacks. The way to his heart is through his stomach. Valentine's Day... spending quality time with your loved one. Grab a cupcake, hot coffee or hot chocolate and get cozy. As cold as it has been!... you can toss some wood in your fireplace. Get cozy in front of the fireplace. Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Ingredients:

1 (18.5 oz) box of chewy brownie mix

1/2 cup sour cream

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

2 cups confectioner sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/ 2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/ 8 teaspoon ground ginger

3/ 4 cup sweethearts candies, finely chopped

1 large resealable plastic bag

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 regular muffin cups with paper cupcake liners. Prepare the brownie mix according to package directions for cake like brownies, add sour cream, blend well. Fill the cups half full with brownie batter. Bake for 18 minutes, or when toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. When cool enough, remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

For the frosting: In a bowl together cream cheese and butter. Slowly add sugar and mix well until smooth. Stir in vanilla, cinnamon and ground ginger. Frost when cupcakes are completely cool. Place candies in the plastic bag, seal the bag, with rolling pin break up the candies. Sprinkle chopped candies over top of cupcakes. Enjoy!