BLACK-AND-WHITE CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Black-and-White Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 2h

Yield 12 cupcakes

Number Of Ingredients 14

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1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (see Cook's Note)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
4 cups confectioners' sugar

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and foamy, about 2 minutes. While beating, gradually pour in the butter and then the vanilla, mixing until combined.
Reduce the mixer speed to low and add half of the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Add the milk, mixing until combined, and then the remaining flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Transfer one-third of the batter (about 1 cup) to a small bowl and stir in the cocoa powder. Alternate dropping spoonfuls of each batter into each cupcake liner, using a larger spoon for the white batter and a smaller spoon for the chocolate batter. Swirl the batters with an offset spatula or a skewer.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool the cupcakes in the tin on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin and cool completely.
Beat together the cream cheese and butter using an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and lemon juice. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the confectioners' sugar, beating until well combined.
Transfer the frosting to a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag and pipe the frosting onto the tops of the cupcakes.