Lido 14 - the very best cupcakes

Do you have recipes in your life that are your "go to" recipes?? Like, oh I always make those cookies, or that casserole?? Well these are my "go to" cupcake recipe. I make them for birthdays, holidays, just for fun. I tend to always have the ingredients on hand and love that even though they are "from" scratch, they come together quickly.

As for the name, Lido 14, I don't know where it comes from? Maybe because there are 14 ingredients?? It's been a mystery ever since I could read the recipe out of the old Klemme, IA church cookbook as a kid. Oh well, call them cream cheese chocolate cupcakes, black bottom cupcakes, or whatever you wish. They are good.

This batch we made a bit special for Halloween by adding some orange gel food coloring to the cream cheese filling. They were a hit at Sweet Pea's school Halloween party. Also, the kids LOVE that the batter of the recipe has no raw eggs so I let them lick the bowl!!

LIDO 14 Cupcakes

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups water
2 Tbs. vinegar
3/4 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla

Sift dry ingredients together. Add liquids and stir well with a whisk. Prepare filling by combining ingredients.

Filling:
8oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
6 oz chocolate chips
1/2 cups sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Line cupcake pan with papers. Fill cups half full with chocolate batter and add a large teaspoon of filling. Top with patter. Bake 30 minutes at 350. Tops can be dusted with powdered sugar if desired.

Begin by getting out the bowl and pretending you are an astronaut!

Gather up some dry ingredients. Flour, sugar, cocoa.

As usual, don your apron!

Add ingredients with glee!!

Stir. Did I mention you don't need a mixer for this one!?!!

Wet ingredients. Yes, that's vinegar.

Add the wet to the dry and stir some more.

While you stir, let the kids do this job.

Make the filling. I throw the cream cheese in the microwave about 30 seconds so it's easier to stir and beat the egg first too.

Fill your cupcakes about halfway. I use a cookie scoop. Nice photo taken by Sweet Pea. Why does my hand look like a claw??

Next add a scoop of filling & then top with another scoop of chocolate batter. And then . . . .

LICK THE BOWL!!!!

Peek in the oven to see if the tops are getting puffed up.

ENJOY!  Top with powdered sugar if you wish. Frost if desired. Both are good but not necessary!

Don't eat too many though or you made end up looking like this!