Cream cheese cupcakes can have cream cheese in the batter, filling, or frosting. They come in various flavors, including chocolate, pumpkin, and strawberry. Cheesecake cupcakes are a type of cream cheese cupcake without cake elements. Cream cheese is a high-fat ingredient, but low-fat and vegan options are available.
Cream cheese cupcakes are small cakes with cream cheese either in the batter, as a filling or in the frosting. They usually measure between 2 inches (5 centimeters) and 4 inches (10 centimeters) in diameter, although miniature cupcakes can be 1 inch in diameter. Cream cheese offers a rich, tart element that complements the sweetness of many cake recipes. While not all recipes contain actual cream cheese, there are a number of additional flavors that often accompany this type of cupcake. Additionally, there are other specialty varieties that use the cream cheese flavor.
Cupcakes made with cream cheese may contain cheesecake mixture in the cake itself. This blend uses eggs, sugar, and flavoring agents such as vanilla to produce a fluffier final product. Bakers can swirl the cream cheese through the cake batter, use it as a filling, or add a layer of cream cheese to the top of the cupcake before baking.
Only a few recipes for this treat include cream cheese. Most cream cheese cupcakes add sugar, eggs, flavors or other dairy products to the cheese, rather than using it on its own. When cream cheese is used on its own, bakers often press it into the top of an unbaked cupcake and top it with jam, fruit, or another strongly flavored ingredient. This provides contrast and keeps the cream cheese flavor from overwhelming the more delicate cake.
Common flavorings combined with cream cheese in cupcakes include chocolate, pumpkin, strawberries and other fruits, and vanilla. Less common additions include coffee, jalapeño peppers, and exotic fruits like guava. Fresh fruit works best when applied after the cupcake has finished baking, as it tends to sour in the oven. When fruits need to be cooked, bakers often use jams, preserves or syrups.
Some bakers make cream cheese cupcakes that contain cream cheese only in the frosting, which is usually vanilla. It tends to accompany red velvet, chocolate and carrot cakes, but can be used on any type of tart with a strong flavor. Cream cheese frosting is relatively sweet, but has a tangy note that buttercream frosting and egg whites lack.
Cheesecake cupcakes are a type of cream cheese cupcake that does not contain any cake elements. These miniature cheesecakes can be baked in the same pan as a regular cupcake or in individual ramekins. They often require a water bath to prevent cracking or an inconsistent texture. Some cheesecake-style cream cheese cupcakes include pieces of fruit or chocolate within the cheesecake portion for added flavoring.
Since cream cheese is a high-fat ingredient, most cupcakes made with it are energy intensive. Some recipes use low-fat cream cheese to make the cupcake healthier, but the eggs, butter and oil in most cupcakes make them fatty and high in calories. Vegans and people with dairy sensitivities can substitute vegan cream cheese, made from soybeans, for traditional cream cheese.
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