8 oz pkg. cream cheese

½ cup sugar

2 eggs

1 ½ cups chocolate chips

2 ¼ cups all purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

¾ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups white sugar

⅓ cup cocoa (unsweetened)

½ cup vegetable oil

1 ½ cups water

1 ½ tablespoons vinegar

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

3 tablespoons white sugar

¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F and line 2 dozen medium muffin cups with paper liners.

For the cream cheese mixture, combine softened cream cheese with ½ cup sugar and eggs in a small bowl and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips, then set bowl aside.

In a large bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt, 1 ½ cups sugar, and cocoa. Combine water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla, then beat into the flour mixture for 2 minutes. Fill muffin cups half full, then top each with a large spoonful of cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle tops with sugar and nuts.

Bake at 350F for 20 to 30 minutes or until cream cheese mixture is golden. Let cool 10 minutes before removing from pans.