CREAM FILLED CUPCAKES

This is a recipe from an old Iowa church cookbook.

2 1/2 cups unsifted flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup hot water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cocoa, and salt together into a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, oil, buttermilk vanilla, and baking soda that has been dissolved in the cup of hot water. Mix thoroughly. Line 36 muffin baking tins with cupcake liners. Fill each liner about 2/3 full. Bake in the 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or until done. Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes. Fill with the filling below using a pastry bag with a large rosette tip attached. Force the cream into the center of the cakes. Frost with your favorite frosting, if desired.

CREAM FILLING:
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
2/3 cup shortening
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp water
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Combine sugar, milk, shortening, salt, water, and vanilla in a mixing bowl and beat on high speed of electric hand mixer for 7 minutes. Add powdered sugar and continue to beat for another 5 minutes.

This is a file photo.