CHEETOS^® FLAMIN’ HOT^® Birthday Cupcakes

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners.

Step 2
In food processor, pulse CHEETOS^® Crunchy FLAMIN’ HOT^® Cheese Flavored Snacks until finely ground to make 1 ¾ cups; transfer to medium bowl and set aside.

Step 3
In small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.

Step 4
In large bowl, using handheld electric mixer, beat together sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, incorporating the first fully before adding the second. Beat in vanilla.

Step 5
With mixer on low speed, alternately add flour mixture and milk, making 3 additions of flour mixture and 2 of milk, and scraping bowl as needed between additions, until blended. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling about two-thirds full.

Step 6
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a tester comes out clean when inserted into center of a cupcake. Let cool completely in pan on wire rack.

Step 7
Frosting: In clean food processor, pulse cream cheese and cheddar cheese until blended and smooth. Add butter and pulse until blended, about 1 minute. Add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla; mix until light and fluffy. (If frosting is too soft, chill in refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes.)

Step 8
Assembly: Using paring knife, without cutting all the way to bottom or sides of cupcakes, cut out 1-inch well from top of each cupcake, reserving cut-out portions for another use.

Step 9
Fill each well with 1 tbsp crushed CHEETOS^®; press with back of spoon to pack tightly.

Step 10
Spoon or pipe frosting over cupcakes. Sprinkle with remaining crushed CHEETOS^®.