Before Baking

• If you wish to place the truffles in the cupcakes before they go in the oven, place your truffles in the freezer for 30 to 45 minutes before baking. While the truffles freeze, prepare your cupcake batter. Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Divide the cupcake batter in half and partially fill each liner. Position a frozen truffle in the center of each cupcake, making sure it does not touch the sides. Fill the cupcake liners with the remaining batter and bake according to recipe directions.

During Baking

• Prepare your cupcake batter according to recipe directions. Pour into liners and bake for five minutes, then remove them from the oven. Gently press a truffle into the center of each cupcake and return them to the oven to continue baking for as long as the recipe states. For example, if the recipe says to bake the cupcakes for 16 minutes, return them to the oven for an additional 11 minutes after inserting the truffle.

After Baking

• Prepare and bake your cupcakes according to recipe directions. Remove cupcakes from the oven and immediately cut a 1/2-inch-deep "X" into the tops with a paring knife. Press a truffle into each "X" until it is flush with the top of the cupcake.

Serving Suggestions

• Once the cupcakes are baked and filled with truffles, there are a few different ways you can serve them. Allow them to cool completely and frost as you would normally, and the hidden truffle will be an unexpected surprise. Alternately, you can skip the frosting and serve them warm, topped with a little fresh fruit or whipped cream. The warm cupcakes will become a miniature molten cake, oozing delicious chocolate once you reach the center.