More Cupcakes....

I CANNOT WAIT to give these little babies a whirl....

Black Cherry Surprise Cupcakes


Ingredients:

3/4 cup self-rising flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1.5 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1 egg

1/4 cup and 1 tsp Kirschwasser (cherry flavored brandy)

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

2/3 cup 2% Milk

2 cups fresh black cherries (frozen or maraschino can be substituted)

1 cup whipping cream (recipe to follow)

1/2 cup chocolate liqueuer

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

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Directions:

1. Preheat Oven to 350

2. In a bowl mix the 2 cups cherries and the 1/2 of Kirsch together and set in refrigerator

3. In a bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt

4. With an electric mixer beat sugar, brown sugar and butter until well combined

5. Add eggs, vanilla and 1 tsp Kirsch then mix

6. Alternately beat in milk and flour mixture making two additions of flour and one of buttermilk

7. With a spoon combine the chocolate chips

8. Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 of the way full

9. Bake for 18 minutes

10. While cupcake are baking make your whipping cream

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Whipping Cream Recipe

2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup fine sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Add the cream, and whip quickly with a wire whisk until the cream is slightly thickened. Now add the sugar and any flavorings. Continue to whip until cream forms soft peaks.

11. Remove cherries from refrigerator and drain them, reserving the juice then roughly chop them up and combine with the whipping cream, refrigerate until needed

12. Once cupcakes are done baking immediately poke holes in the tops with a toothpick and brush the chocolate liqueur over the tops

13. Cool cupcakes in baking pan for 10 minutes then remove and cool the rest of the way on a cooling rack

14. When cooled with a small spoon scoop out a hole in the top of the cupcakes

15. Fill the whole with the cherry/whipped cream mixture

16. Top with cherry buttercream

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Cherry Buttercream Recipe

1/2 cup unsalted butter

2 tblsp vegetable shortening

5 cups powdered sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

10 tsp reserved cherry juice

Mix butter and vegetable shortening together until creamy. Add in powdered sugar one cup at a time. Mix the vanilla and cherry juice in and whip on high until light and fluffy.