Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes Recipe 🍫
🧁 Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¾ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
½ cup buttermilk
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ cup hot water
½ cup chopped maraschino cherries (lightly patted dry)
For the cherry buttercream:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
3 tbsp maraschino cherry juice
1–2 drops pink or red food coloring (optional)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Topping:
Whole maraschino cherries with stems
👩🍳 Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.
Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the sugars, oil, eggs, buttermilk, and vanilla. Slowly stir in hot water until combined.
Combine wet and dry ingredients until just mixed. Gently fold in chopped cherries.
Fill liners ¾ full and bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
Make the buttercream: Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar. Mix in cherry juice, food coloring (if using), vanilla, and salt. Beat until light and fluffy.
Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes using a star tip for that perfect swirl.
Top each cupcake with a maraschino cherry. Serve and enjoy!