Chocolate Cherry Jubilee

Chocolate and cherry are two of my favorite dessert flavors ever, so it's easy to see that these would clearly be my favorite cupcakes in the world.

Plus. They are just so damn cute!

Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes (from Cassie at How to Eat a Cupcake)
Makes 12

• 3/4 cups self-rising flour
• 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup puréed maraschino cherries

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325F
2. Place 20-24 paper baking cups in muffin pans.
3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, and baking powder. Set aside.
4. Cream the sugar and butter in a large bowl until smooth
5. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition
6. Add the flour mixture and the cherries, and stir until well combined
7. Spoon the batter into the cups filling them 3/4 full
8. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean
9. Remove pans from the oven and cool for 5 minutes
10. Remove the cupcakes from the pans and cool on a rack

Cherry Frosting

• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 Tbsp milk
• 4 Tbsp maraschino juice
• 12 maraschino cherries (for garnish)

Directions

1. Cream sugar, butter and vanilla
2. Add a small amount of milk
3. Gently stir in maraschino juice
4. Spread frosting generously on cupcakes
5. Place a cherry in the center