Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes

Hello Blogosphere! So I have a lot to celebrate this month, first it has officially been 1 year (& a few days) since the launch of Rhinestoned Adventures! Yippie! 

Many thanks to my 'SuperFans' & frequent visitors for stopping by.

Secondly it's my birthday month... when is my birthday you ask? 

Well lets just say it's Leslie Knope's favorite holiday. 

That's right my birthday is on Galentines Day!

So Happy Galentines Day to all my lady friends, & Happy Birthday to me! 

& while Leslie may prefer to celebrate with waffles, I prefer to celebrate with cupcakes. 

Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes to be exact.

So I made some Devils Food cupcakes. 

( 2 cups all purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp baking soda, 3/4 cup unsweetened coca powder, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1 cup milk, 1 cup hot coffee or hot water, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla - blend together and bake for 19 minutes at 350 degrees) 

Or make these cupcakes 'semi-homemade' by purchasing a devils food box cake mix ;)

While you let your cupcakes cool separate the cherries from 1 can of cherry pie filling.

(be sure to save the extra filling for later)

When the cupcakes have cooled, take a small paring knife or an apple corer & remove the center of the cupcake. (Try not to remove the entire center so you still have the base of the cupcake.)

Then take a single cherry & place it inside the core of the cupcake.

For the filling, I use a play on ganache, but instead of using heavy cream I use the cherry pie filling.

Start by taking 1 cup white chocolate morsels & microwave at 70% for 1 minute & stir. If morsels are not melted, microwave again in 10 second increments until melted. Then stir in 3-4 tablespoons of cherry pie filling. Microwave again for 15 seconds to fully combine. Then fill the remainder of the cupcake core with the white chocolate cherry mix. 

For the frosting combine 4 tbs of butter, 4 cups confectioner's sugar (sifted), 1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract & 6 ounces of cream cheese with a electric mixer at a high speed for 2 minutes

Or just grab a can of cream cheese frosting when you pick up that box cake mix. ;)

Then take the remainder of the cherry pie filling and combine it with the cream cheese frosting. Cover & place it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to let it set up.

Then place your frosting in a pipping bag, (or a zip lock bag with a tip cut off) & swirl onto the cupcake.

& last but not least, top with a cherry & enjoy!

For more on Leslie Knope & Galentines Day tune into Parks & Recreation on NBC

(For those wondering, I use re-usable silicone baking cups for my cupcakes. I think they are an excellent investment & actually help your cupcakes remain moist & delicious!)

On Pinterest?

Repin here!