Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes!

Recently it seems like all I've been making is cupcakes! These I made for someone who loves chocolate and cherries. Chocolate and cherry are a great combination, which is why they are often paired together.

Today I am taking a road trip up to Scotland, taking the girls up to spend a week at their grandma’s. I hope this good weather lasts so we can spend time doing fun things!

Since I will be gone for a week I have a few friends helping me out by guest posting! I will be back, hopefully feeling refreshed and ready to get baking!

I always have a list a half a mile long of things I want to make and share. Going to try my hand at making doughnuts, tarts, and of course more cupcakes!

But first these Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes were good. I wasn't sure how the cherry jam mixed in the batter would turn out, if you’d be able to taste it or not, but it was noticeable. Although I might have liked it to be a little bit more.

Well, here they are, enjoy!

Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

125g butter

100g dark chocolate, broken

300g cherry jam

150g caster sugar

pinch of salt

2 eggs, lightly beaten

150g self-rising flour

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas4. Line a cupcake pan with cupcake cases. Melt the butter in a small sauce pan, before it’s completely melted stir in the chocolate. Take off the heat and stir until it’s smooth and add the cherry jam, sugar, salt, and eggs. Stir until well mixed. Fold in the flour.

Divide the mixture between the cases. Bake for 25 minutes or until well risen and a skewer comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool completely before frosting.

Dark Chocolate Ganache

100g dark chocolate

100g double cream

150g icing sugar

Gently heat the chocolate and the cream, whisk until the chocolate has melted and the ganache has thickened. Sift in the sugar and whisk until completely smooth. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for 30-40 minutes. Spread over the cooled cupcakes using a spatula.

to finish:

Chocolate Sprinkles or curls

12 cherries

Roll the edges of the cupcakes in a plate of sprinkles or choice of topping. Then top each cupcake with a cherry.

notes: Visit Scotland; recipe from Making Cupcakes with Lola by Victoria Jossel & Romy Lewis