Black Forest Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting 🍫🍒

Chocolate Cupcakes:

Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour – 190 g (1½ cups)
• Unsweetened cocoa powder – 50 g (½ cup)
• Granulated sugar – 200 g (1 cup)
• Baking powder – 1½ teaspoons
• Baking soda – 1½ teaspoons
• Salt – ½ teaspoon
• Eggs – 2 large
• Vegetable oil – 120 ml (½ cup)
• Milk or buttermilk – 240 ml (1 cup)
• Hot water or hot coffee – 240 ml (1 cup)
• Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon

Instructions:

1. Mix Dry Ingredients:
   • In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Add Wet Ingredients:
   • Add the eggs, vegetable oil, milk (or buttermilk), and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.
3. Incorporate Hot Liquid:
   • Gradually stir in the hot water or coffee to form a thin batter.
4. Bake:
   • Pour the batter into a lined cupcake pan, filling each cup about ⅔ full.
   • Bake at 170°C (340°F) for about 18–22 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
5. Cool Completely:
   • Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting:

Ingredients:

• Cream cheese (full fat, softened) – 225 g
• Unsalted butter (softened) – 115 g (½ cup)
• Icing sugar (sifted) – 360–420 g (3–3½ cups)
• Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Beat Butter:
   • In a bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy and smooth.
2. Add Cream Cheese:
   • Add the softened cream cheese and beat until fluffy and well combined.
3. Incorporate Icing Sugar:
   • Gradually add the sifted icing sugar, continuing to beat until light and fluffy.
4. Add Flavoring:
   • Mix in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Continue to beat until the frosting is smooth and pipeable.

Cherry Topping:

Ingredients:

• Cherry pie filling or canned cherries – as needed
• Maraschino cherries – for topping

Decoration:

1. Frost the Cupcakes:
   • Pipe the cream cheese buttercream onto the cooled cupcakes using a star nozzle for a decorative swirl.
2. Add Chocolate Shavings:
   • Sprinkle chocolate shavings on top of the frosting for added texture and flavor.
3. Finish with a Cherry:
   • Top each cupcake with a maraschino cherry for that classic Black Forest look!

Enjoy Your Black Forest Cupcakes! 🍒🍫✨

These cupcakes are a delightful combination of rich chocolate, creamy frosting, and the sweet tang of cherries, perfect for any celebration or sweet treat!