Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

These Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes have a cheery chocolate cake with a cherry buttercream frosting. There’s no shortage of cherry flavor, these cupcakes are sure to be a crowd pleaser.

These chocolate cherry Cupcakes have that classic look which is perfect for Valentine’s Day. Yet this is a great cupcake recipe to make for birthdays and special occasions too.

Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

If you’re looking for other great cupcake recipes, may I suggest these classic Red Velvet Cupcakes. Another Valentine’s Day treat that is elegant enough for a special occasion, baby shower or birthdays.

These Root Beer Cupcakes have a whole new level of taste.

Let’s get back to these best cupcakes which I like to also call black forest cupcakes!

These cupcakes are wonderfully chocolatey, incredibly moist, and you simply cannot beat the combined taste of cherry and milk chocolate. What an epic combination!

From the chocolate cupcake base that is moist and fluffy to the rich cherry buttercream icing. It’s a cherry flavor explosion in every bite.

If y you love cherry cordials or black forest cake, this recipe is for you!


  • TASTY – Rich chocolate and tart cherries are the perfect combination. Perfect for Valentine’s Day!
  • PERFECT CAKE – The cupcakes are soft and moist with that hint of cherry flavor.
  • YUMMY ICING – the cherry buttercream frosting is a dream. Perfect on this cake for sure.
  • EASY TO MAKE – So simple to make yet they taste like a bakery cupcake!
  • ELEGANT – This is such a pretty cupcake! Perfect for special occasions and birthdays.
Cherry Cupcakes recipe

Also, just talking about fresh cherry makes me long for summer days when fresh cherries will be readily available.

It may only be February but this recipe has me dreaming of warmer months, and makes me count down to farmers market season! until then, maraschino cherries will have to do.

In any case, these Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes are screaming to be made and devoured. As in, right now. This easy recipe doesn’t have to wait for a reason.
 

Ingredients Required

Here are the simple ingredients to make this cherry chocolate cupcakes recipe, which includes the moist chocolate cupcakes and cherry buttercream frosting and ganache.

As always, refer to the printable recipe card below.

  • all purpose flour
  • granulated sugar
  • unsweetened cocoa powder
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • Marashino cherry juice
  • milk
  • vegetable oil, or canola oil
  • large eggs
  • pure vanilla extract
  • boiling water

For the Cherry Buttercream Frosting and Ganache

  • softened butter
  • salt
  • powdered sugar
  • maraschino cherry juice
  • Red food coloring, optional
  • dark chocolate chips, for the ganache
chocolate cherry cupcakes

How to Make Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. and add cupcake liners to a muffin tin.
  2. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, white sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk the dry mixture to combine.
  3. Add milk, cherry juice, oil, eggs, and vanilla to the flour mixture in the large bowl. Mix together on medium speed until well combined, using an electric mixer.
  4. Reduce to low speed and carefully add hot water to the cake batter.
  5. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute.
  6. Scoop 1/4 cup of cupcake batter into paper liners and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes before frosting.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Melt dark chocolate chips in a small microwave safe bowl.
  2. Once chocolate is melted, dip the top of the cupcake in the chocolate. Refridgerate for 15 minutes than top with Cherry Buttercream Frosting

CHERRY BUTTERCREAM INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Cream butter and salt until fluffy.
  2. Mix in 1 cup of the powdered sugar then stir in maraschino cherry juice and optional red food coloring.
  3. Mix in remaining powdered sugar and mix until thouroughly combined.
  4. Place frosting into a piping bag and pipe onto cool cupcakes, using desired tip.
  5. Top with maraschino cherries if you wish!

Storage:

Store cupcakes in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. They can be left at room temperature, as long as the room isn’t too warm.

Can I freeze these cupcakes?

Yes, freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. I like to freeze just the cupcakes, and take them out to decorate at a later time.

Just make sure to defrost in the fridge the day before.

More Cupcake Recipes to Love:

chocolate cupcakes with a cherry on top on a white plate
Cherry Cupcakes recipe

Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

Yield: 24
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

These Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes have a cheery chocolate cake with a cherry buttercream frosting. There's no shortage of cherry flavor, these cupcakes are sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

CAKE INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 tsps baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp Marashino cherry juice
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water

CHERRY BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

  • 1 cup softened butter, 2 sticks
  • 1/8 tsp of salt, to taste
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, 330g
  • 3 Tbsp maraschino cherry juice
  • Red food coloring, optional

GANACHE INGREDIENTS

  • ~ 2 cups Dark Chocolate Chips

Instructions

CUPCAKE INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners
  2. In a bowl: combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Whisk to combine.
  4. Add milk, cherry juice, oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together on medium speed until well combined.
  5. Reduce speed and carefully add boiling water to the cake batter.
  6. Beat on high speed for about 1 minute.
  7. Scoop 1/4 cup of batter into cupcake liners and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack, for about 30 minutes before frosting.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Melt dark chocolate chips in a small microwave safe bowl.
  2. Once chocolate is melted, dip the top of the cupcake in the chocolate. Refrigerate for 15 minutes than top with Cherry Buttercream Frosting

CHERRY BUTTERCREAM INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Cream butter and salt until fluffy.
  2. Mix in 1 cup of the powdered sugar then stir in maraschino cherry juice and optional red food coloring.
  3. Mix in remaining powdered sugar and mix until thoroughly combined
  4. Pipe onto cool cupcakes, using desired tip.

Notes

    • Store cupcakes in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 24 Servings
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 255Saturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 228mgCarbohydrates: 42gFiber: 1gSugar: 32gProtein: 2g

Did you make this recipe?

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Created by Tammi Roy

Tammi Roy is the founder of My Organized Chaos, a Canadian food and lifestyle blog. She lives in Alberta, Canada and is the mom of three beautiful teenage girls. Tammi’s passions are her family, creating and sharing delicious recipes, travelling and photography. Learn more about Tammi.

10 Comments

  1. These do look perfect for Valentine’s Day! They might just have to be dessert this weekend!

  2. These Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes look delicious. The ingredients will make it so, especially the chocolates chips. The icing and cherry topping make it very appealing to the eye. Thank you for this giveaway.

  3. These look lovely, and my family loves cherry and chocolate. Thanks for the recipe.

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