Dark Chocolate Covered Cherry Cupcakes

Happy President's Day!

I'm sure most people aren't doing anything too exciting today (myself included) but it is a holiday for my company so I'm off today. What a nice way to start the week! So here I am, lounging in my yoga pants and FINALLY updating you with one of the many tasty treats I've made lately.

Speaking of work and holidays, we had a really fun Valentine's Day bake-off at the office. It had been awhile since I'd made something new and different for my coworkers so I knew I had to pull off something delicious and beautiful. Then the idea of a chocolate covered cherries popped in to my head. Why not spin that thought into cupcakes? Perfect!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar




• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour




• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa




• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder




• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda




• 1 teaspoon salt




• 2 eggs




• 1 cup milk




• 1/2 cup vegetable oil




• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract




• 1 cup boiling water




• 1 can cream cheese frosting (don't judge me, I love this stuff!)




• 1 can cherry pie filling... you know, the ooey-gooey gelatinous kind. Yum!

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350°F and line your cupcake pan with adorable, holiday inspired liners.




• Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of electric mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin).




• Pour 2.5 TBSP of batter into cupcake liners.




• Now add 2 TBSP of cherry pie filling. Don't worry, this will settle at the bottom of the cupcake during the baking process.




• Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean.




• Let the cupcakes cool completely and then top with good ol' canned frosting and itty-bitty heart sprinkles!
  
  

And guess what else? I won the baking contest! How fun!

The dark chocolate cake was rich and delicious. The hidden cherries brightened up this cupcake with a sweet and tangy treat! But the frosting, say what you will about canned frosting but MAN... this stuff goes good on ANYTHING! Like a spoon, for example ;)

Source: Hershey