Merry Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes
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I don’t post cupcake recipes very often – I’m not sure why. I mean, we all love a good cupcake, right? When I made these with my little girl a couple weeks ago, I knew I had to share them with you. Not only are they lip-smacking good, but they are Merry Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes. so perfect for Christmastime! 
The flavors in these little gems are the perfect combination of rich intense chocolate, and bright sweet cherry. The cake on it’s own is so incredibly moist and fragrant, I almost didn’t want to frost them. The secret ingredient is what makes them so moist…mayonnaise. I’m sorry. I know it sounds awful, but trust me on this one, ok? Just the right balance of butter (for richness and flavor) and mayo (for a moist and fluffy texture) makes these a cherry chocolate dream come true!
I said I almost didn’t want to frost these…but then I imagined how heavenly a cherry cream cheese frosting would be and I couldn’t resist! I usually am a chocolate frosting kind of girl. Vanilla and buttercream frostings tend to be too sweet for my liking. Over the last year or so I started adding cream cheese to all of my white frostings to help cut the sweetness, and let me tell ya – it’s socrazygood! For this particular frosting I also added the juice from the jar of cherries that was left after adding some to the cake. The texture is smooth and creamy and the flavor is bright and fruity. A very merry compliment to the cake! Add these to the list of goodies to make this Christmas. They are sure to spread holiday cheer!
Merry Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes
Print recipe
| Serves | 24 |
| Prep time | 10 minutes |
| Cook time | 14 minutes |
| Total time | 24 minutes |
| Meal type | Dessert |
| Misc | Child Friendly, Gourmet |
Ingredients
cake
- 6 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cups cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup cherry juice (from a jar of maraschino cherries)
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 13/4 cups flour
frosting
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 8oz cream cheese (softened)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3-5 tablespoons cherry juice (from a jar of maraschino cherries)
Directions
| Cake | |
| Step 1 | |
| Preheat oven to 350* | |
| cake | |
| Step 2 | |
| In a large bowl beat together butter, mayo, and sugars until smooth. | |
| Step 3 | |
| Add in the cocoa and cherry juice and mix well. | |
| Step 4 | |
| Add the salt, eggs, and milk and mix until well combined. | |
| Step 5 | |
| Gradually add in the soda, baking powder, and flour. Once combined mix on high for one minute. | |
| Step 6 | |
| Place 24 liners into cupcake pans and fill with cake batter 2/3 of the way. Bake about 14 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. Let cool on racks completely before frosting. | |
| frosting | |
| Step 7 | |
| Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add in powdered sugar and beat really well. Pour in cherry juice one TBS at a time and continue beating until it reaches the desired consistency. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Top each cupcake with a cherry. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. | |
YUMMY! These look so good! Bookmarking so I can make these delightful cupcakes! Please link these over at Heavenly Treats Sunday Link Party http://pamelasheavenlytreats.blogspot.com/
Pamela recently posted..Heavenly Treats Sunday Link Party #28
Thank you for sharing! Loved reading your “about me” list. And the cupcake recipe looks delicious!!
Thank you so much, Shannon!
These are sooooooo beautiful and cute looking cupcakes!
I must say that mayonnaise in the recipe sounds intriguing and challenging to me
Winnie recently posted..לחם ספירלה עם שום או זעתר
Thank you, Winnie! It really does make the cake moist, and you don’t taste the mayo
hi, stephanie!
i’m looking forward to making these cupcakes. i’ve cooked with mayonnaise before, and the result was wonderful.
as a mom of many angel babies, and two beautiful adopted children, i appreciate your post. each and every one of us is vulnerable in our own way – thank you for sharing what makes you human. we laugh, we cry, we sing!
i wish you & yours a very merry christmas, and many blessings for the new year.
celeste
Celeste, thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate you taking the time to read and leave such an encouraging comment. Blessings to you!
Eek! I LOVE your About Me and I am IN LOVE with these cupcakes, girl! Cherry + chocolate is such a delicious match made in heaven
and your pictures look GORGEOUS!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel recently posted..Ultimate Chocolate Roundup: Happy Birthday, Alex!
Aww Hayley, thank you so much! You’re such a sweetie
Oh these are a very merry cherry christmas! I love them they are so pretty!
Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen recently posted..Hearty Winter White Bean and Kale Soup
I love your about me page! It is so nice to get to know each other. I just didn’t see a place to leave comments on that page. Oh I forgot to mention that I pinned those yummy cupcakes!
Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen recently posted..Hearty Winter White Bean and Kale Soup
Thank you, Chandra! I can’t figure out why the comments are disabled on that page…
Thanks for the pin, too!
They are so cute! I love those liners. And I like that the recipe only calls for the cherry syrup, so you can use the cherries on something else.
Agos recently posted..The first day of Christmas: strawberry milk pudding and a Sprinkle Bakes giveaway!
Thanks so much, Agos!
I just read your About Me page as well and wanted to comment, but there was no form. So, I guess I’ll comment here!
I love ‘getting to know’ other bloggers! And we actually have quite a bit in common: baby giggles, chocolate and peanut butter, naturally curly hair, etc. Although it looks like you take better care of your hair than I do…:)
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen recently posted..Apple Pear Hand Pies (For Ev, Part I)
Thanks so much for the comment, Loretta! I am trying to figure out the comment problem on that page…
Love that we have so much in common
Eek! Your pictures are SO GOOD! I love the chocolate and cherry combo. And thank you for sharing your About Me page – love it!!!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted..Skinny Eggnog Pie {With a Gingersnap Crust}
Aww, Ashley. You are too kind, thank you!
How beautiful are those cupcakes?! Love the cherry on top
It was great reading your About Me page…cookies for breakfast? Oh how I wish!!
Oh thank you, Becca!
Yep, I am the perfect example of healthy eating, lol!
These cupcakes look really amazing! I love anything chocolate & cherry. I’ll have to try that mayo trick the next time I make cake or cupcakes. Have a beautiful week
Thanks, Nicole! Yes, try it! It really helps make them moist!
These are beyond stunning and I’m drooling.
I can’t wait to read your about page…headed there now!
Dorothy, you are beyond sweet. Thank you so much! And thanks for the email
These look amazing! My sister-in-law (who loves all things cherry) would love these!
i enjoyed your about me page Stephanie! Sometimes I feel vulnerable being an author of a blog, but that’s just what we get for having a blog on the internet for the entire world to see. It just comes with the territory. These cupcakes are adorable – chocolate and cherries (any berry, really) are a wonderful combo – love the accidentally pink tinted icing from the juice.
Your cupcakes look incredible!
I’d love for you to link them up to my Show & Tell party. http://www.gingerlymade.com/2012/11/show-and-tell-3.html
Ginger recently posted..Leather & Lace Bracelets
I love cherries and these look super delicious!
Alana recently posted..Ham Sandwich Mix
I’d say these cupcakes would certainly make me merry! So pretty and they sound so delicious! I love using the juice from the cherries. And I love the pink frosting with the chocolate cupcakes. I bet your daughter was very happy!
Tanya Schroeder recently posted..Peppermint Thumbprints
Thank you so much for linking up at my linky party! I am pinning every post to my Show Me Your Plaid Monday’s Board for all to see! I hope you come back each week!
This looks delicious! Wish I wasn’t on a diet!!!
I’m sure everyone will be back for seconds!! Your food looks delicious!! We would like to invite you to a blog hop! We are co-hosting with Adorned From Above. We would love to have you link up. The party is live and will run through Sunday. You can link up at thebusybhive.blogspot.com
Hope to see you there!
Thanks
Joye & Myrna
The Busy Bee’s
These sure look delicious! I’d love for you to share this at Tuesday’s Table for the Holidays – http://zentmrs.blogspot.com/2012/12/tuesdays-table-countdown-to-christmas.html!
zentMRS recently posted..Cookie Time: Peanut Butter Blossoms
These cupcakes do look moist! No worries, I make a cake with mayo, so I totally know what you mean. I would make these in a heartbeat {while the kids were at school, and I’d eat them all before they got home. On purpose.}
Rachel @ I Love My Disorganized Life recently posted..Twelve Days of Christmas Series #11
I LOVE your blog and your pictures and your recipes. It so bright and happy.I will be back often. I saw you at a link party. I would love for you to visit me @ memoriesbythemile.com
Christmas Hugs,
Wanda Ann
First I want to say that these cupcakes are so cute and they sound yummy. I LOVE cherry!
Nice job on the about me page. I need to do one myself but everytime I sit down to try my mind goes completly blank.
Dawn @ DJs Sugar Shack recently posted..Red Velvet White Chocolate Chip Cookies
These look delicious and beautiful!! I would love for you to link this post to my Tasty Thursdays linky party going on right now. Thanks, Nichi
http://mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2012/12/tasty-thursdays-20.html
Perfect! Right down to the cherry on top!
Thanks for linking up at the Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
Debi
Adorned From Above,
The Busy Bee’s,
Joye and Myrna
The Busy Bee’s recently posted..Open-Faced Taco
Stephanie,
These cupcakes are wonderful. I love the combination of chocolate and cherry so I know I would love these. They look amazing. You did a good job at decorating them. Thank you for sharing on Marvelous Mondays. I will be featuring these on my blog at tomorrow’s party.
Have a great weekend!
Julie
Julie recently posted..This Gal Cooks is Moving…To WordPress!
I pinned this
SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime recently posted..Creative Bloggers’ Party & Hop #89
Hi Stephanie…love your blog. I’d like to feature your fabulous blog this Wednesday on Home Cooking. I hope you can stop by and snag by button.
http://gangi-homecooking.blogspot.com/
Linda @ Home Cooking recently posted..Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Walnuts
Your blog is great, and these cupcakes are awesome, so you don’t have reason to be nervous about anything.
I’ve featured this cupcakes on my blog, hoping that you don’t mind, but if you do, please contact me and I will remove it.
All the best and keep up with your writing!
Vera Zecevic-Cupcakes Garden recently posted..Merry Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes
I am providing the desserts for my parents Christmas eve party this year, and I think these cupcakes were just added to my list! Thanks for posting it.
Your About Me made me smile.
Cant wait to make these for valentines day!
Hi Stephanie!
I enjoyed reading about you…and I know that I will enjoy trying your recipes! I will probably do a review on some of them on my blog, but will definitely link to your webpage for the recipe.
May you always have fun blogging, parenting, and being a help-meet for your husband…and do it with excellence as unto the Lord!
Hugs!
jummy