Black Forest Cupcakes

Delicious chocolate cupcakes filled with cherry jam, topped with whipped cream, fresh cherries and dark chocolate

Course Dessert

Cuisine European

Keyword Cupcake

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 25

Decorating time 15

Total Time 1

Servings

Calories 378kcal

Author thebakingexplorer

Pre-heat your oven to 140C Fan/160C/325F/Gas Mark 3, and line a cupcake tin with cupcake cases
For the cupcake sponge, mix together the baking spread, caster sugar and dark brown soft sugar, ideally using an electric mixer, for 5 minutes until smooth and fluffy
Add the eggs and milk and whisk them in well
Then gently whisk, or fold in, the self raising flour, cocoa powder and baking powder
Divide the mixture between the cupcake cases, and bake them for 25-30 minutes or until a thin skewer inserted in the centre of the cupcakes comes out clean. Put them on a rack to cool completely
Use a cupcake corer or a knife to make a hole in the middle of each cupcake
If using, mix the kirsch into the cherry jam, then fill the holes in the cupcakes with the jam
Whip up the double cream with the icing sugar and vanilla until thick, put into a piping bag and pipe swirls onto each cupcake, or dollop on with a spoon
Decorate the cupcakes with a fresh cherry and the dark chocolate shavings
Serve immediately. Store leftovers in the fridge and eat within 2 days

Make sure all your ingredients (particularly the butter/baking spread and eggs) are at room temperature before you start baking.
I used a baking spread for the cupcakes, butter will also work but I find I get better results with a baking spread (I use Stork).
I used a mix of caster and dark brown soft sugar, you could use all caster sugar if you prefer, or light brown soft sugar.
You can use any cocoa powder for the cupcakes, of course the better quality it is, the better flavour they will have. Do make sure you are using cocoa powder and not a hot chocolate powder.
For more information on how to bake perfect cupcakes, check out my Vanilla Cupcakes recipe!Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.