Chocolate and cherries are a match made in heaven or, in this case the Black Forest region of Germany, where the original layer cake was created (and cherries are abundant). These miniature versions of the classic German dessert are saturated with cherry liqueur, layered with sweet pastry cream and preserved cherries, and drizzled with rich chocolate ganache.
Ingredients
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (2¼ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for tins
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder, plus more for tins
- 2½ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 1½ cups buttermilk
- 1 jar (12 ounces) preserved cherries in light syrup
- 2 tablespoons kirsch (cherry-flavored brandy)
- Pastry Cream
- Chocolate Ganache Glaze
How to Make It
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush standard muffin tins with butter; dust with cocoa powder, tapping out excess. Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
- With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy. Add brown sugar, and beat until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until well incorporated and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Mix in sour cream. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and mixing until just combined after each.
- Divide batter evenly among prepared cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until tops are firm to the touch and a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.
- To finish, drain cherries, reserving ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons syrup. Cut each cherry in half. Combine reserved syrup and kirsch in a small bowl. Using a serrated knife (and a gentle sawing motion), split cupcakes in half horizontally. Brush both cut sides with kirsch mixture. Arrange halved cherries over cupcake bottoms; spoon about 1 heaping tablespoon pastry cream evenly over cherries. Replace top halves. Spoon 2 tablespoons glaze over tops. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.
