Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Need a special treat for your sweetie? Or maybe just a little treat for yourself? Sure you could just buy a box of cake mix, but nothing says love like a homemade baked good. Okay, we can cheat a little with the frosting. Go ahead and get your favorite vanilla frosting. I won’t tell. In fact, I’ll help you dress it up. This recipe makes 1 dozen standard size cupcakes. So, if you want to make more be sure to multiply ingredient quantities.

CUPCAKE INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons cherry extract
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 cup chocolate cherry chips (or you can use cherry flavored chips like Gurley’s.)

I used cherry filled chocolate chips since I could not find cherry flavored chips

Chocolate cherry chip cupcake not frosted

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:

• 1 container vanilla frosting
• 4 drops red gel food coloring
• 1/2 teaspoon cherry extract

CUPCAKE DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add the butter, sour cream, eggs, cherry extract and lemon zest and mix well until the mixture is smooth. (About 30-45 seconds.)
4. With a spatula stir in the chocolate cherry chips.
5. Place 3 tablespoons of batter into each cupcake liner. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

FROSTING DIRECTIONS:

1. Add red gel food coloring to vanilla frosting one drop at a time, mixing until desired shade of pink is achieved.
2. Add cherry extract and stir well.
3. Frost cupcakes as you like.
4. Optional add a maraschino cherry or other toppings for decoration.

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