Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Follow our step-by-step guide on how to make Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.

1. Step 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

2. Step 2

   Strain the maraschino cherries over a large measuring cup. Set aside 24 cherries with stems intact on paper towels. Remove the stems from the remaining cherries and place one cherry in the bottom of each lined muffin cup.

3. Step 3

   Mix the cherry-flavored brandy into the cherry juice. Add more brandy or water to reach a total of 1 1/4 cups of liquid. Pour this mixture into a bowl.

4. Step 4

   Add the eggs and vegetable oil to the bowl, and beat with an electric mixer on low speed until just combined. Gradually add the cake mix and beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes until smooth.

5. Step 5

   Evenly divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.

6. Step 6

   Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the tins for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely, about 50 minutes.

7. Step 7

   While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and butter, beating on medium speed until well blended, about 1 minute. Add vanilla extract and salt, and beat for an additional minute.

8. Step 8

   Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition. If the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency.

9. Step 9

   Once the cupcakes are completely cool, frost each one generously with the cream cheese frosting and garnish with the reserved cherries.