Ingredients
Method
For the cherry filling:
- Place the cherries with the sugar and a pinch of salt in a medium skillet and bring to medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally with a spatula, for 8 minutes until the cherries fall apart a little.
- Add the vanilla extract with the lemon juice, stir and cook for 2 more minutes until the consistency is thick. Remove the pan from the heat and wait for the sauce to cool down completely before using.
For the chocolate cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 356º F (180° C). Place cupcake liners in a 12 cupcake pan. Also, in a medium bowl, sift the flour with the cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add the instant coffee to the boiling water and stir with a spoon to dissolve. Set aside until needed.
- Separately, in a large bowl add the melted butter with the two types of sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and milk. Beat with a hand whisk or electric mixer for 2 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add the flour mixture in two additions, beating for 20 seconds after each addition to get a smooth mixture. Finally, add the boiling coffee and beat just until it is completely integrated into the mixture.
- Carefully pour the mixture into the 12 muffin cups, filling each one 3/4 full. Bake the cupcakes at 356º F (180° C) for approximately 18-20 minutes or until they are lightly browned and a wooden toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
- Take the cupcakes out of the oven and let them cool down completely before decorating.
For the frosting:
- In a large bowl, place the very cold whipping cream along with the powdered sugar, powdered milk and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer for about 5 minutes until stiff peaks form. It is important to beat only up to this point and not too much because otherwise the cream may start to curd.
- Once ready, place the whipped cream in a piping bag or ziploc bag with a round or star-shaped piping tip and set aside in the refrigerator until needed.
To decorate the cupcakes:
- Using a small knife or cupcake corer, carefully remove the center of the cupcakes and set aside. Fill each cupcake with 2 teaspoons of the cherry sauce and then place the removed piece on top again.
- Decorate each cupcake with the whipped cream using the piping bag. To decorate the cupcakes, grate some semisweet chocolate on top of the whipped cream and then top with a fresh cherry.
