Chocolate Cupcakes with Cherry Butter Cream Frosting

 Since I now had  made Door County Cherry Jam, (see previous post), I wanted to use it in some recipes.  I decided to make Chocolate Cupcakes topped with Cherry Butter Cream Frosting  and mini chocolate chips to continue my Cherry Fest. You can see the flecks of cherry in this wonderful frosting. These cupcakes are so chocolaty and then you bite into that sweet, creamy frosting, Oh my!  Cherries and strawberries are my all time favorite fruits. Sometimes I have trouble making up my mind.  That's the way Pisces are:)

Well, Here in Chicagoland, we finally have winter, ugh!  It is pretty though.

Chocolate Cupcake Adapted from Cupcake Project

Makes 12 cupcakes
Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 C flour
• 1/2 t baking powder
• 1/4 t baking soda
• 1/4 t salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 C sugar
• 1/2 C unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 t vanilla extract
• 1/2 C sour cream
• 2 oz bittersweet chocolate

1. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar for about 2 minutes, or until light and creamy.
3. Add the butter and vanilla and beat on low speed for about 1 minute, or until well blended.
4. Beat in the dry ingredients on low speed until blended.
5. Add the sour cream and beat until smooth and well blended.
6. Melt the chocolate (either using a double boiler or in the microwave).
7. Mix the chocolate into the remaining batter.
8. Fill the  12 cupcake liners with the chocolate batter.

Bake at 350 F for about 23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean and the tops are firm.

Cherry Butter Cream Frosting 

Ingredients

 1/2 c butter, room temperature

2c. powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 c more or less milk, or half and half I used almond milk

1 Tbsp Cherry Jam  I used my Door County Jam

Cream butter with an electric mixer, until light and fluffy.  Gradually add in powdered sugar and vanilla, and mix well, Add milk until desired consistency. Stir in jam, until well blended. Pipe or frost cupcakes

I linked up this recipe  to Brandie@The Country Cook's Weekend Potluck #158. Stop by and say Hi!

I also linked this recipe to Lisa' Sweets for a Saturday #58 @Sweet As Sugar Cookies
Stop by and say Hi to Lisa! My cupcakes are #73