This easy Black Forest Cupcakes recipe results in deep, dark chocolate cupcakes that are moist and tender, then they are filled with a boozy cherry pie filling and topped with stabilized whipped cream and grated bittersweet chocolate. So good that people will swear you’ve been taking culinary classes but so easy that you can finish them in time for dinner!
I have a friend that has stood by me through all of the drama of a crumbling marriage followed by an icky divorce, the loss of almost my entire support system, family stuff, and kids leaving home. She is empathetic enough to let me cry and feisty enough to stand up to me when she wants me to hear her opinion. Oh, and don’t ever let her hear you criticize me. I am not totally sure what she’ll do but I can tell you it will be painful. This girl has my back…
There isn’t a lot I can do for her in return but one thing I can do? Celebrate her birthday! So, when she called to tell me she planned to come over for a few hours on Saturday, which conveniently was her birthday, I decided to make something cake-like. Very cake-like. And chocolate … because… well…
Chocolate.
Getting ready for back-to-school takes so much time (and money! ACK! It was over $900.00 between supplies and uniforms!) that I knew a full size cake was out of the question. Cupcakes it was.
I used a favorite chocolate cake recipe and then filled the center of the baked cupcakes with cherry pie filling. I bought the canned cherry pie filling to keep it easy — but I added a couple of tablespoons of spiced rum. You know, just because. Then I piped on a stabilized whipped cream frosting, topped with some grated chocolate and a cherry.
Voila!
They were gorgeous. Best of all? They were delicious! Best, best of all? This easy Black Forest Cupcakes recipe goes together fast and it really is easy.
The first time I ever had Black Forest Cake I was out to dinner with my dad. He was an adventurous eater and I got a lot of my love of food from him. My mom didn’t like to go out to eat much, she preferred simple foods, and pizza from Pizza Hut. So, on occasion Dad and I would head out for an evening of food experimentation. This particular time we were at some restaurant in Dallas — it’s always fuzzy when I try to remember where we’d go — maybe it was the Old Warsaw? Anyway after a sumptuous meal we split a Black Forest Cake for dessert and, because of that, this is one of my favorites.
Dark chocolate, cherries, booze, and whipped cream… what’s not to like?
In this recipe the butter is melted and browned, then cooled. This adds a discreet, nutty flavor to the chocolate — you can’t really taste it but you just know there’s something really good about the chocolate flavor. Don’t overmix, don’t overbake, and you should get a perfect, chocolatey result!
You’ll have some cherry filling left so plan to bake a couple of tarts or something.
If you don’t want to use alcohol in the Black Forest Cupcakes…
If you don’t want to use the Kirsch or rum in this recipe just leave it out of the cherries. No need to substitute anything else. To leave it out of the cake just substitute hot water for the alcohol. It will still be amazing!
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I love being able to send cupcakes to school with the kids and not have them mashed by lunch. These cupcake carriers are so cute and they work perfectly! I have one for each of my kiddos. 🙂 They come in several different colors, too.
- 1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup Hershey's Dark Cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 1 -1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon chocolate balsamic vinegar (cider vinegar will work in a pinch)
- 1/4 cup hot coffee
- 1/4 cup Kirsch or spiced rum
- 2 (21-oz) cans cherry pie filling
- 1/4 cup spiced rum or Kirsch
- 1 tablespoon cherry balsamic vinegar , optional
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/3 cup Confectioner's sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Bar of bittersweet chocolate
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Preheat oven to 375F.
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Mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
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Set aside.
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Melt the butter over low heat.
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Allow to turn a deep golden brown. Cool.
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Beat the egg, oil, and sugar until fluffy.
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Add the vanilla and vinegar.
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Continue beating on low and add the cooled butter and milk.
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Mix the Kirsch with the hot coffee and add alternately with the flour mixture, beginning and ending with flour.
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Spoon into 12 cupcake liners in a cupcake tin. Don't over fill - you want them to be about 3/4 of the way full.
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Bake at 375F for 15 - 20 minutes, or until done.
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Cool before continuing.
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Mix the canned cherry pie filling, the rum, and the cherry balsamic vinegar.
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Set aside.
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Beat the cream until foamy.
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Add the vanilla.
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Add the confectioner's sugar a little at a time while beating on high speed.
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Beat until the cream is thick and has peaks.
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Cut the centers out of the cupcakes, leaving a layer of cake at the bottom.
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Fill with pie filling.
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Pipe on the frosting.
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Grate a bar of bittersweet chocolate over the top if desired.
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Refrigerate until serving.
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Refrigerate leftovers.
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Refrigerate the cupcakes after frosting.
If you liked this Easy Black Forest Cupcakes Recipe you may also like…
Black Forest Cake with Balsamic and Rum Roasted Cherries
Black Forest Mousse Cake Sweet Gastronomy
Black Forest Tiramisu Not Quite Nigella
Can i leave out the balsamic vinegar? It sounds nasty so I’d rather not put it in unless absolutely necessary. Thanks! I want to make these for my manager’s birthday on Monday.
No, they need the acid in the vinegar to rise. It’s not like there’s so much vinegar in there that it tastes like a pickle… and… have you ever had chocolate balsamic? Like any good balsamic vinegar it’s rather sweet.
Okay I am really excited to make these for my son’s birthday, but concerned about serving to kids with rum in the filling. Since it’s not cooked it will still contain alcohol, right? Or does the small amount not matter? I know I can leave it out but I imagine it’s much yummier with the rum.
I think I answered my own question. I’ll just set aside some of the filling without rum to use on a few cupcakes.
Perfect!
I think adding it to some and not others is a good idea. I don’t worry too much about it because it is such a small amount. 🙂
Those cupcakes look great! The first time I had Black Forest Cake was when I was in elementary school. My grandmother bought one for dessert to try, just because.
What a fun grandmother! I love those “just because” moments
Oh MAN do I have a major chocolate craving right now!!
Holy YUM! These look divine.
These are so beautiful! I love black forest cake but I’ve never had it in cupcake form. Very intrigued! They sound so awesome.
I love them… yum!
What a great idea to make this classic cake in cupcake form! So cute!
Thanks!
Dear Marye, these look wonderful! What perfect cupcakes. xo, Catherine
Thank you!
Those look amazing! And delicious. My husband loves black forest cake, and his birthday is coming up… maybe a cupcake is the way to go!
Definitely!
Love your new twist on black forest cake!
Thanks!
These look so rich and delicious!!
They really are… thanks Brandon!
Good friends are hard to find, and I am sure your friend was over the moon for these cupcakes.
I am very lucky for sure!
What gorgeous cupcakes! I love black forest anything, these look so good.
Thanks Ashley! I agree, Black Forest anything is pretty much ok by me.
Marye – This looks incredible. Love the booze and dark chocolate 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Melissa! They really were good. Definitely making them again.
What would life be without great friends, and great desserts! Looks like you have both – good for you! These cupcakes are like a work of art! They’re beautiful and I just want to eat two in one setting!
LOL! Thanks Patricia.
It’s so great to have a friend like you described – you’re a lucky lady 🙂 These cupcakes look completely delicious and I love the boozy cherry filling, what a great idea!
the filling really came out great, Joanie! Thanks!
You both make the perfect pair of friends! I would be honoured to receive this for my birthday and I bet she was, too!
Thanks Kacey! She loved them.
Nothing beats a good friend. They are invaluable. These cupcakes look so amazing. Love the filling!
The filling is amazing, Christine!
Sounds like you have one wonderful friend. These sounds like the perfect way to celebrate.
I do! Thanks christie!
Dear Marye – I’m so glad you have a friend like that. I have several of those kind and they’re rare. And I’d bake them these delicious cupcakes for their birthdays too. I love everything you included in this recipe, especially the stabilized whipped cream on top. These look incredibly decadent!
Oh, they are! Thanks Allie!