Black Forest Cupcakes.

Today I made my lovely Dad some Black Forest cupcakes as part of his Father's Day present as Black Forest Gateau is one of his favourite cakes. I actually make these cupcakes quite often and somehow every time I do, they seem to get even tastier. A combination of chocolate, cherries and cream though, it's a match made in heaven! Add a good slosh of brandy too and you're good to go. Well, you have to really don't you? Happy Father's Day Dads!

Recipe

For the Chocolate Cupcakes-

110g butter, room temperature 
220g dark brown sugar

2 large eggs

165g self raising flour, sifted

55g cocoa, sifted

½ tsp. bicarbonate of soda

½ tsp. baking powder

140ml sour cream

For the Cherry Brandy Filling-

1 Tin of Hartley's Cherry pie filling (reserve 12 cherries to decorate the tops of the cupcakes)

2 tbsp. Brandy

For the Topping-

600ml Double Cream

12 cherries

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°c.
2. Place muffin cases into a 12 hole muffin tin.
3. For the chocolate cupcakes, cream together the butter and sugar using an electric whisk. Gradually beat in the eggs and add the sour cream. Sieve together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and delicately fold into the mixture.
4. Divide the mixture into the 12 cake cases and bake for 15-17 minutes or until the sponge springs back when the surface is pressed lightly.
5. Allow the cupcakes to cool and prepare the Cherry Brandy filling. Take a tin of Hartley's cherry pie filling and add 2 tbsp. of Brandy and mix. 
6. Once the cupcakes are cool, use an apple corer to create a hole in the middle of each cupcake and add about 2 tsp. of the cherry brandy filling to the centre.
7.  Finally, beat the double cream with an electric whisk until it thickens and light peaks form and then you can either scoop it straight onto the cupcakes or use whatever piping bag and nozzle you wish to create a swirl of cream on the top of each cupcake. Last of all, top each cupcake with one of the cherries you have reserved from the Hartley's Cherry pie filling and you are finished! Now go enjoy!