Black Forest Cupcakes
Black forest cupcakes feature moist rich chocolate cupcakes topped with whipped cream and cherry topping. These homemade chocolate cherry cupcakes are a treat for fans of the German dessert.
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One of my true loves is definitely black forest cake.
With its deep chocolate flavor, fluffy whipped topping, and so much cherry sauce, it’s a treat.
And the only thing I love more than a good piece of cake, is a cupcake.
It’s the frosting to cake ratio and the fact that I can hold them right in my hand instead of bothering with formalities like forks and plates.
Pish.
Who has the time?
What is special about black forest cake?
Black Forest cupcakes are based on a dessert from an area of Germany which is known for its sour cherries and a type of sour cherry liqueur produced in the region.
It feature a combination of chocolate cake, whipped cream topping, and a signature tart cherry topping that makes the cupcakes extra special.
Ingredients
Let’s break this down into 3 sets of ingredients: one for the cupcakes themselves, another for the whipped cream, and the set for the cherry topping.
For the cupcakes you’ll need:
- Sugar– Granulated
- Egg– Room temperature
- Sour cream– Use full fat sour cream for the best results. This is the ingredient that gives the cupcakes their tender moist crumb. You could also substitute full fat plain yogurt.
- Cocoa powder– Use a good quality cocoa powder.
- Coffee– Freshly brewed. This brings out the chocolate flavor in the cupcakes.
- Oil– A neutral oil like canola oil
- Baking powder– For lift
- Salt– To balance the sweet
- Vanilla– Real vanilla extract
- Flour– All purpose
To make the whipped cream you’ll need:
- Heavy cream– Don’t substitute with a lower fat product. It won’t work!
- Gelatin– Unflavored
- Water
- Sugar– Powdered
- Vanilla– Real vanilla extract
And lastly to make the cherry topping, you’ll need:
- Cherries– Pitted fresh, chopped cherries.
- Lemon juice
- Sugar– Granulated
How to Make
Let’s break this recipe down into parts:
- Baking the cupcakes
- Making the cherry sauce
- Making the whipped topping
To Bake the Cupcakes
To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Put cupcake liners in a cupcake pan and then set aside.
Then, add the sugar, sour cream, oil, egg, baking powder, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer.
Beat it until well combined.
Then, mix in the cocoa powder, coffee, vanilla and flour.
Turn the mixer off and scrape the sides down and mixing again until smooth.
Fill each cupcake liner until they are about ⅔ full.
Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
Let the cupcakes cool completely before topping them with whipped topping and cherry sauce.
To Make the Cherry Sauce
Make sure all the cherries have been pitted and that you’ve removed all the stems.
Chop the cherries and add them to a small sauce pan, lemon juice, and sugar in a small sauce pan.
Bring the mixture to a simmer over low heat.
Let it simmer for 20 minutes or until the cherries have liquefied.
Remove from the heat and let it cool totally before decorating the cupcakes.
Making the Whipped Topping
To make the whipped topping, microwave the the gelatin and water for about 30 seconds.
Give it a stir to make sure the gelatin is completely melted.
Let the mixture cool slightly while you make the whipped cream.
Beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla together on high speed for until stiff peaks.
Fold the gelatin mixture into the whipped cream by hand until well combined.
Decorating the Cupcakes
Once the cupcakes and cherry topping are completely cool, you can start to decorate the cupcakes.
Put the whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
Then pipe a dollop of whipping cream on each cupcake.
Use a spoon to scoop out a cherry and gently place on top of the whipping cream on each cupcake.
Let the sauce drip down the sides of the cupcake.
Add more if desired.
Serve and enjoy!
Storing
These cupcakes are best the day you make them but if you have leftovers you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Tips and Tricks
- You may substitute store bought, canned whipped cream for the topping here as well rather than making your own. Keep in mind store bought whipped cream won’t hold up as well as stabilized whipped cream.
- When making the cake batter itself, you want to beat it until it is combined and scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure there are no pockets of flour left. However, you don’t want to over mix it or the cake will get sort of tough.
- Tart cherries are most authentic in this recipe, but you can use any that are available to you.
Other Cupcake Recipes
Black Forest cupcakes are a delicious treat for fans of the chocolate cherry combination.
Make them and enjoy!
Looking for other cupcake recipes?
Try these:
- Pecan Pie Cupcakes
- Apple Butter Cupcakes
- Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes
- Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes
- Salted Margarita Cupcakes
- Dark Chocolate Cupcakes With Red Wine Buttercream
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Black Forest Cupcakes
Ingredients
For The Cake
- 1 1 /2 cups sugar
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ½ cup freshly brewed coffee
- ¼ cup oil
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups flour
For The Stabilized Whipped Cream
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 tsp unflavored gelatin
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
For The Cherry Sauce
- 2 cups chopped and de-seeded fresh cherries
- 1 tsp Lemon juice
- 1 tbsp sugar
Instructions
To Make The Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place liners in a cupcake pan, set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugar, sour cream, oil, egg, baking powder, and salt. Mix until well combined.1 1 /2 cups sugar, 1 egg, ¾ cup sour cream, ¼ cup oil, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt
- Add in the cocoa powder, coffee, vanilla and flour. Mix well - stopping the mixer, scraping the sides and mixing again until smooth.½ cup cocoa powder, ½ cup freshly brewed coffee, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups flour
- Fill each cupcake liner until about ⅔ full. Bake in preheated oven for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before decorating.
To Make The Cherry Sauce
- Ensure that all seeds and stems have been removed from the cherries.
- Combine the chopped cherries, lemon juice and sugar in a small sauce pan and simmer over low heat for approximately 20 minutes or until the cherries have liquefied. Remove from the heat and allow to cool before decorating the cupcakes.2 cups chopped and de-seeded fresh cherries, 1 tsp Lemon juice, 1 tbsp sugar
To Make The Whipped Cream
- Combine the gelatin and water and microwave for approximately 30 seconds. Stir to ensure the gelatin is melted and allow to cool slightly while making the whipped cream.2 tsp unflavored gelatin, ¼ cup water
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat on high speed for about 2-3 minutes or until stiff peaks.2 cups heavy cream, ¼ cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla
- Drizzle the water gelatin mixture over the whipped cream and gently fold in by hand until well combined. Transfer the whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
- Once the cupcakes have cooled, the cherry sauce has cooled and the whipping cream has been made, you’re ready to decorate. Gently pipe a swirl of whipping cream on each cupcake.
- Using a spoon, scoop out a cherry and gently place on top of the whipping cream. The sauce will drip down the sides of the cupcake. Add more if desired.
- Serve & enjoy!
Notes
- You may substitute store bought, canned whipped cream for the topping here as well rather than making your own. Keep in mind store bought whipped cream won't hold up as well as stabilized whipped cream.
- When making the cake batter itself, you want to beat it until it is combined and scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure there are no pockets of flour left. However, you don't want to over mix it or the cake will get sort of tough.
- Tart cherries are most authentic in this recipe, but you can use any that are available to you.
Nutrition
This post may contain affiliate links. As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full Disclosure Policy for details. As always, all opinions are my own.
