Red velvet choc-cherry cupcakes recipe | Good Food

Red velvet choc-cherry cupcakes

100g butter
softened
140g golden caster sugar
2 large eggs
beaten
225g plain flour
25g cocoa powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
150ml buttermilk
28ml bottle red food colouring
(natural food colouring won't look as bright as an artificial one)
100g glacé cherry
roughly chopped, plus extra to decorate

For the icing

150ml double cream
140g cherry conserve
or jam, sieved
100g dark chocolate
chopped
red icing
or edible red glitter, to decorate (optional)

Method

step 1
Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with muffin cases. Beat the butter and sugar in a bowl with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs a little at a time, whisking until fully incorporated. Sift in the flour, cocoa, bicarb and a pinch of salt. Fold in with a spatula until there are no lumps of flour remaining. Then add the buttermilk, food colouring and cherries, and stir briefly to combine. Divide the mixture between the muffin cases and bake for 20 mins until risen and springy to the touch. Leave to cool slightly, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
step 2
Warm the cream and cherry conserve in a small pan, add the chocolate and remove from the heat. Leave for a few mins, then stir until melted and combined. Tip into a bowl and leave to cool completely – the icing will set to a spreadable consistency within about 30 mins. Once cooled and thickened, spread the icing on the cupcakes, decorate with a drizzle of red icing or some red glitter and top with half a glacé cherry. These cakes will keep for a few days in a cake tin.