January 26, 2026

Decadent Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes

There’s something deeply comforting about the first months of the year, and these Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes are the perfect companion. Rich, tender cake infused with cherry jam and topped with a glossy chocolate icing brings warmth to chilly afternoons. A jewel-like morello cherry crowns each one, making them as delightful to bake as they are to share with loved ones.

Decadent Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes

Prep Time: 15 – 25 minutes

Bake Time: 25 minutes + cooling

Makes 12 cupcakes

For the Cupcakes:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces
1 1/3 cups cherry jam
1/2 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cup self-rising cake flour

For the Icing:

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp. heavy cream

12 morello cherries

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan. When almost completely melted, stir in 4 oz. of chocolate. Let soften for a moment, then remove pan from heat and stir with a wooden spoon until the butter and chocolate are smooth and melted.
Add cherry jam, sugar, salt, and eggs to the chocolate mixture until combined, then stir in the flour.
Pour batter evenly into a 12-cup muffin pan lined with paper cups. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes before turning out. Allow to cool completely before icing.
When the cupcakes are cool, heat the heavy cream until boiling, then remove pan from heat and add the chocolate, quickly stirring to melt and incorporate. For a more elevated look, allow the icing to cool, then whip until thick and smooth. Pipe onto each cupcake before nestling a cherry in the center.

Enjoy!

Baking Notes:

To elevate your cupcakes further, add a splash of orange liqueur (or anything similar) to your batter and icing.

For a glossy elegance, whisk the icing after melting, until thick and smooth. Ice the cupcakes and use the back of a spoon to smooth the tops into gently rippling pools of chocolate. Stand the cherries prominently in the center of each.