Cherry-topped Chocolate Cupcakes

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 5 (1 ounce) unsweetened chocolate squares
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs, divided
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, divided
• 12 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 24 maraschino cherries, with stems well drained

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f.
• 2 melt butter and chocolate squares in a large microwave-safe bowl, on high in 30 second intervals until melted.
• 3 stir until smooth and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• 4 add sugar and stir until combined.
• 5 add 4 eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition.
• 6 stir in flour and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• 7 spoon chocolate mixture into 24 paper lined muffin cups, filling halfway.
• 8 in a separate mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, remaining egg, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and powdered sugar on medium speed with an electric mixer: mix until fluffy.
• 9 spoon cream cheese mixture evenly over the chocolate mixture in prepared cups, spreading to edges of paper liners.
• 10 bake for 20-22 minutes.
• 11 immediately press a cherry into each cupcake while cupcakes are still hot.
• 12 allow to cook on wire racks.