Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes, Gluten Free

Why, yes. It’s a cupcake. A chocolate chip cherry buttercream cupcake. With a cherry on top. 

I’ve been a fan of cupcakes since I was a bean-sprout in a house filled with older jolly-green-giant boy siblings. As the smallest kid I got the tiniest portions of everything except cupcakes where all servings were divided equally.

Slices from one large cake are subject to random mishaps with a knife. Cupcakes are more even-steven. I’m all for fairness when it comes to dividing up cake. And cupcakes are the ultimate in fair-share-ness.  Similar to pint-sized milk cartons, but cake. Cake in a cup.

Oh, all right.

It’s also about how easy it is to clean up after making cupcakes. I use cupcake liners and often the pan requires only a quick wipe. A cake would require a little more washing – the pans, the cooling rack, at the very least.  If I could mix the cupcake right in the liner, I probably would be even more righteous about cupcakes, but I’ll quit while I’m somewhat ahead.

I really like the combination of chocolate with a hint of cherry. This is a simple chocolate cupcake with some mini chips tossed in for extra chocolate measure. It is topped with easy-to-make buttercream that is made all the better because you are using cherry liquid or liqueur. Not only does it make the buttercream look pretty in pink, but it tastes great.

You can share the cupcakes. But only if you really want to. And if you are washing those cupcake pans every time you use them, you might be working harder than need be. Just saying.