mini cherry cordial cupcakes

I've started to write this post a few times now and I keep getting stuck. Stuck because I'm not even sure how I feel about Valentine's Day. On one hand, I can't deny I like the idea of a holiday that celebrates your loved ones. On the other, it can be too commercial, over the top saccharine, and it can make people feel bad, which is totally the worst. To make things more complicated, Kevin and I had our first "official" date on Valentine's Day, which, I guess, gives it some sort of special meaning, but I still prefer to steer clear of the trap of doing something special just because we feel like we have to.

For the past couple of years, we've taken a more low key approach, by staying in and cooking a special meal together. Last year we made lobster tail, and though I don't yet know what this year's plans are, I want to make sure we have a nice date night in. We'll get a little dressed up, put on some good music and sit at the dining table (without watching Jeopardy)...

...but, I'm getting away from my point. To me, Valentine's Day is a celebration of everyone I love, and that includes all of my friends and all of my family. Since I can't be with all of you, I'm sending you this post as a virtual valentine... in the form of cupcakes, since I thought chocolates would melt on the way over. I hope you like cherries! I hope you like hearts made out of icing too, I couldn't help myself!

Since there is no such thing as taste-o-vision (or taste-o-blog, I guess...), let me describe them as eloquently as possible: they good, they reaaaal good. As you can guess, they are perfectly chocolaty, with just the right amount of cherry, and they happen to be superbly delicious, if you like that sort of thing. Though you don't get that burst of melted fondant when you take a bite, as in cherry cordial candies, the flavors are all there, and the icing does a nice job of doing what it can to melt in your mouth. And, I mean, come on, a cupcake in two bites with a cherry in the middle, Swoon!! Though I do wish you all were here to share these with me, my thighs wish you were here even more (these cupcakes have been irresistible to me).

I think it goes without saying that these cupcakes would be amazing any time of year, icing hearts or not, so enjoy some now, or save the recipe for later, but what ever you do, try them!! ...and enjoy!!

mini cherry cordial cupcakes

makes 30 mini cupcakes

for the cupcakes:
1 1/4 c flour
3/4 c cocoa powder
1 1/4 c sugar
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 c milk
5 Tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c warm water
1 jar maraschino cherries (with at least 30 cherries)

for the icing:
2 sticks butter, at room temperature
1 c powdered sugar
4 tsp juice from maraschino cherries

for the cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a mini-muffin tin with paper liners. In the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Turn mixer on low to stir together. Lightly beat eggs into milk then add to flour mixture. Add oil vanilla and warm water and mix on low until well combined and smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Fill cups with a little batter to cover the bottom. Place one cherry in center then cover cherry with more batter and fill until cups are about 3/4 full. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the center of one comes out clean. Remove pan to cooling rack for about 5 minutes then remove cupcakes from pan and place onto cooling rack and let cool completely. Repeat for remaining batter. When cupcakes are completely cool, decorate with frosting (recipe to follow) and 1/2 maraschino cherry on top.

for the cherry icing:
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth. With mixer on low, add sugar 1/4 c at a time, and beat until smooth. Add cherry juice and beat to combine. Add more sugar or cherry juice to adjust to desired consistency.