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Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

February 8, 2019 By Jocelyn - 24 Comments

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Cherries and chocolate add a fun surprise to these Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes. Two kinds of toppings give these easy treats a fun bakery touch.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes - an easy doctored up cake mix will result in a fun bakery style cupcake that everyone will love! Make this easy recipe for parties this month! #cupcakes #cakemix #doctoredupcakemix #cherry #chocolate

CLICK HERE TO PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

Whenever we travel we look up different restaurants and bakeries to visit while we are there.  We will usually buy a few things to sample.  

But honestly just stopping and looking at the treats is what I enjoy the most.  There are so many different and fun ideas in those shops.

If you ever see me in one of these shops, you might see me typing away on my phone.  No, I’m not texting.  That usually means I saw a unique flavor combo or decorating idea that I don’t want to forget to try in my kitchen.  

There are so many ideas swirling in my head that I just can’t remember all of them these days.  Thank goodness for cell phones with list apps, right?  

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes - doctor up a cake mix with chocolate chips and cherries to create a delicious bakery style cupcake. Try this easy recipe for parties! #cupcakes #cakemix #doctoredupcakemix #cherry #chocolate

I love baking fun cupcakes for different parties and events.

Now sometimes I will make them from scratch, but most of the time I like to use a cake mix.  I am all about using some easy tricks to make a box cake mix taste homemade.

The fun part is finding things to add to these mixes that make the cupcakes taste gourmet, without adding a lot of extra work.  A doctored up cake mix makes an easy bakery style cupcake in a hurry!

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes - adding cherries and chocolate chips to a box cake mix will create a fun bakery style cupcake! This easy recipe will get smiles from everyone! #cupcakes #cakemix #doctoredupcakemix #cherry #chocolate

So when I was trying to decide on a new cupcake flavor for this month, I knew I wanted it to be some sort of chocolate and cherry combo.  After all, this Cherry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread always makes me smile!

I do love those chocolate covered cherries that are only available in stores around Christmas and Valentine’s, so I knew that flavor would be delicious in cupcake form.  

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes - chocolate chips and cherries add a fun and sweet flair to these easy cake mix cupcakes. Make these bakery style cupcakes for parties this month! #cupcakes #cakemix #doctoredupcakemix #cherry #chocolate

Tips for making Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes:

Substitute some cherry juice with the water to give the vanilla cupcake a slight cherry flavor.

Add diced maraschino cherries to the prepared cake mix. Make sure to pat them dry, so it doesn’t add extra liquid.  If you want them to have a stronger cherry flavor and to be a brighter pink or red, you can always add a little cherry extract and a drop of red food coloring.

Stir a little bit of flour onto the cherries and chocolate chips. This will help keep them from sinking to the bottom of the cupcakes.

Bake the cupcakes for 20-22 minutes and then remove and cool completely.

Add some fluffy homemade chocolate frosting, Cool Whip, chocolate chips, and a maraschino cherry to make this simple cherry cupcake look like an an over the top chocolate covered cherry cupcake!  

If you are a fan of dark chocolate, I recommend making a batch of this Dark Chocolate Buttercream Frosting!  It’s my favorite.

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes - two swirls of frosting, cherries, and chocolate chips make these easy cupcakes look like they came from a bakery! #cupcakes #cakemix #doctoredupcakemix #cherry #chocolate

Frosting Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes:

Make sure you do not over fill your decorating bags with too much frosting.  You need enough room to twist the bag into the palm of your hand while holding it closed with your thumb and fingers.

For these cupcakes I used a 1M tip. I piped the frosting on in a circle, but I didn’t mound it up.  

Use another icing bag filled with Cool Whip and icing tip 21 to add a smaller swirl on top of the frosting.

To give this cupcake the final touch, sprinkle on some mini chocolate chips and place a cherry with a stem on top.  A cupcake with a cherry on top just looks so much fancier.  Don’t they just look so much more fun with that stem coming off the top of the cherry cupcakes?

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes - adding chocolate chips and cherries to a cake mix will make these easy cupcakes look and taste like they came from a bakery! #cupcakes #cakemix #doctoredupcakemix #cherry #chocolate

Other easy cake mix cupcakes you may enjoy:

Swirls of chocolate and peanut butter frosting and a hidden peanut butter cup make these Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes disappear in a hurry.

Caramel drizzles, candies, and frosting give these Banana Caramel Cupcakes a delicious sweet and salty taste.

A fluffy lemon frosting and a pocket of lemon filling makes these Lemon Coconut Cupcakes a bright and refreshing dessert!

Sprinkles and chocolate make these easy Funfetti Nutella Cupcakes a fun and colorful treat to share!

Sprinkles, hot fudge, and a cherry make these Hot Fudge Sundae Cupcakes so pretty.

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Yield: 24 cupcakes

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

Cherries and chocolate add a fun surprise to these Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes. Two kinds of toppings give these easy treats a fun bakery touch.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

  • 1 - 15.25 ounce vanilla cake mix
  • 1 - 3.4 ounce box instant vanilla pudding
  • 4 eggs
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup cherry juice
  • 1/2 cup oil
  • 1 - 10 ounce jar maraschino cherries
  • 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 3 teaspoons flour

For the Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 6 - 8 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 1 1/2 cups Cool Whip
  • 24 cherries with stems, patted dry
  • 1/4 cup miniature chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place 24 cupcake liners in 2 - 12 count muffin tins.
  2. Drain the cherries making sure to save the juice. Dice the cherries and pat dry with paper towels.
  3. Mix the cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water, cherry juice, and oil in a large bowl until mixed completely.
  4. Stir together the diced cherries, chocolate chips, and flour until lightly coated. Add to the cake mix and stir in gently.
  5. Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners. Bake for 20-22 minutes. Remove the pan and place the cupcakes on a wire rack to cool completely.
  6. Beat the butter, shortening, vanilla, and salt until creamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and heavy cream alternately until mixed in. Beat on high for a few minutes until light and fluffy.
  7. Place the chocolate frosting in an icing bag fitted with frosting tip 1M. Swirl a mound of frosting on top of each cupcake.
  8. Right before serving spoon the Cool Whip into another icing bag fitted with frosting tip 21 or 27. Swirl the Cool Whip on top of the frosting.
  9. Top with mini chocolate chips and a cherry with a stem.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Wilton Recipe Right Nonstick 12-Cup Regular Muffin Pan (2, STANDARD)
    Wilton Recipe Right Nonstick 12-Cup Regular Muffin Pan (2, STANDARD)
  • Wilton 402-2110 1M Open Star Piping Tip
    Wilton 402-2110 1M Open Star Piping Tip

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 362 Total Fat: 20g Saturated Fat: 9g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 10g Cholesterol: 49mg Sodium: 229mg Carbohydrates: 45g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 35g Protein: 3g
© Jocelyn @ Inside BruCrew Life
Cuisine: American / Category: Cakes & Cupcakes
Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes - chocolate chips and cherries add a sweet flair to this doctored up cake mix recipe! Make these easy cupcakes for parties this month! #cupcakes #cakemix #doctoredupcakemix #cherry #chocolate

*The post for these Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes was originally published on February 6, 2015.  The pictures and post have been updated and republished on February 8, 2019.

Related Posts:

  • Cherry Mocha Chip MuffinsCherry Mocha Chip Muffins
  • Caramel Mocha CupcakesCaramel Mocha Cupcakes
  • Cherry Oreo Icebox CakeCherry Oreo Icebox Cake
  • Cherry Chocolate Chip Banana BreadCherry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
  • Mocha Chocolate Chip Donuts RecipeMocha Chocolate Chip Donuts Recipe
  • Chocolate Chip Cinnamon RollsChocolate Chip Cinnamon Rolls
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Filed Under: Cakes & Cupcakes, Valentines Recipes Tagged With: cake mix, cherry, cupcakes, epicurious, frosting, Valentine's

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Comments

  1. Nazia @ Your Sunny Side Up says

    February 6, 2015 at 7:30 AM

    Chocolate and cherries go beautifully together and your cupcakes look gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      February 16, 2015 at 1:06 PM

      Thank you so much!!!

      Reply
  2. Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says

    February 6, 2015 at 9:34 AM

    How do I go about getting these cupcakes delivered to my front door?! They are perfect, Jocelyn! The cherry, chocolate chip combo make for a happy flavor dance!

    Reply
    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      February 16, 2015 at 1:07 PM

      I would deliver them to you if I could…but my family devoured them!

      Reply
  3. Mir says

    February 6, 2015 at 10:32 AM

    Well, since I’m pretty much obsessed with Cake Boss, I’m clearly going to check out the site. I even have the piping bags!
    This is a great flavor. It reminds me of an ice cream sundae!

    Reply
    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      February 16, 2015 at 1:07 PM

      Definitely check out the site…they have so many fun things for baking πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says

    February 6, 2015 at 11:18 AM

    What a beautifully designed cupcake! I love the layered frosting (with the cherry on top).

    Reply
    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      February 16, 2015 at 1:08 PM

      Thank you Erin. I had fun doing the layered frosting!!!

      Reply
  5. Ilona @ Ilona's Passion says

    February 6, 2015 at 12:24 PM

    Jocelyn I just want to tell you these cupcakes are sooo pretty. I love how you decorated them. Yum:)

    Reply
    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      February 16, 2015 at 1:08 PM

      Thank you πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. Aimee @ ShugarySweets says

    February 6, 2015 at 2:05 PM

    These are adorable. I love the chocolate and cherry combo πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      February 16, 2015 at 1:08 PM

      Thanks girlie! Chocolate and cherry is such a good combo for sure!

      Reply
  7. [email protected]+Lovely+Little+Kitchen says

    February 7, 2015 at 8:21 AM

    Very sweet and perfectly decorated cupcakes! That cupcake pan with the lid is great. Love that there is enough space so that the frosting won’t get smooshed. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  8. Cyndi @ My Kitchen Craze says

    February 7, 2015 at 1:11 PM

    These look perfect! I am horrible at frosting cupcakes for some reason and these look amazing! Love the cherry and chocolate combo. Pinned!

    Reply
  9. Jacqui says

    February 8, 2015 at 7:06 PM

    These look amazing! I love the cherry on top.

    Reply
  10. Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking says

    February 10, 2015 at 7:49 PM

    I want to go on vacations with you!! Visiting all of those bakeries sounds like heaven to me. And yes, I totally do the same thing by writing down flavor combos & copycats to try! πŸ™‚ These cupcakes look absolutely gorgeous Jocelyn! Pinned!

    Reply
    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      February 16, 2015 at 1:09 PM

      Thanks for the pin love Amy! And doing a bakery crawl with you would be so much fun πŸ™‚

      Reply
  11. Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says

    February 10, 2015 at 10:29 PM

    These cupcakes are dreamy!! Love everything, to the cherry on top!

    Reply
    • Jocelyn Brubaker says

      February 16, 2015 at 1:10 PM

      Thank you so much Anna!

      Reply
  12. [email protected]+Life,+Love+and+Sugar says

    February 23, 2015 at 4:26 PM

    These cupcakes are so stinking cute! And I love the cherry and chocolate flavor combo – yum!

    Reply
  13. Anna says

    February 8, 2019 at 1:49 PM

    Chocolate and cherries combo is my favorite! These are delicious but also the prettiest cupcakes ever!

    Reply
  14. krissy says

    February 8, 2019 at 1:50 PM

    chocolate and cherries are such a classic flavor combo! These cupcakes did not dissapoint! so delicious!

    Reply
  15. Mallory Lanz says

    February 8, 2019 at 2:25 PM

    These are going on my valentines day menu! So yummy!

    Reply
  16. Allyson Zea says

    February 8, 2019 at 2:58 PM

    Wow these cupcakes are SO delicious!

    Reply

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Jocelyn is the baker, photographer, and writer behind Inside BruCrew Life. She is married to her best friend, and they have three great kids. She spends her days baking sweet treats, and then trying to find ways to give those treats away before eating them all. Grab a cup of coffee and visit while she shares life from their kitchen. Read More…

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