Chocolate Cherry Cupcake Bites

Win rave reviews from kids and adults alike with these miniature cupcakes.

Ingredients

cooking spray

4 spray(s)

unprepared packaged devil’s food cake

18¼ oz, or similar chocolate cake mix, divided

apple butter

2 Tbsp

water

2 Tbsp, warm (or more to yield smooth batter)

almond extract

2 tsp, divided

canned sweet cherries packed in heavy syrup

16 oz, slightly drained

apple butter

⅓ cup(s)

regular liquid egg substitute

½ cup(s)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat two 24-hole mini muffin pans with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, make frosting: Mix together 1 cup cake mix, 2 tablespoons apple butter, water and 1 teaspoon almond extract until smooth (add extra water if necessary); set aside.
2. Place drained cherries on a paper towel. Pat cherries dry, place on cutting board and coarsely chop; set aside.
3. In a mixer on slow speed, combine remaining cake mix, 1/3 cup apple butter, remaining almond extract and egg substitute for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium and mix until smooth, about 2 minutes more; stir in cherries.
4. Fill muffin pans 3/4 full with cherry mixture. Bake until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean, about 15 to 17 minutes. Allow to cool in pans for 5 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. Frost each cupcake with 1 teaspoon reserved frosting.
5. Serving size: 1 cupcake

Notes

Although we used canned cherries, when they’re in season you can use 1 cup fresh, chopped, pitted Bing cherries instead.