Strawberry Chocolate Cupcake

Ingredients:

- 1 2/3 cup flour

- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda

- 1 tsp salt

- 1/2 cup butter

- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

- 2 eggs

- 1 tsp vanilla extract

- 1 1/2 cup buttermilk

- 1 (10oz) strawberries

- Whipped Cream

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare cupcake pan with liners.
2. Combine dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt) in a medium-sized bowl. Mix to ensure even distribution.
3. Cream butter and sugar together in a large bowl with a hand mixer. It helps if the butter is at room temperature.
4. Add eggs one at a time to the butter/sugar mix and use a hand mixer to combine. Add vanilla extract.
5. Alternate adding parts of buttermilk and dry ingredients to butter/sugar mix and combine with hand mixer until just incorporated. Try not to over mix to insure fluffy and airy cupcakes
    
6. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 20 min or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean
    
7. Take cupcakes out of pan and let cupcakes cool completely (about 20 min) before taking a paring knife to cut out a tunnel in the top of each cupcake. (Save the insides for a parfait later!)
    
8. Fill each cupcake hole with a Strawberry or Cherry. If there is still room, replace cupcake tops.
    
9. If you like, drench cupcakes with 1 tsp of maraschino liquor. The cupcakes should be airy enough to soak up the liquid but feel free to poke holes with a thin toothpick to help the cupcake absorb the liquid.
    
10. Top with frosting!