Halloween Black Cupcakes With Cherry Filling

INGREDIENTS

80 milliliters

vegetable oil

200 g

golden caster sugar

large eggs

1 tsp

vanilla extract

120 milliliters

buttermilk

42 g

cocoa powder

95 g

plain( all-purpose) flour

1 1/2 tsp

bicarbonate of soda

salt

1 tsp

extra black food colouring gel (this extra black gel will give the deepest colour)

300 g

cherries in Kirsch (I use the Opies brand)*

1 tsp

cornflour (cornstarch mixed with 3 tsp cold water)

fresh cherries

150 g

dark chocolate, broken into chunks

200 g

unsalted butter, softened, cut into chunks

1 tsp

vanilla extract

salt

225 g

confectioners' sugar

1 tbsp

milk

Extra Black food colouring gel (I used 1 tsp - use more or less depending on how deep you want the colour to be)

1/2 tsp

Violet food colouring gel (optional - I wanted a slightly purple tint to the my buttercream)