CUPCAKES FOR A TOUR

When given the opportunity to tour the Vosges Chocolate Factory, naturally, I couldn't resist! So, I offered cupcakes as a humble gesture of my gratitude. Just as Vosges has assorted boxes of truffles, I decided I'd make a box of assorted cupcakes! (Though they are not nearly as flawless or decadent). Using my classic vegan dark chocolate cake, I made 4 varieties. Shown from left to right are black forest cherry, lemon, coconut and strawberry. Organic lemons were zested into the buttercream and used on top for a garnish. The cherry and strawberry are filled with bakehouse-made "almost organic" preserves. Organic sugar was mixed with the cherries I picked last week in Michigan and the strawberries bought from a local farmers' market. One with vanilla buttercream and the other with dark chocolate, it was hard to resist finishing them off with a strawberry and a cherry on top.