Frosted Mini Chocolate Cakes (with Loquat and Cherries)

I was trying to use some frozen loquats. I had about 10 cups frozen. I thawed them in 1 cup of water in a large pot for a few minutes, and then pitted them (just by cutting of blossom end and squishing out seeds). I mixed in 2 cups of frozen sweet cherries, and about 1/2 cup of sugar. I cooked the fruit up a bit to reduce it - still seemed very thin. I decided to use it as a glaze on some mini chocolate cakes.

Ingredients:

Mini muffins:
1 cup flour
6 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup liquid cherries and loquats, whirred through food processor
(second cup liquid cherries and loquats, whirred through food processor)

Frosting:
2 ablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1.5 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup confectioner’s sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons water
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 24 cup mini muffin pans with non-stick spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients very well.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together all the wet ingredients.
4. Stir wet ingredients into the flour mix, and stir until just evenly combined
5. Using a small cookie scoop, divide batter into the greased wells of a mini muffin pan.
6. Bake 9 to 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out clean.
7. Remove mini cakes, pour a teaspoon or so of second cup cherry/loquat mixture into each well, replace cake and let soak in for 10 minutes or so.

8. Melt butter and whisk in cocoa powder until smooth.
9. Add 2 tablespoons warm water and vanilla
10. Stir in sifted confectionary sugar, 1/2 cup or so at a time to reach desired consistency
(I used it all!)
11. Spread over the cooled mini muffins (using a pastry brush)
12. Store in refrigerator so frosting hardens

Carole's Notes:

This makes about 48 mini cakes. You can taste a light cherry-like flavor in them. (My friend Sue told me they are her current favorite recipe of mine...)

These are lightly adapted from my Chocolate Cake Bites with Chocolate Coconut Glaze which is adapted from http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2014/11/20/texas-sheet-cake-healthy-makeover/