½ cup black cherries
from 425g can (reserve
the juice), plus ½ cup
of the syrup
165g butter
100g dark chocolate
11 / 3 cups caster sugar
¼ cup cherry brandy
1¼ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking
powder
2 tablespoons cocoa
powder
1 egg
whipped cream, chocolate
shavings and extra
cherries to serve
- Preheat oven to 150°C.
Line a 12-hole muffin tin
with cupcake liners. - Process the first
measure of cherries
and syrup in a food
processor to make a
purée, then set aside.- Combine butter,
chocolate, sugar, cherry
brandy and cherry purée
in a saucepan over a low
heat until the butter
and chocolate have
both melted. Transfer
to a large bowl and leave
to cool down for about
20 minutes. - Fold in the flour,
baking powder and
cocoa. Whisk the egg,
then add to the mixture.
Divide mixture among
cupcake cases. - Bake for 40 minutes.
Place cupcakes on a wire
rack to cool completely.
Top each muffin with
whipped cream, then
grate over chocolate
and place extra cherries
on top.
Kimberley’s Black
Forest Cupcakes
MAKES 12
PREPARATION & COOKING 1 HOUR, 15 MINUTES
(PLUS COOLING)
Theactress pops on herpinny
for a very good ‘claws’!
W
hether it’s
jumping out of a
plane or baking
cupcakes, Kiwi
actress Kimberley
Crossman is always keen to
put her hand up to help raise
money for animals.
The SPCA ambassador went
tandem skydiving wearing a
cow onesie in June as part of a
fundraising drive and now she’s
helping promote SPCA Cupcake
Day, where Kiwis can bake to
raise money for the charity.
The 29-year-old starred as
Sophie McKay on Shortland
Street, but now divides her
time between Los Angeles and
Auckland. Her most recent stint
back home was to film new
eight-part comedy series Golden
Boy, now screening on Three.
Kimberley says she’s “not the
world’s best baker”,butshehad
help from Albie Eaton,herbest
friend from the ageof
Whenever Kimretu
to Auckland, Albiewel
her back with a home
chocolate cake.
Clever Albie helped
Kim create a delicious
black forest cupcake
recipe for Woman’s
Day readers to join
in the fun and raise
much-needed cash
for SPCA.
Back in LA, Kim’s
beloved cat Powder
is looked after by a
“French nanny” when
Kim’s in Aotearoa.
“Margaux, the cat-s
is speaking Frenchtohhe’s now a bilingual cat,” Kim
says with a smile.
Her beloved Powder is a
“foster fail”. Kim was only
supposed to take care of him
temporarily, but she fell inlove
with the “sensitive wee boy”,
who was so shy when shefirst
took him in that he wouldn’t
come out from under the bed
for three days.
“But he’s loving when he
chooses to be as he’s a people
pleaser by nature,” she purrs.
Kim’s other pet in LA is a
tarantula called Prince Harry
O’Connor, who she jokes
“doesn’t respond” when she
talks to him.
Pets provide comfort to Kim,
who has had a steady flow of
work in the US. “In LA, it’s easy
to make everything about you,
so it’s nice to have them to take
care of,” she says.KIMBERL
PAW-FECT B
Cupcake q
TEXT: PENNY LEWIS. PICTURES: ROBERT TRATHEN. HAIR & MAKE-UP: JAZ GARNER. STYLING: BENJAMIN FARRY.three.
urns
lcomes- made
sitter,
him,soSweettreatsandanimals– what’s
not tolove?SPCACupcakeDay is on
Monday, August 5 and is a great way for
you to help raise funds for the animal
charity. You could share your cupcakes at
work for a gold coin, run a cake stall at school
or host a cupcake-themed event. Don’t worry
if August 5 doesn’t suit you – any day is good
to help animals in need. Last year, nearly
1000 Kiwis took part and raised
$336,606. If baking isn’t your thing,
you can still donate to make a
difference. Find out more at
spcacupcakeday.co.nz.HOST YOUR
OWN EVENT!