Chocolate Cherry Surprise Cupcakes

Have the kids help make these on a rainy afternoon and watch the sun come out with their every bite!

Serves: 18

Chilling Time: 1 hr

Cooking Time: 25 min

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix, batter prepared according to the package directions
• 1 (10 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained
• 1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1/2 cup (3 ounces) miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 (16 ounce) container milk chocolate frosting

Instructions

1. Bake cake batter according to package directions for 18 cupcakes; let cool completely.
    
2. Carefully slice off top of each cooled cupcake and hollow out center of cupcakes, reserving cake for another use.
    
3. Slice 9 maraschino cherries in half and set aside. In a medium bowl, coarsely chop remaining cherries; add ice cream and chocolate chips, and mix until well combined.
    
4. Fill hollowed-out cupcakes with ice cream mixture then replace tops. Freeze 1 hour, until firm, then frost each cupcake and top with a reserved maraschino cherry half. Serve, or cover and keep frozen until ready to serve.