Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

These are incredible.  I adapted them from Better Homes and Garden's recipe for Cherry-Almond Vanilla Cupcakes.  With the chocolate drizzled on top they tasted like chocolate-covered cherries!  (In the photo I spooned the chocolate on, next time I plan to drizzle it.)
Tip: One 10 oz. jar of maraschino cherries without stems is enough for both the cupcakes and the frosting.

1/2 c. dairy-free buttery stick - softened
4 egg whites
2 c. Favorite Gluten-Free Flour Blend
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. baking soda
3/4 c. dairy-free buttermilk*
1/3 c. maraschino cherry juice
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2  t. vanilla
12 maraschino cherries, halved
1 recipe Cherry Buttercream Frosting GFCF
1 recipe dairy-free chocolate ganache (optional)

1. Bring dairy-free butter stick  and egg whites to room temperature.  Line 21 muffin cups with paper bake cups.  In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.  In a 2-cup glass measuring cup combine buttermilk and cherry juice;  set aside.

2.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl beat Fleischmann's with electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.  Add sugar and vanilla extract; beat till combined.  Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.

3.  Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or till tops spring back when lightly touched.  Cool completely.  Frost with Cherry Buttercream frosting. If desired, spoon chocolate ganache into a sandwich bag, snip off the end and pipe over the frosting.

*to make dairy-free buttermilk, combine 2 teaspoons vinegar with enough dairy-free milk to make 3/4 cup.  (I always use Almond Breeze Original and it works great.)

Cherry Buttercream Frosting:
Add 3 T maraschino cherry juice to Buttercream Frosting GFCF

Chocolate ganache:
Combine dairy-free chocolate chips with a little dairy-free milk and microwave till smooth.  Add just enough milk to get it to drizzling consistency.