Memories of desserts at my cousins' home in Johns Creek, Georgia, inspired me to create these subtly sweet cupcakes topped with a few pomegranate arils for a bright, all-natural "sprinkle."

Ingreadients:

Cupcakes:

 

• 1 cup flour
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¼ cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup whole milk

Frosting:

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• pomegranate seeds, for garnish

Direction

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line one 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
2. Stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
3. Beat together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer a medium speed until light and fluffy, about 90 seconds. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
4. Beat in flour mixture one-third at a time, alternating with 1/4 cup milk, on low speed until just combined. Fill each prepared muffin cup with 1/4 cup batter
5. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, beat together cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Reduce speed to low; add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating until frosting is smooth.
7. Fit a piping bag with a large star or round tip and fill with frosting. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes. Garnish with pomegranate arils. Serve immediately or store, chilled, in an airtight container up to 1 week.