Boston Creme Mini-Cupcakes

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2
Spray 24 mini muffin cups with cooking spray.

Step 3
Stir yellow cake mix, water, eggs, and vegetable oil in a bowl until moistened. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.

Step 4
Spoon cake batter into the prepared mini muffin cups, filling them about 2/3 full.

Step 5
Bake in the preheated oven until cupcakes have risen and are lightly golden brown, 15 to 19 minutes. Check for doneness after 10 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake should come out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool for about 20 minutes.

Step 6
Whisk instant French vanilla pudding mix and milk together in a bowl for 2 minutes. Allow pudding to stand for 5 more minutes to thicken.

Step 7
Pipe the vanilla pudding into each cupcake with about 1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla pudding.

Step 8
Freeze filled cupcakes for at least 1 hour to make frosting them easier.

Step 9
Spread a very thin coating of chocolate frosting over each cupcake; refrigerate cupcakes for 15 minutes.

Step 10
Spread second, thicker layer of frosting over the first layer. Place small dollop of whipped cream into center of each frosted cupcake and top with a quarter of a maraschino cherry. Refrigerate mini cupcakes until serving time.