Spicy Double Dark Chocolate cupCake recipe

Ingredients

1 pound 6 ounces all-purpose flour
2 2/3 teaspoons baking powder
2 2/3 teaspoons baking soda
4 ounces dry chocolate pudding mix
1/8 cup wheat germ
1 tablespoon ground white pepper
1 1/3 teaspoons salt
1 pound 12 ounces granulated sugar
9 ounces vegetable shortening
6 whole eggs
1 ounce plus 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
6 ounces unsweetened cocoa powder
8 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
Cognac Cherries Filling, recipe follows
Pistachio Mascarpone Frosting, recipe follows
Cherry Filling:
8 ounces cherries, chopped
2 ounces cognac
Pistachio Mascarpone Frosting:
10 ounces mascarpone cheese
1 tablespoon pistachio compound
1 teaspoon almond extract
7 ounces powdered sugar