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A cherry cupcake up close.

Cherry Cupcakes

An easy recipe like this one is always worth knowing. Bursting with flavors, these are pretty in pink and light as air.
Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook Time:25 minutes
Cooling Time:30 minutes
Total Time:1 hour 15 minutes
Servings:18 cupcakes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

  • 10 ounces maraschino cherries drained (save the liquid)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 egg whites beaten

For the frosting:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 teaspoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with paper cups and set aside. Chop the cherries into fine slices and place them in a bowl lined with a paper towel to drain and reserve the liquid.
  • Mix the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl, and blend the butter and white sugar in a large bowl until smooth. In a third bowl, mix ½ cup of the reserved cherry liquid, milk, and vanilla extract.
  • Now add the flour mixture and the cherry mixture to the butter mixture, alternating back-and-forth between adding the flour and then the cherry mixture, while beating well after each addition. Optionally, add a couple of drops of red food coloring to make the batter pinker or red, and then fold in the chopped cherries and the beaten egg whites.
  • Pour the batter into each muffin cup using a spoon until about ¾ full, and then bake for about 20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool them on a cooling rack for 30 minutes.

To make the frosting:

  • Beat the sugar and softened butter in a bowl until blended well, and then add the milk, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon of the remaining cherry liquid and beat until smooth for about 4 minutes.
  • Pipe the frosting onto each cupcake and garnish with a cherry. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Food coloring or food dye is optional in this recipe, but if you want to enhance the pink or red colors you might like to add a few drops.
  • If you prefer to garnish these with fresh cherries on the stems, this adds a fresh appearance.
  • For a different take on the flavor, swap the vanilla extract for almond extract. Almonds and cherries go together beautifully.

Nutrition

Calories: 273kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 144mg | Potassium: 102mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 486IU | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg