Best Cherry Cupcakes Recipes

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Bring cherries, sugar, and lemon juice to a simmer in a medium pot over medium-low heat. Cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently. Remove 2 tablespoons of cherry juice from the pot and place in a small bowl. Stir in cornstarch until thoroughly combined. Add cornstarch mixture to the pot and simmer until thickened and slightly reduced, about 5 minutes more.
• Remove compote from heat and cool completely. Measure out 1 cup for the cupcake batter. Reserve remaining compote, about 6 tablespoons, for the frosting.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line or grease two standard 12-cup muffin tins.
• Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Beat brown sugar, butter, and white sugar together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract. Mix in 1/3 of the flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Pour in 1/2 of the sour cream and cooled coffee; mix until just combined.
• Continue alternating additions of the flour mixture with sour cream and coffee, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, until batter is smooth. Do not overmix. Gently fold in 1 cup cherry compote. Fill each prepared muffin cup 2/3 full of batter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the tops of the cupcakes spring back lightly when touched, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool in the tins for a few minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Prepare cherry buttercream while the cupcakes are cooling. Beat butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla and salt. Add 2 tablespoons of cherry compote and beat on medium-high speed until thoroughly combined. Repeat twice more with remaining cherry compote, beating well after each addition. Add heavy cream and beat until frosting is fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spread or pipe frosting over the cooled cupcakes.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, water, oil and eggs; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes. , Spoon batter by 1/4 cupfuls into paper-lined muffin cups. Place a rounded teaspoonful of pie filling in the center of each cupcake. Set remaining pie filling aside. , Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , Frost cupcakes; top each with one cherry from pie filling. Garnish with chocolate curls if desired. Refrigerate remaining pie filling for another use.

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Strain maraschino cherries over a large measuring cup. Count out 24 cherries with their stems intact and set aside on paper towels. Remove stems from the remaining cherries and place one in the bottom of each lined muffin cup.
• Stir cherry-flavored brandy into the cherry juice. Add more brandy or water to total 1 1/4 cups liquid. Pour liquid into a bowl.
• Add eggs and oil; beat with an electric mixer on low speed until just combined. Add cake mix and beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Evenly divide batter among the muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 17 minutes. Cool in the tins for about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 50 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting. Combine cream cheese and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium speed until blended, about 1 minute. Add vanilla extract and salt; beat for 1 minute more. Add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating after each addition. Add additional powdered sugar if frosting is too thin.
• Frost each cupcake and garnish with the reserved cherries.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MALT SHOP CUPCAKES WITH CHERRY-VANILLA BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 regular 12-cup cupcake tins with paper liners.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until well blended.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, malted milk powder, and espresso powder. Add the canola oil and eggs; whisk to blend. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and beat until smooth. Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat until well combined. Stir in the miniature chocolate chips.
• Divide the batter among the prepared cupcake tins, filling only halfway full. Bake the cupcakes for 15 to 17 minutes, until they spring back when touched and a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
• While the cupcakes bake, prepare the buttercream. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the sugar and the butter on medium-low speed until well blended. Add the vanilla and whipping cream and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until light, spreadable and fluffy. Beat in the cherry preserves until well incorporated.
• When the cupcakes have finished baking, let sit in the pans for 2 minutes and then transfer the cupcakes to wire racks to cool for 10 minutes more.
• While the cupcakes cool, transfer the buttercream to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Alternatively, you can frost the cupcakes with a knife or offset spatula. When the cupcakes have cooled, pipe the buttercream in decorative swirls on top of the cupcake (or swirl with a spatula). Garnish the top of each cupcake with a malted milk ball or cherry and serve.

CHERRY CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with foil liners.
• Mix graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar together in a bowl. Press crumbs into the bottoms of prepared muffin cups.
• Beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract together in a bowl until filling is smooth. Divide filling between muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden around the edges and slightly cracked, about 10 minutes. Cool completely and top each with cherry pie filling.

CHERRY COKE® CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners.
• Mix cake mix and cherry-flavored cola together in a bowl until batter is smooth. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups about 2/3 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until muffins spring back when lightly touched, 18 to 23 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Beat cream in a large bowl using an electric mixer until frothy; beat in confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the frosting will form sharp peaks; refrigerate.
• Cut a well out of the top center of each cupcake and fill with 2 to 3 cherries from the cherry pie filling. Transfer frosting to a piping bag or a plastic bag with 1 corner cut off. Frost cupcakes and top each with a maraschino cherry.

CHERRY CHEESE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, 1 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. , Spoon into foil-lined muffin cups. Bake at 300° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes. , In a small bowl, combine sour cream and the remaining sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spoon onto cupcakes. Return to the oven for 6-8 minutes or until set. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Top with pie filling; garnish with mint if desired. Store in the refrigerator.

DARK CHOCOLATE-CHERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease or line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
• Stir flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Dig a well in the center and pour in buttermilk, eggs, butter, oil, and almond extract. Begin stirring, then use an electric mixer to make to a smooth, thick batter. Pour in cherry pie filling and stir until distributed.
• Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full. Try to distribute cherries evenly.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 23 to 27 minutes. Let cool completely.

CHERRY-FILLED CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
• Make cake batter as directed on box for 24 cupcakes. For each cupcake, spoon 3 tablespoons batter into muffin cup, then spoon 2 teaspoons pie filling onto center of batter. Bake and cool as directed on box for 24 cupcakes.
• In large bowl, beat shortening, powdered sugar and milk with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Place frosting in decorating bag fitted with your choice of decorating tip. Starting at outer edge of cupcakes, pipe frosting in spiral pattern, gradually elevating to a peak in center; top each with a cherry.

CHERRY CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Line 28 cupcake cups with paper liners.
• Prepare the filling: Place cream cheese in small mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer. Add the sugar, egg and vanilla and continue to beat for 1 minute.
• Prepare the cupcake batter: Place the cake mix, pudding mix, milk, oil, eggs and almond extract in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mix on low for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides, increase speed to medium and beat for 2 more minutes.
• Place one vanilla wafer in the bottom of each cupcake liner. Spoon 1/4 cup batter on top of each wafer. Gently dollop 1 heaping tablespoon of filling on top of each cupcake. The cup will be nearly full. Do not shake the pans.
• Bake until the cupcakes are golden and spring back when touched, about 18 to 20 minutes. Cool in pans for 5 minutes.
• Remove from pans and cool on wire rack for 15 minutes before topping.
• Mist a teaspoon with vegetable oil spray and use this to press down on the cupcake to create an indentation. Place a heaping teaspoon of cherry pie filling in the well of each cupcake. Dust with powdered sugar.
• Store in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Line 12 regular-size (2 1/2-in. diameter) muffin cups with paper or foil liners.
• Whisk flour and cocoa powder in a small bowl until blended; set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt with a mixer on high speed 2 minutes or until well blended.
• Add egg and vanilla; beat 2 minutes or until fluffy.
• Reduce mixer speed to low; beat in milk (batter will look curdled), then the flour mixture just until blended.
• Spoon evenly into lined muffin cups Place a square of chocolate in center of each cupcake.
• Top with a cherry and another square of chocolate.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes until a pick inserted off center comes out clean.
• Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes before removing from pan to rack to cool com-pletely (cupcakes will sink in center).
• Frosting: Beat cream cheese, but-ter and cherry juice in a medium bowl with mixer on high speed until blend-ed and smooth.
• Reduce speed to low; beat in confectioners' sugar.
• Refriger-ate 15 minutes or until firm enough to spread.
• Frost cupcakes.
• To garnish: Top each cupcake with 1 or 2 cherries.
• Melt chocolate bar and scrape into a ziptop bag.
• Cut a tip off a corner of bag; drizzle chocolate over half or all the cupcakes.
• Cover and refrigerate until serving or up to 1 day.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Prepare a cupcake pan with 24 cupcake liners.
• Combine the cake flour, pudding mix, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in 1 medium bowl. Crack the eggs into a second bowl and add the vanilla extract. Measure the milk and half-and-half into a third bowl. In a 5-quart mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until fluffy. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides using a spatula. Turn the mixer on first speed, add the sugar, and mix until fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time. Scrape down the bowl. Add sour cream and mayonnaise and incorporate completely. Scrape down the bowl. Add the dry ingredients, alternating with wet. You will start and end with the dry ingredients. Mix the batter until smooth and no lumps are present.
• De-stem the maraschino cherries and squeeze out the excess liquid. Using a food processor, mince the cherries using the pulse button. Do not over process. Add the minced cherries, cherry juice, and white chocolate chips to the batter. Incorporate the ingredients completely using a spatula. Fill the cupcake liners using a 2-ounce scoop. Bake until golden brown and light and fluffy, 17 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool completely before decorating.
• To assemble: Place a round tip # 809 into a large piping bag. Fill the piping bag with Casey's Buttercream and generously pipe onto each cupcake. Garnish each cupcake with 1 maraschino cherry and 5 large pearls. Finish by sprinkling edible glitter over the tops of the cupcakes.
• In a 5-quart mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and shortening together. On first speed, add the sifted powdered sugar to the bowl in 3 parts. Let each part incorporate into the butter mixture before adding the next. After adding all the sugar, put the mixer on the fourth (highest) speed and mix for 8 to 10 minutes. The buttercream will begin to gain volume and look white and fluffy. Once you bring the buttercream to full volume, add the extracts and vodka and incorporate completely.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY COLA CUPCAKES WITH RED LICORICE FILLING AND MARSHMALLOW FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 regular size cupcake pans with cupcake liners.
• In a large bowl using an electric mixer on low speed, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the eggs, half-and-half, oil, and vanilla and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in the warmed cherry cola until fully combined.
• Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter and bake until the cupcakes spring back when touched with your finger, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool in the pans for a few minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Fill each of the cupcakes with Red Licorice Filling. Sprinkle the crushed yogurt covered pretzels on top. Top with Marshmallow Frosting and drizzle with Cherry Cola Glaze.
• Tear the licorice into 1 inch pieces and place in a saucepan with the water over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Remove from the heat and let cool. Whisk in the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and egg yolks. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thick and bubbly. Continue to cook for 1 minute, and then remove from the heat. Cool to room temperature.
• Place the egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a heat-safe bowl over a saucepan with boiling water. Whisk constantly over the heat for 1 to 3 minutes. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from the heat and beat with an electric mixer on high until stiff peaks have formed, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Add the cherry cola, 1 teaspoon at a time, to the powdered sugar until it has a good consistency to drizzle on cupcakes.

CHOCOLATE-CHOCOLATE CHERRY CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 (2 1/2-inch) muffin cups with paper liners; set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the cake mix, butter, eggs, and cranberry-cherry juice with an electric mixer on low for 30 seconds. Scrape down side of bowl. Beat for 2 minutes on medium. Spoon 2 tablespoons batter into each prepared muffin cup. Spoon 1 teaspoon cherry pie filling on batter in each cup and top with another 1 tablespoon cupcake batter.
• Bake for 12 to 16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cupcakes comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups and cool completely on wire rack.
• For frosting: Place the white baking chips in a medium bowl; set aside. In a small saucepan, heat the heavy cream and corn syrup over medium heat until nearly boiling. Pour the hot mixture over the white baking chips; stir until completely smooth. Let stand for 10 minutes. Stir the cream mixture into the white frosting until well mixed; set aside.
• In a small microwave-safe bowl, microwave the semisweet chocolate chips on medium for 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Place the maraschino cherries on paper towels to dry. Dip each dry cherry into melted semisweet chocolate and place on waxed paper-lined baking sheet until chocolate hardens.
• Frost each cupcake with white chocolate frosting and top with a chocolate-covered cherry.

CHERRY CHOCOLATE COCONUT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For ganache, place vanilla chips and butter in a large bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chip mixture; whisk until smooth. Stir in extract. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, stirring occasionally., In a large bowl, beat the pie filling, buttermilk and eggs until well blended. Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into pie filling mixture until blended., Fill 24 paper-lined muffin cups one-third full. Cut candy bars in half; place half of a candy bar in center of each cupcake. Cover each with 2 tablespoonfuls batter. , Bake at 375° for 16-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Meanwhile, in a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip cherries in chocolate mixture; allow excess to drip off. Place on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until set., Remove ganache from refrigerator; gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until frosting is light and fluffy. Pipe over cupcakes; sprinkle with coarse sugar. Garnish with chocolate-dipped cherries.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHERRY CUPCAKES OR ICING

Steps:

• Prepare, bake and cool cupcakes.
• Melt 2 1/4 c white chocolate chips, cool slightly.
• On medium speed, beat butter until fluffy. Beat in melted chocolate, vanilla, confectioners' sugar until smooth.
• Chill until thickened (approx 15 mins).
• Spoon jam or filling until freezer bag. Snip 1/4" hole in one corner. Insert bag tip 1" deep into center top of each cupcake. Squeeze 1 Tbs jam into each.
• Transfer frosting into pastry bag fitted with decorative tip and pipe over cupcakes.
• Optional topping:.
• Sprinkle with edible glitter or red sprinkles and white chocolate shavings from chocolate bar. Melt remaining white chocolate and barely dip fresh cherries into mixture. Cool and set atop each cupcake.

CHEERY CHERRY CHIP CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 18 regular-size muffin cups with paper baking cups; set aside.
• Finely chop cherries with large chef's knife. Place chopped cherries in paper towel-lined bowl to drain while preparing batter.
• In medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
• In glass measuring cup, stir together 1/2 cup cherry liquid, the milk and 2 teaspoons almond extract.
• Beginning and ending with flour mixture, alternately add flour mixture and milk mixture to butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in a few drops of food color until desired pink color is achieved. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Fold in chopped cherries. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until cupcakes spring back when lightly touched in center. Remove from muffin cups to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• To make Topping, spoon frosting into bowl with 1 tablespoon cherry liquid. Add 1 teaspoon almond extract and enough food color for desired pink color; beat 2 minutes with electric mixer on medium speed. If desired, transfer topping to decorating bag fitted with large star tip; pipe topping onto cupcakes in large swirls. Or, spread topping on cupcakes with off-set spatula. Garnish each cupcake with 1 cherry with stem.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKES WITH CHERRY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. Prepare your no-bake cheesecake filling. Follow instructions on package regarding milk and setting time. While cheesecake is setting, open up your package of cherries, place in a bowl, and using a very, very sophisticated method "aka a fork", scoop out the big pieces of cherries and discard. Reason we do this is that the bigger pieces of cherries will not pipe thru, it will clog your tip. When cheesecake filling is set, fold in your cherries and set in fridge until ready to use.
• 2. Prepare cake mix according to baking directions substituting the "oil" in the recipe and adding the yogurt instead. Yogurt really enhances a recipe by literally allowing it to be denser but still keeping it very moist. This was exactly the flavor and consistency we were aiming for... a dense, moist piece of goodness!! Place liners in your cupcake tins and add your cake mixture till the cups are 2/3 full. Place in pre-heated oven and bake. When cupcakes are ready, take out and place on cooling rack. After a few minutes, remove the cups and place directly on cooling rack, let cool thoroughly (about 35-45 minutes).
• 3. Once cupcakes have cooled, use your favorite gadget to make holes into the center of each cupcake. Even though I recently purchased a cupcake plunger, I reverted back to my citrus corer. It makes just the right size hole... does that make sense? Maybe I'm just old fashioned!! ;-) Save your plugs. Using a pastry bag and a 21 tip (Wilton), scoop out 1/2 of your cherry cheesecake filling. Place in bag and proceed to fill cupcakes until almost to the top, see below.
• 4. Proceed to plug the filling with the cake plugs you just removed. You will probably have to cut some away because of the now filled cupcakes. You won't need the entire plug.
• 5. Prepare your ganache. Using a microwave-safe bowl, add your chocolate chips and milk. Microwave in 30-second increments stirring thoroughly with whisk after each time. You will see the chocolate ganache become nice and glossy and smooth. This is when you know it's ready. Note, ganache thickens upon standing. So, you can frost them two ways; you can dip the top of the cupcakes into the ready-made more thinner ganache, wait a few minutes and then double dip. Or you can wait a few minutes till the sauce has thickened a little bit and then dip once. That is my preferred method (you know I'm about easy right)? Place on cooling rack and let the ganache set for a few minutes.
• 6. Gather your maraschino cherries and the remainder of your cheesecake filling in the pastry bag. Place a small swirl of filling onto the center of each cupcake and then add a quartered maraschino cherry on top! Enjoy!!

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MALT SHOP CUPCAKES W CHERRY-VANILLA BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. line 2 regular 12- cuo tins with paper liners.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk until well blended.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, malted milk powder, and espresso powder. Add the canola oil and eggs; whisk to blend. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixature and beat until smooth. Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat until combined. Stir in the minature chocolate chips.
• Divide the batter among the prepared cupcake tins, filling only halfway full. Bake the cupcakes for 15 to 17 minutes, until they spring back when touched and a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
• While the cupcakes bake, prepare the buttercream. In the bowl of an electris mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the sugar and the butter on medium-low speed until well blended. Add the vanilla and whipping cream and beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, until light, spreadable and fluffy. Beat in the cherry preserves until well incorporated.
• When the cupcakes have finished baking, let sit in the pans for 2 minutes and then transfer the cupcakes to the wire racks to cool for 10 minutes more.
• While the cupcakes cool, transfer the buttercream to a patry bag fitted with a large star tip. Alternatively, you can frost the cupcakes with a knife or offset spatula. When th ecupcakes have cooled, pipe the buttercream on decorativve swirls on top of the cupcake ( or swirl with a spatula ). Garnish on top of each cupcake with a malted milk ball or cherry and serve.

CHERRY BANANA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth. Add egg; mix well. Beat in the banana, buttermilk and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in cherries. , Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Sprinkle with walnuts. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.