Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes

Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes

To me there is nothing better then Maraschino Cherries. I love them in soda, on ice cream and in my cupcakes! They just make everything in life a little sweeter!

Yields: 18 cupcakes

Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Ingredients:

Cupcakes:

• 1 jar (10 oz) maraschino cherries, drained, liquid reserved
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 ¼ cups sugar
• ½ cup maraschino cherry liquid
• ¼ cup whole milk
• 2 teaspoons almond extract
• 2 egg whites, beaten
• Optional: pink food color

Frosting:

• Reserved 1 tablespoon maraschino cherry liquid
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Garnish:

• 18 maraschino cherries with stems

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line regular-size muffin cups with paper baking cups; set aside.
2. Finely chop cherries and place in paper-towel-lined bowl to drain while preparing batter.
3. In a 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.
4. In a small bowl, stir together ½ cup cherry liquid, the milk and 2 teaspoons almond extract.
5. Beginning and ending with flour mixture, alternately add flour mixture and cherry mixture to butter mixture, beating well after each addition. If desired, stir in a few drops of food coloring until desired pink color is achieved. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Fold in chopped cherries. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full.
6. 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.
7. To make frosting, combine butter, sugar and salt in a bowl. Beat until blended.
8. Add the milk, vanilla and cherry liquid and beat for an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until smooth and creamy.
9. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes and garnish each with 1 cherry with stem.

Are you a Maraschino Cherry fan? If so then you will want to give these a try!

What is your favorite cupcake flavor?