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These Cherry Cupcakes have an incredible flavor. The way they are decorated adds a level of cuteness to any dessert table or event that you may be having.
Cherry Cupcakes are one of those fun recipes that you can make with your kids that is so rewarding. Making something special that they can then share with others is a fun rainy-day project. It only takes a few ingredients and starts with a box cake mix.
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What We Love About This Cherry Cupcakes Recipe
Make these fun cupcakes any day of the week, because they take little time to prepare and are so easy. The best part is they taste as good as they look. The soda adds a light fluffy quality to the cupcakes that everyone will appreciate.
- Less Than an Hour: Bake, cool and decorate these black cherry cupcakes in less than an hour.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge.
- Family Friendly: These cute and fun cupcakes will be a hit with all ages.
- Adaptable: Can make it low-carb, low calorie or dairy free, etc.
Ingredient Notes for Black Cherry Cake
- White Cake Mix: Any brand will work for these black cherry cream soda cupcakes.
- Vegetable Oil: Any flavorless oil will work, such as canola oil or a vegetable oil blend.
- Eggs: Four large egg whites.
- Black Cherry Soda: Any brand, diet soda works well here too.
- JELLO: Black Cherry flavored Jello, again you can use sugar free if desired.
Frosting Ingredients
- Butter: Salted butter, softened.
- Vanilla Extract: One teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.
- Salt: One teaspoon, or to taste.
- Powdered Sugar: 4 cups of confectioners’ sugar.
- Milk: Half and half or whole milk.
- Black Cherry soda: The same as used in the cake.
- Jell-O: Black Cherry Flavor from above cake recipe.
Equipment Needed for Black Cherry Cake
- KitchenAid Classic Mixing Bowls
- OCTAVO 5 Speed Hand Mixer Electric
- Wilton Perfect Results Premium Non-Stick Bakeware Standard Muffin and Cupcake Pan, 12-Cup Baking Pan
- Caperci Standard White Cupcake Liners 500 Count,
- Wilton Deluxe Cake Decorating Kit with Piping Tips and Pastry Bags, 46-Piece
How to Make Cherry Cupcakes
These are the basic steps for making black cherry cream soda cupcakes. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and nutrition information.
STEP 1: PREP
Begin by preheating your oven and lining your cupcake pan with paper liners.
STEP 2: BATTER
First, add cake mix to a large mixing bowl and then using a hand or stand mixer, add in your oil, egg whites, and soda. Mix on medium until well incorporated, and then mix in *1/2-3/4 of the Jello.
STEP 3: SCOOP
Next, add batter into the muffin tin until each is about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
STEP 4: FROSTING
Start by using a large mixing bowl, then using an electric hand or stand mixer, cream the butter and beat until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Then mix in the remaining Jell-o, vanilla extract and salt.
STEP 5: SODA
Then, mix the half and half, or milk, and black cherry soda together. (If you don’t, the carbonation in the soda will break your frosting). Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while adding a bit of the liquid mixture in between each cup. Continue to mix for 1-2 minutes or until creamy and forms stiff peaks, but don’t overmix! Add in food coloring if desired.
STEP 6: DECORATE
Lastly, prepare piping bag, fill bag with frosting and frost your cupcakes. Add your black sanding sugar and straw if desired.
Prep and Storage Tips for Soda Cupcakes
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
You can bake cupcakes up to two days ahead; arrange them (unfrosted) on a baking sheet, wrap the whole sheet with plastic wrap and store at room temperature.
HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE
Store the black cherry cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator as the frosting contains dairy. They will last up to five days.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
Freeze the cupcakes for up to three months. It is best to store undecorated, without frosting. When ready to use, thaw in the fridge overnight then decorate following the directions below.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cherry Cupcakes
There are several ways to make this recipe heathier depending on your needs. For example:
* Use a sugar free Cake Mix.
* A gluten Free Cake Mix.
* Make the frosting with low fat or fat free milk, or a milk alternative.
* Try a sugar substitute in the frosting.
Of course, a cherry cake mix would be great in this recipe.
Indeed, this recipe is great for a crowd so double or triple the recipe if necessary.
It is sometimes hard to grasp techniques from a written description. Here is a YouTube video to help you learn the best ways to decorate.
Expert Tips for Making This Cherry Cupcakes Recipe
- Add Black Sanding Sugar: To finish the decorations, and use a piece of a straw for a cute effect.
- Tip: We found some Jello flavors in the frosting can be punchy. So, we suggest for kids to use ½ the Jello in the mixes and ½ in the frosting. For adults, use ¾ of the Jello in the mixes and ¼ in the frosting. This has worked beautifully.
- Variation tip: Top with a maraschino cherry.
- Alternate ingredient: A regular cherry Jello can be used if the black cherry is unavailable.
- Dietary consideration tip: Sugar free or gluten free versions can be used in this recipe, they work great for these Black Cherry Cupcakes.
What to Serve with Cherry Cupcakes
- Whitehouse Cherry Ice Cream
- Vanilla Ice Cream
- Hot Chocolate
Did you try this recipe?
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Black Cherry Cupcakes
Equipment
- Wilton Deluxe Cake Decorating Kit with Piping Tips and Pastry Bags, 46-Piece
Ingredients
- Cupcake Ingredients:
- 1 white cake mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 4 egg whites
- 1 ¼-1 ¾ cups Black Cherry soda
- Black Cherry Jello, divided
- Frosting Ingredients:
- 2 sticks salted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon half and half or whole milk
- 2 tablespoons Black Cherry soda
- *Black Cherry Jello, divided
- Red food coloring, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or line a standard muffin tin.
- Add cake mix to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand or stand mixer, add in your oil, egg whites, and soda. Mix on medium until well incorporated. Mix in *1/2-3/4 of the Jello.
- Add batter into the muffin tin until each is about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
- Directions for Frosting:
- In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand or stand mixer, cream the butter and beat until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Mix in the vanilla extract and salt.
- Mix in the remaining Jello.
- Mix the half and half, or milk, and black cherry soda together. (If you don’t, the carbonation in the soda will break your frosting).
- Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while adding a bit of the liquid mixture from Step 6 in between each cup. Continue to mix for 1-2 minutes or until creamy and forms stiff peaks, but don’t overmix! Add in food coloring, if desired. Start with 1-2 drops and mix. Continue until color is achieved.
- Prepare piping bag, fill bag with frosting and frost your cupcakes. Add your black sanding sugar and straw if desired
Expert Tips
- Add Black Sanding Sugar: To finish the decorations, and use a piece of a straw for a cute effect.
- Tip: We found some Jello flavors in the frosting can be punchy. So, we suggest for kids to use ½ the Jello in the mixes and ½ in the frosting. For adults, use ¾ of the Jello in the mixes and ¼ in the frosting. This has worked beautifully.
- Variation tip: Top with a maraschino cherry.
- Alternate ingredient: A regular cherry Jello can be used if the black cherry is unavailable.
- Dietary consideration tip: Sugar free or gluten free versions can be used in this recipe, they work great for these Black Cherry Cupcakes.
These cupcakes are one of the cutest I’ve tried! They are so easy to make and my kids love them with an extra cherry on top.
These look so delicious and the kids will love this for Christmas!
I made these cupcakes gluten-free, and I love them! They’re so easy to make and turned out to be so delicious. Highly recommended!
These were surprisingly easy to make and so delicious!