Easy Cherry Cupcakes (with Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting!)

If you're looking to use up some cherries during this cherry season, then these Cherry Cupcakes are perfect for you! Bursting with juicy fruit and topped with a creamy frosting, these cupcakes are a perfect treat for any occasion. The moist and tender cupcake batter is infused with the natural sweetness of cherries, creating a delightful harmony of flavors.

My recipe is incredibly easy to follow and will give you delicious results every single time. Plus, if you don't want the cherries staining the cupcake liners, I even have an optional step to teach you exactly how to avoid that! But you'll still be able to enjoy the delicious juicy flavor in each cupcake!

After the cupcakes are baked, we'll then pipe on some delicious homemade cream cheese frosting. The tanginess of cream cheese perfectly works with the flavors in the cherry cupcakes to give you an absolutely delicious flavor in each bite. 

What's best is that these cupcakes are absolutely kid-friendly! In fact, I haven't met a kid that has said no to these beautiful and delicious treats! Plus, they're quite easy for teens to make on their own. 

These cupcakes are perfect for any occasion from birthday parties to family gatherings, or you can enjoy them at home with a cup of tea or coffee. I'm sure you're going to absolutely love them!

Want to learn how to make these Cherry Cupcakes? Then keep on reading!

Table of Contents

• What are Cherry Cupcakes?
• What Makes This Cherry Cupcakes Recipe Special?
• What You Need to Make Cherry Cupcakes at Home
• How to Make Cherry Cupcakes (Step-by-Step)
• Tips for Making the Best Cherry Cupcakes Ever
• Recipe Variation Ideas for Cherry Cupcakes
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How to Store Leftover Cherry Cupcakes
• Similar Recipes You'll Love
• Recipe Card
• Easy Cherry Cupcakes (with Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting!)
• Comments

What are Cherry Cupcakes?

Cherry cupcakes are a type of cupcake that incorporates fresh cherries into the batter, frosting, or both.

They are typically made with a base cupcake batter consisting of ingredients such as flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and leavening agents like baking powder and baking soda. Fresh cherries are then added to the batter, either pitted and chopped or left whole, to infuse the cupcakes with their natural sweetness and tang.

Once baked, they are often topped with a frosting that complements the cherry flavor. Cream cheese frosting is a popular choice due to its creamy texture and tangy taste, which pairs well with the sweetness of the cherries.

Cherry cupcakes can be garnished with various toppings to enhance their visual appeal and flavor. This may include placing a fresh cherry on top of each cupcake, adding a sprinkle of grated chocolate, or even drizzling a cherry syrup over the frosting for an extra burst of cherry flavor.

These cupcakes are versatile and can be enjoyed for various occasions, such as birthdays, parties, or as a special treat for cherry lovers.

They offer a delightful combination of fruity sweetness, moist cake texture, and creamy frosting, making them a delightful and visually appealing dessert option.

What Makes This Cherry Cupcakes Recipe Special?

Delicious: These cherry cupcakes are absolutely scrumptious. The sweet ingredients pair perfectly with the cream cheese and yogurt for an incredibly delicious taste combination. 

Bakery quality: This is a very easy recipe to follow, but the result is outstanding! With just a little time in the kitchen, you'll be serving bakery-quality cupcakes at your next event. 

Customizable: You can easily customize this recipe to make different tastes. Mix and match the kind of fruits and frosting for a whole new cupcake!

What You Need to Make Cherry Cupcakes at Home

All you need are some simple, pantry staple ingredients to make your delicious Cherry Cupcakes at home. Here's everything you'll need:

For the Cupcake Batter:

• Flour: First we'll need some all-purpose flour for the base of our batter. I always try to use organic flour when I can, but regular flour works too!
• Baking powder and soda: These two ingredients will leaven our batter and help it rise evenly while baking. They also provide structure and a tender crumb. 
• Salt: A little bit of salt really helps bring out the other flavors and balance the sweetness. Try to use sea salt if you can!
• Eggs: Eggs are an important ingredient in this recipe. They'll give our cupcakes a rich taste while also providing moistness. 
• Honey: Next we'll be using honey as a natural sweetener for these cupcakes. Not all honey is made the same though; use natural organic honey if you can get some!
• Vanilla extract: A hint of vanilla pairs perfectly with the cherries and frosting. It has a nice warm taste and floral scents that go really well with these cupcakes. 
• Unsalted butter: Butter is another ingredient that will give us a rich taste with added moisture. Be sure to use unsalted butter so we can control the amount of salt we're adding. 
• Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt has a naturally tangy flavor that really compliments the sweet cherries. It also helps make a smooth and creamy batter. 
• Cherries: The star of the show, cherries! We'll need quite a few fresh cherries for the batter and to top the cupcakes with. You can also opt for maraschino cherries, but they're much sweeter and will change the final result.

For the Frosting:

• Cream cheese: Cream cheese will make our frosting a luxurious and velvety texture. The tangy flavor also goes really well with the Greek yogurt in the batter.
• Sugar: We're going to need a little bit of sugar for the frosting. Try to use organic sugar if you can get your hands on it. 
• Heavy whipping cream: Whipping cream will help make our frosting light and fluffy. It also has a rich taste with subtle dairy sweetness.

For the Topping:

• Cherries: We'll also be needing some additional cherries to top our tasty cherry cupcakes! 
• Chocolate bar: Last but not least, we need a chocolate bar to shave over the cupcakes. I prefer dark chocolate, but you can use whatever kind you like. 

How to Make Cherry Cupcakes (Step-by-Step)

Making these delicious Cherry Cupcakes is incredibly easy. Here's how to make them step by step:

How to Make Cherry Cupcake Batter

Start by lining a cupcake baking pan with cupcake liners.

Next, combine all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, namely flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set it aside until ready for use.

Rinse the cherries, remove the stems, then pit and chop them into small pieces. Set aside until ready for use.

Note: I don't like the cherry juice staining the white cupcake batter so I rinse the chopped cherries, drain the excess water and then place them onto a plate lined with a paper towel to dry them. Coat them with flour to trap even more moisture, but this step is optional.

Beat eggs and sugar with a stand mixer on high until foamy and thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to medium speed and add honey and vanilla. Beat again on high for a couple more minutes.

Reduce to medium-high speed and add melted and cooled butter and Greek yogurt. Mix just until combined.

Sift and mix in the flour mixture in two separate additions. Make sure to mix carefully to not deflate air bubbles.

Transfer chopped cherries into a medium bowl, then sprinkle and coat them with flour. Add and gently mix in chopped cherries with the batter.

Next, fill each cupcake liner ¾ full with the cherry batter.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 F (180 C) for 20 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

How to Make Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

Beat softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth in texture and the sugar is completely dissolved. Then add vanilla extract and mix just until combined.

Add heavy cream. Scrape down the cream cheese from the sides of the bowl and mix the cream. Starting at low and gradually increasing the mixing speed to prevent splatters.

Beat the cream until thick, about 1 – 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl in between mixing cycles.

How to Decorate Cherry Cupcakes

Prep a piping bag with a large circular-opening tip or a large star tip. Fill the bag with cream, half full.

Pipe each cupcake top with cream in an outside-in spiral design.

Garnish each cupcake with a cherry and sprinkle grated chocolate. Refrigerate cupcakes in a closed cupcake container for at least 6 hours or overnight. A large Tupperware container with a lid works great for this. The cupcakes will become moist and soft, and the liners will be easily removable.

Your delicious Cherry Cupcakes are ready to be served!

Tips for Making the Best Cherry Cupcakes Ever

Use fresh cherries: Whenever possible, opt for fresh, ripe cherries to achieve the best flavor in your cupcakes. The natural sweetness and juiciness of fresh cherries will elevate the overall taste of the cupcakes.

Don't overmix the batter: When combining the ingredients for the cupcake batter, be mindful not to overmix. Overmixing can lead to a dense texture in the cupcakes. Mix the ingredients until they are just combined to avoid overworking the batter.

Cool completely before frosting: Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before applying the frosting. If the cupcakes are still warm, the frosting may melt or become runny. Cooling the cupcakes also helps the flavors to develop and the texture to set properly.

Recipe Variation Ideas for Cherry Cupcakes

• Chocolate: Add cocoa powder (around ¼ to ½ cup) to the dry ingredients for a chocolate-cherry flavor combination. You can also fold in some chocolate chips or chunks into the batter for extra indulgence.
• Almond: Add almond extract (around 1 teaspoon) to the batter along with the vanilla extract to infuse the cupcakes with a delightful almond flavor that complements the cherries.
• Lemon: Add the zest of one lemon to the batter for a refreshing and citrusy twist. You can also incorporate a small amount of lemon juice (around 1 tablespoon) for a tangy lemon-cherry flavor fusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Frozen Cherries Instead of Fresh Cherries?

Yes, you can use frozen cherries in this recipe. Make sure to thaw and drain them well before incorporating them into the batter.

Can I Substitute the Greek Yogurt With Another Ingredient?

If you don't have Greek yogurt on hand, you can use sour cream as a substitute. The texture and moisture level of the cupcakes may be slightly different, but the result will still be delicious.

Can I Make the Frosting Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can prepare the frosting ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and give it a good whisk before piping it onto the cupcakes.

Can I Use a Different Type of Frosting Instead of Cream Cheese Frosting?

Absolutely! If you prefer a different frosting, you can use vanilla buttercream, whipped cream, or even chocolate ganache as alternatives to the cream cheese frosting. Adjust the flavors based on your preference.

Can I Omit the Chocolate Topping?

Yes, the chocolate topping is optional. If you prefer a simpler presentation or if you're not a fan of chocolate, you can skip this step without affecting the overall taste of the cupcakes.

How to Store Leftover Cherry Cupcakes

Store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. If you plan on storing them for longer than that, wrap cupcakes individually with plastic wrap and freeze them for up to one month.

To defrost, remove plastic wrap and place cupcakes at room temperature for 1-2 hours or until thawed. 

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This recipe was originally posted on August 3, 2017, and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.