A Southern Grace: ch-ch-ch-cherry coke

July 2, 2012

ch-ch-ch-cherry coke

Yum


Confession: I don't like Coca-Cola. I don't like Diet Coke. I didn't care for Coke Zero, Coke with Lime (though it's been the most enjoyable one), Coke with Lemon, and I really didn't like Coke with Vanilla. On top of all that, I don't like Cherry Coke, either.


There's a happy ending, though: I loved these Coca-Cola-containing cupcakes.

I can't really pinpoint why I dislike Coca-Cola. Perhaps I've always just been a loyal Dr. Pepper drinker, though it's had its own failures too.

Regardless of my seemingly random and irrational preferences, there's no way to dislike these cupcakes. Chocolate cake with a very subtle hint of something different (hint: it's the so-dee pop!) is stuffed with boozed-up cherry pie filling (if that's the way you want to go with it, of course--liqueur is always optional) and topped with a lightly cherry-flavored buttercream frosting.


I imagine that using cherry jam or jelly or preserves would be great to flavor that frosting, but since I didn't have any of that at my disposal, I used a little bit of the goo from the can of pie filling. It gave the frosting color and flavor and didn't muck up the consistency at all--win!

Although I've never actually had a float made with Cherry Coke, if it's as tasty as these cupcakes, maybe there's a reason to keep producing Coca-Cola after all.

Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes
Makes 24

Cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups Coca-Cola (no diet allowed!)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Filling:
1 (15 ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 tablespoon cherry liqueur (optional, obviously, and substitute-able)

Frosting:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup cherries preserves, or something similar, such as goo from the can of pie filling
24 cherries, to garnish

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pans with cupcake liners.
Mix together flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa in a bowl and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, combine sugar and butter and beat on medium-high until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each and scraping down the sides if needed. In a small bowl, combine buttermilk, Coke, and vanilla extract, making sure to let the foam calm down after you mix it in.
Beginning with the your flour mixture, add to the butter mixture, alternating with the Coke mixture in 4 parts. Beat each addition just until incorporated.
Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 of the way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes until the tops spring back when touched lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center cupcake comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in the pan and then transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, use a paring knife to cut out a cone shape in the middle of each cupcake. Add a spoonful of cherry pie filling to each cupcake.
To make the frosting, with an electric mixer, beat butter on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Add the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add vanilla and cherry goo, and beat until frosting is smooth. Pipe decoratively onto cupcakes and finish each with a cherry (and a straw, if you're so inclined).

42 comments:

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

I've never made cupcakes with Coca-Cola. Those look and sound wonderful!

Cheers,

Rosa

pam said...

I have never met anyone who didn't like Coke!! Well, I love it, especially cherry coke and I know I would love these!!

Alicia Foodycat said...

They look so good! I like ham cooked in coke but I've never had a coke cupcake!

Angie's Recipes said...

wow You are my cupcake queen! This is just creative and delicious!

Faith said...

These are absolutely adorable, Grace! I especially love the cherry and straw on top...I'd love to dig right in! :)

Elizabeth said...

I need to try baking with coca cola!

kat said...

Matt like raspberry coke (something you can make in soda machines here) so I bet he'd love these with a raspberry filling.

Dianne @ My Southern Heart said...

Those look so yummy! I usually buy diet coke so will have to buy one coke just for this!

Beth said...

I love the cherry flavor you've used. These cupcakes look amazing!

Sue/the view from great island said...

Yum! The chocolatey cherry inside looks gooey and delicious. I recently saw a recipe for a cherry coke ribs that looked pretty good, too. I don't know what they put in that stuff, but it's pretty versatile!

Carolyn Jung said...

I'm not a soda drinker, either. But cola is great for cooking up a big batch of pork shoulder or ribs. ;)

lisa is cooking said...

I don't even know how many years it's been since I last had a cherry coke, but I know I loved it. The boozy cherries in the middle and the cherry buttercream are killin' me.

Louisa said...

YUM! I have to try these. Thanks for sharing the recipe :)

Mel said...

The little straw peeking out of the top of that cupcake is adorable!

Marjie said...

I love Diet Coke, once in a while, especially with a slice of lemon in it. But coke cupcakes would be dandy, too.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I'm a Pepsi gal all the way, but I will make an exception.

Blond Duck said...

With a cherry on top!

Emily said...

Yum! These are some good lookin' cupcakes! I love cherry coke.

Elizabeth King said...

WOW! Looks so yummy!

Joanne said...

I have random cherry coke cravings, but I could never drink the rest of em again and be totally content. These cupcakes sound dreamy! I'd crave them constantly.

Jeff @ Cheeseburger said...

This cupcake will be heaven for soda lovers, especially those who like coca-cola.

foodhoe said...

I love root beer floats, and love coca cola, so this sounds divine to me! I'm just drooling ...

foodhoe said...

I love root beer floats, and love coca cola, so this sounds divine to me! I'm just drooling ...

Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic said...

I love Coke (especially cherry coke, which I haven't had in years and now you've got me craving it) and I can imagine these cupcakes tasting so luscious!

Nutmeg Nanny said...

I know you're not a huge drinker so I was so surprised to see you use a little booze in these cupcakes. That's my girl! :)

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

Mmm, coke is good in and with everything no my friend :D
Lovely!

Cheers
CCU

Nic said...

I only like 'normal' coke, but would definitely try one of your cherry flavored cupcakes.

Jackie @Syrup and Biscuits said...

Whew!!!! Am I ever glad you found a way to like Coke. Chile, this is the South! :)

I Wilkerson said...

I made baked beans with Dr Pepper years ago, but I've never tried cooking with Coke!

Rosita Vargas said...

Que rico debe estar nunca he preparado algo con coca cola ...genial.abrazos hugs,hugs.

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

They're so cute Grace!! And I'm totally with you, I don't drink Coke at all, don't like the stuff. Some people cannot believe it but I'm glad to meet another person that doesn't like it. But like you, eating it? Sure!!

Blond Duck said...

My mom brought red, white and blue cupcakes for the 4th and I thought of you!

Julie M. said...

I don't really drink soda very often but, seeing the beauty of this cupcake, I could potentially be persuaded. :)

Deborah said...

I do like diet coke, but I'm not a big float person. But I would love these cupcakes!

Erica said...

I love Coca-Cola!!!! :) Your cupcakes look beautiful and sound delicious!

Monet said...

Hi lovely! I don't like coke either, but I do love the sound of these cupcakes! Delicious! And I love the cherry on top. Thank you for sharing!

Kerstin said...

These are so cute with the little straw garnish! They sound amazing :)

Haddock said...

Like they say happiness comes in small sizes, I mean small cups :-)

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

I can't seem to find the comment button on your grilld banana bread but I wanted to tell you it looks extra delsih :D

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru

vanillasugarblog said...

the only time I love a cold Coke is with greasy pizza.
perfect combo
The filling is to die for good on these cupcakes.
I sure do hope you used a touch or two of the booze in there?

shaz said...

Ha ha, I don't actually drink or like most soft drinks but there's just something about Coke that keeps me going back for more. Maybe I just like the sugar rush :) Cupcakes flavoured with coke I can definitely get behind.

Tracey said...

These do look wonderful cherry coke is just delish and I don't even like cola, how exciting to be in People's Magazine, proud of you that is awesome!!!