January 5, 2012

she's my cherry pie

Boy, when I get on a kick, I really get on a kick [see my search for the best possible Middle Eastern wrap (spoiler alert: I found it) or my infatuation with apple cake].


Obviously, the latest craze in Graceland is filled cupcakes.

Because pie filling is so easy to make and use and because of the nearly-unparalleled success of my apple pie, strawberry pie, and blueberry pie versions, I felt the need to include cherry pie too. After all, we don't want to discriminate against any of the pie-appropriate fruits, now do we?!

The cupcake recipe here is one that Martha and her crew created using rhubarb. Clearly, rhubarb is way out of season now, and I prefer cherries anyway. The innards consist of homemade pie filling, which I spruced up with a little orange juice and zest. To match that citrus zing, I tossed a little orange zest into the buttercream frosting as well.


All modesty aside (whether legitimate or feigned), this is another slam dunk. The cupcakes are light yet sturdy enough to support the cherries and the filling, and the frosting is smooth and vibrant, thanks to the added zest.

For a similar but much more healthful use of cherries, check out my post on the Key Ingredient blog!

Cheery Cherry Pie Cupcakes
(based on a batch from Martha)
(makes about 16)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup sour cream, room temperature
2 cups cherries, pitted (frozen is fine)
cherry pie filling, homemade or store-bought

Orange buttercream:
2 cups (16 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
6 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
orange zest from one orange

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla extract. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the sour cream, and beating until combined after each. Stir in cherries. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three- quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes.
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; after every two additions, raise speed to high and beat 10 seconds to aerate frosting, then return to medium-high. This process should take about 5 minutes. Frosting will be very pale and fluffy. Add vanilla and zest, and beat until frosting is smooth.
To fill the cupcakes, carve out a cone-shaped hole (and immediately eat the cone)(after adding frosting to it, of course) and carefully spoon the pie filling inside. Apply frosting generously to cupcakes and devour.

61 comments:

  1. Mmhhh, just heavenly! Those look irresistible.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. If you're going to be obsessed with anything, I'd say filled cupcakes are a worthy investment.

    I love that song. Always reminds me of Guitar Hero.

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  3. Orange zest ... and cherries ... now why am I always pleasantly surprised with your combinations!? I will forever be a fan of cake, in any form, with any fruit. ;)

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  4. I think cherry pie is my favourite of all pies, so I know I would like these! Looking forward to the peach pie version too. There will be a peach pie version, won't there?!

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  5. I love that refer to it as Graceland...thank you, thank you verrry much for sharing this recipe:D

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  6. I can't show this to my husband or he'll want then stat!

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  7. This reminds me of a shortcake with frosting ! Yes!! Very nice Grace!

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  8. I think this is a very, very good kick to be on. Every one of these filled cupcakes has looked scrumptious. And, again, I want to grab this off the screen!

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  9. Aren't those the cutest little things? Delish!

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  10. Yeah..thanks for getting that song stuck in my head!

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  11. Your filled cupcakes are amazing!I am drooling here! Happy New Year!

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  12. Oooh I bet that orange zest makes that buttercream frosting even better! Happy 2012!

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  13. I've never made filled cupcakes before, but these look delicious!

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  14. I can't think of a better craze to get stuck on! It looks fantastic.

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  15. loving the newest kick at graceland..filled cupcakes rock!!

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  16. Anytime is right for cupcakes -- especially ones that look as luscious as these. Oh my!

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  17. Yummy cupcakes with fruity filling? That's a trend that I never tire of- these look delicious! :)

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  18. I noticed as much. Recently you have started a filled cupcake revolution. This new addition looks very delicious. Thanks!

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  19. I have no problem with this obsession. :)

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  20. I love this idea Grace! Nothing like biting into a tender cupcake and having that yummy filling ooze into your mouth. I'm a rhubarb lover and even have some frozen. Going to try it!

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  21. Oh Grace!

    These look so good!

    My Grandson turns 1 next week, and these are exactly what I am going to make for his Birthday Supper.
    That way he can have his own little cake.

    Thanks for sharing

    Charlie

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  22. A girl after my own heart! As always, these look fantastic, Grace!

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  23. Your cupcakes always look delicious but these are especially alluring! You are the cupcake queen, grace!

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  24. and you stay on this kick for as long as you like. i will be cheering you on through the rain, snow, sleet....

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  25. Grace, you really, REALLY need to open up a bakery. Preferably near my house. Okay? Thank you.

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  26. I love anything with cherries!

    And now I have an ear bug. First our new printer at work is a Ricoh (Suaaaave) and now Warrant is stuck in there, too!

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  27. Filled cupcakes sound like a fine obsession to me. As long as you share them with others, that is!

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  28. Um, hello, gorgeous cupcake!! I think cherry pie is one of the best, so obviously I think these cupcakes are pretty stellar!

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  29. Can I come live at Graceland and eat cupcakes all day? Seriously, this one really has my tastebuds going, cant wait to attempt it.

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  30. Waw, Grace! What a beautiful filled cupcake! It looks like a real winner too! :)

    MMMMMMMMMMM,...;Happy 2012 filled with good food, friends & family & great food adventures!!! xxx

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  31. Ooh I like how much you filled these in with cherries (I prefer them over rhubarb too)! :D

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  32. You have been making some cupcakes, haven't you! These look heavenly!

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  33. Grace I adore cherries especially like this type, I was thinking in cherry and the other day bought someones to make something delicious and I will make today (lol)
    Love yours Grace:)

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  34. Cherry pie is a favorite of mine. Love the idea of filling a cupcake with the cherry pie..two awesome desserts in one!

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  35. I have so many cans of fruit right now. I could totally go for a fruity cupcake - like pronto. Another wonderful food creation Grace!

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  36. I don't think anyone would be able to resist such a delicious looking cake. It looks so moist and tasty.

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  37. Oh! The cherry cupcake looks delicious, especially with a touch of orange on the icing. By the way, Happy New Year Grace :-)

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  38. Cherry pie is my favorite so I'm glad you made this version too - they look sooo addicting! :)

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  39. aww. this is an excellent alternative when making pastry just won't do. I love it!

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  40. With all these yummy posts of filled cupcakes I'm going to try my hand at one. I have not made cupcakes in years. You know this could be done in my 45 minutes class period and it did not occur to me until I read this post. Thanks Grace!

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  41. Looks really good Grace! I thought I was in the mood for brownies...but clearly...a cupcake would be much better. Filled. With orange buttercream icing.

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  42. Have you ever thought of doing like a Ho Ho cupcake?

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  43. This is a great kick to be on! I wonder what is next? Hmmm...

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  44. Who can resist? Not me, that's for sure. The modesty is simply the cherry on the cupcake!!!

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  45. I'm going to check out your healthier cherry recipe, but just for the record I'd be happy to eat these cupcakes.
    Mimi

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  46. OMG..Grace you are just killing me with all of the these awesome goodies. I could sink my teeth into this right now...

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  47. I love that you added orange zest to the frosting! Wish I had one of these right now.

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  48. I like the photo with the little hole in the cupcake, with all the filling showing! I love filled cupcakes, I just made vanilla ones with strawberry filling.

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  49. Sold. I have not yet ventured beyond basic cupcakes, but these look too amazing not to try. Yum!

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  50. Oh YUM! Looks so delicious! I am so totally drooling over everything on your blog! Now your newest follower!!

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  51. Thanks for the great recipe. We featured this recipe in a food trend blog we just wrote on stuffed cupcakes.


    Check it out here.

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  52. A local cupcake shop in my area makes a "Sweet Cherry Pie" cupcake and it's amazing, so I'm going to modify your recipe a bit to try and duplicate it. (They put graham cracker crumbs in their buttercream icing, and sprinkle streusel on top. So good.) Thanks for this. :)

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  53. Do you it would be possible to not put in the cinnamon? I'm just not crazy about cinnamon/cherry pie.

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  54. @barb: of course you can skip the cinnamon, though it pains me to say it. :)

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  55. These are ridiculous. I purposely destroyed two in-the-making just so I could eat them up. I added mini-beignets to mine and made them even more ridiculous. Wonderful recipe - thank you so much!

    http://pasticheevents.com/2013/03/02/ooh-la-la-cherry-berry-beignet-cupcakes/

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  56. My 8 year old son asked for Cherry Pie for his birthday party with his friends. I didn't want to haul a pie to the party location so when I found these I thought I'd give them a try. They were a HUGE hit! One boy asked for a small cupcake since he didn't like cake too much. He took one bite and said they were the best thing he's eaten and then asked which bakery I bought them from. I just made half of the frosting recipe and had plenty to top each cupcake with a pretty swirl. Thank you!

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  57. @Anonymous: FANTASTIC! thanks for telling me of your success!

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  58. Loving all of that cherry goodness in the center!
    Kari
    www.sweetteasweetie.com

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