Cherry Buttermilk Cupcakes with Cherry Buttercream Frosting
Cherry Buttermilk Cupcakes with Cherry Buttercream Frosting – These buttermilk cupcakes are loaded with tart cherry chunks then piled high with creamy cherry frosting.
Just kidding. As always, I’ve got plenty to say. Today we are discussing FLAT verses CURVY. Brace yourselves…
There are two kinds of cupcakes in this world, flat cupcakes and dome-shaped cupcakes. (What were YOU thinking we were talking about?)
Although the dome-shaped cupcakes are visually appealing, I’d like to make an argument for sad little flat cupcakes.
Cake batters that don’t rise as much are usually rich batters, heavy on butter. This is a good thing if making layer cakes. The layers are velvety with a small crumb, and very little has to be trimmed off the top to level them.
However with cupcakes, people seem to think of flat as a bad thing.
You could add more leavening and a little more flour to said cupcakes. That would give them the desirable dome-top, but alas, it would also mess up the brilliant silky texture that only GOOD buttery buttermilk cupcakes have.
So I say flat is a good thing. Dome-y cupcakes score points for appearance, but flat buttermilk cupcakes scored points for the texture… and isn’t what’s on the INSIDE more important?
As for bonus points, flat cupcakes allow more room for PILES of cherry frosting. In my opinion, a cupcake is only worth eating if it’s 2-parts cake to 1-part frosting. When the frosting is good, it needs to be celebrated.
Buttermilk Cupcakes with cherry chunks and dreamy Cherry Frosting are admittedly flat-ish, yet they are RICH, buttery and moist with a tart finish from the cherries and buttermilk. The Cherry Frosting has a secret little kick from Kirsch, a cherry flavored brandy. Hick!
These whimsical cupcakes are the perfect way to celebrate Valentines Day. Here I made festive edible toppers by piping melted colored candy melts into hearts on parchment paper. They harden in minutes and are easy to personalize. Instead of hearts, you could pipe LOVE, or even names. Think of the possibilities!
More Valentines Goodies
Valentines Trail Mix with Printable Tags
Chocolate Pomegranate Petit Fours
Heart Cake Pops ~ 52 Kitchen Adventures
Strawberry Almond French Toast ~ Savory Sweet Life
Salted Chocolate Caramel Squares ~ My Man’s Belly
Gluten Free Chocolate Hazelnut Cupcakes ~ Bella Nutella
Cherry Buttermilk Cupcakes with Cherry Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
For the Buttermilk Cake:
- 3 cups cake flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups full-fat buttermilk
- 1/2 cup chopped frozen cherries
For the Cherry Frosting:
- 2 cups unsalted butter softened
- 8 - 11 cups powdered sugar
- 2 pinches salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons Kirsch cherry brandy
- 1-4 drops red food coloring optional
Instructions
For the Buttermilk Cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
- Mix the first four dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy—3-5 minutes.
- Add the egg, vanilla, cherries. Beat and scrape the bowl.
- Alternate adding the buttermilk and flour mixture until batter in just combined. Scrape the bowl and mix again for just a moment.
- Use a small measuring cup to fill the paper liners just over 1/2 full.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
For the Cherry Frosting:
- Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Scrape the bowl and beat in the salt, vanilla and Kirsch. Now add the powdered sugar, a little at a time until the desired consistency is reached—8-11 cups. Add food coloring if desired.
- Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and enjoy.
Perfect for summer, amazing
Beautiful! I’m wondering if I can use this recipe to make a layer cake? My sweet grand daughter, Jane has asked for a cherry birthday cake for her five alive birthday.
Hi Sommer
What is full-fat buttermilk, I’ve seen low fat and non fat buttermilk in the stores, but not full-fat? Also, since I’m going to serve these to kids I’m going to have to omit the kirsch is there anything I could use in place of it.
Hi Jackie you can omit it and add cherry extract.
Hi Sommer
How much cherry extract and what is full-fat buttermilk, never heard of it.
I would use just a touch of extract, maybe1/2 tsp. And by full-fat buttermilk I just mean, not fat free. :)
Hi Sommer
If I cut this recipe in half to make a smaller batch, will affect the outcome.
It should be fine to cut in half.
Are these like very sweet?? Cus my fail doesn’t care for super sweet desserts too much
Gina, They are definitely sweet like most cupcakes, but not cloyingly sweet. :)
I just made these today and I have a couple questions:
-mine are dark purple! Not light pink/red like the picture :/
-mine have such a light crumb, they completely fall apart! They taste yummy but are so hard to eat!
-Do you think if I add some almond extract they’ll be yummy too?
Thanks so much!!!!
I think I might need these for breakfast. At least I’m pretty sure I’m not going to stop thinking about them until I eat one.
Those are adorable.
The candy hearts are so cute! And I’m a fan of flat-topped cupcakes — just seems better for piping on.
I have never had buttermilk cupcakes before. They sound and look delicious!