Cheerwine Cupcakes
Have you ever had Cheerwine before? It's a North Carolina-based wild cherry soda (or "pop" as I call it since I'm from the Midwest). And not just any cherry pop, but a "soft drink legend!" It's a regional product, but I was first introduced to it in Illinois at The Fresh Market, a grocery store chain that also has its roots in North Carolina. I was so excited when I moved to Virginia that I could find it not only in every grocery store, but also on the menu at many restaurants, as common as Coke or Pepsi.
Cheerwine floats with vanilla ice cream are phenomenal and I wanted to capture that cherry-cream flavor as a dessert. Enter Cheerwine Cupcakes. You can't really taste the flavor of the pop in the cake portion, so I added cherry oil flavoring, but that's optional. The frosting is the main source of cheer and one tester stated they'd never tasted frosting that melts in your mouth quite like this one does. If you can't find Cheerwine, you can use any cherry pop that you love, but it might not be as good as Cheerwine!
Is there a local beverage in your area that's hard to find elsewhere? Comment below and let us know!
Cheerwine Cupcakes
Cheerwine Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 1 box white cake mix
- 12 ounces Cheerwine room temperature
- ⅛ teaspoon cherry flavor
- Maraschino cherries
For the frosting
- 4 cups Cheerwine
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line cupcake pans with liners and set aside
- Whisk together cake mix, Cheerwine and cherry flavor until combined. Pour into prepared pans about ⅔ or ¾ full and bake according to package instructions, about 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Meanwhile, in a saucepan, boil down the Cheerwine until it has reduced to ½ cup. Cool completely.
- In a stand mixer, cream butter and 2 cups of powdered sugar on medium speed. Slow speed to low and incorporate Cheerwine reduction. Increase speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, adding additional sugar if needed to achieve desired consistency.
- Pipe onto cupcakes and top each one with a maraschino cherry.
Nutrition
Source: Frosting adapted from I am Baker
Linked to: Show Stopper Saturday @ Will Cook for Smiles, Saturday Night Fever @ The Weary Chef, Time to Sparkle @ Inside BruCrew Life
When you say cherry flavor, do you mean like a cherry extract or the juice from the maraschino jar?
Extract for baking or candy making. LorAnn brand is what I usually use.
Hi! Do these need to be refrigerated after they're done?
They do NOT need to be refrigerated. For stability's sake (I've had a lot of melt downs in my day!) I prefer to refrigerate them or keep in a cool environment.
Do you make the cake according to directions on box on top of adding the cheerwine? Directions weren't specific.
It's just the dry cake mix and Cheerwine soda.
Ironport is a soda I only find in Utah and Idaho.
I like it and am not sure why it is not sold elsewhere!
Haven't heard of that one, but the name alone is awesome!
Would Cherry Coke be the same??
Hi Dawn! The closest thing would be cherry flavored soda pop.
Dr Enuf is a pop made in a town in NE TN (Johnson City, TN) it makes great cupcakes. we add a pudding/custard filling too. It is made with a yellow cake mix and a touch of green food color is added to the frosting in honor of the green bottle!
Dr Enuf is a pop made in a town in NE TN (Johnson City, TN) it makes great cupcakes. we add a pudding/custard filling too. It is made with a yellow cake mix and a touch of green food color is added to the frosting in honor of the green bottle!
That's so neat! I will have to keep my eyes open for Dr. Enuf during my travels!
i was getting ready to make these, and then I saw where it says cake box mix and cheerwine and cherry flavor? Do you make the cake box mix the way it says to on the back of the box plus add the cheerwine? Or is it just the box of cake mix and cheerwine? No eggs or oil?
Hi Jenna! It's just the box of cake mix and cheerwine. None of the other ingredients on the box.
I discovered that Cheerwine is sold at most Cracker Barrel restaurants. The Gurnee, IL one has it. AND thank goodness for box cake!
I don't understand why don't you make them from scratch?
why do you use a cake box and not an actual recipe?
I haven't found a go-to vanilla cupcake recipe that I love (I'm looking if you have one to share!). I know soda pop works with box cake and produces light, fluffy cupcakes--I'm not sure if you would get the same results by substituting soda for the liquid in a from-scratch recipe. Sometimes I just prefer the ease and convenience of a box mix. 🙂
Amazing, these look amazing! Saying hello from the time to sparkle link party 🙂
Cathy
Thank you, and thanks for stopping by!
they look yummy!
Thanks! These cupcakes make me happy 🙂
I'll have to keep an eye out for cheerwine in my travels.
I hear there's a store in St Louis and all they sell is soda pop from all over the world. That would be so fun!
This looks so delicious!
Thanks, Em!
Ooh they look lovely
Thanks, Cate! 🙂