Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1½ c all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ c sugar
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- ½ c buttermilk
- ¾ c Coca-Cola
- ¼ tsp maraschino cherry juice
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Maraschino cherries, stemless
Glaze
- 1 c confectioners' sugar
- 2 tbsp Coca-Cola
Topping
- 2/3 c heavy cream
- 3-4 tbsp powdered sugar
- Maraschino cherries
Directions
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Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a muffin pan with foil or paper liners. In a medium bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Stir together and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the sugar and butter. Mix on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg until incorporated. In a bowl or large measuring c, combine the buttermilk, Coke, maraschino cherry juice, and vanilla extract; stir to combine. (This mixture may look disgusting and/or curdled – it's okay!)
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Mix the dry ingredients into the butter-sugar mixture on low speed, alternately with the liquid ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing just until incorporated. Divide the batter evenly between the ccake liners. Drop 4 or 5 stemless maraschino cherries into each ccake well and push them down into the batter. Bake for about 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
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To make the optional glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and Coke in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Spoon or drizzle a small amount of the top of each ccake. Allow to set.
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To make the whipped cream topping, add the heavy cream to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Begin whipping on medium speed, slowly adding the confectioners' sugar and gradually increasing the speed to high as the cream holds soft peaks. Whip until the cream holds stiff peaks, being careful not to overbeat. Spoon or pipe the whipped cream on top of the ccakes and top each with a maraschino cherry.