Servings: 20
Start to finish: 40 minutes
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/8 cups granulated white sugar
2 ¼ cups cake flour or 2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ cup maraschino cherry juice
½ cup whole milk
½ generous cup chopped maraschino cherries (about 1 cup of un-chopped cherries)
4 egg whites, stiffly beaten
Preheat oven to 350 F
Using an electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in alternatively with the cherry juice and the milk. Remove from electric mixer and stir the chopped cherries into the cake batter. Fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites.
Prepare a regular cupcake pan by placing liners in each mold. Fill each cupcake 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Let cool on a rack and make the frosting.
Bourbon Old-Fashioned Frosting:
1 box (1 pound) powdered sugar
Pinch of fine-grain sea salt
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
½ generous teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ teaspoon orange extract
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1-2 tablespoons bourbon, depending on taste
Zest of one large navel orange
Sift box of powdered sugar and salt or whisk well to remove any lumps. Set aside.
Cream butter until fluffy using a stand mixer or a hand mixer set on medium speed.
Slowly add the sugar. When the sugar is incorporated in the butter, add vanilla extract, cream and bourbon one tablespoon at a time until your desired consistency is reached.
Stir in orange zest at the end. Taste and add more bourbon only if you want it to taste a little boozier.
If it is too stiff, add a little more cream. If it is too loose, add a little more sugar.
Taste for balance and add a touch more salt and vanilla if needed. Spread on top of cupcakes or place in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip and decorate in a swirl pattern. Top with a pink conversation heart or stemmed cherry, if desired.
Cupcake:
Nutrition information per serving: 151 calories; 44 calories from fat; 5 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 13 mg cholesterol; 218 mg sodium; 25 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 15 g sugar; 2 g protein.
Bourbon Old-Fashioned Frosting:
Nutrition information per serving: 200 calories; 65 calories from fat; 7 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 20 mg cholesterol; 23 mg sodium; 33 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 31 g sugar; 0 g protein.
Elizabeth Karmel, Associated Press
