Ingredients:
- ½ cup butter
- 4 egg whites
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
- 1/3 cup maraschino cherry juice
- 1 ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 12 maraschino cherries, halved
- 1 recipe Cherry-Almond Butter Frosting
- Maraschino cherries with stems (optional)
Cherry-Almond Butter Frosting
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 4 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoon maraschino cherry juice or milk
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Milk
Instructions:
- Allow butter and egg whites to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, line twenty-four 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with paper bake cups (or coat with cooking spray). In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. In a 2-cup glass measuring cup combine buttermilk and cherry juice; set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, vanilla, and almond extract; beat until combined. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to beaten mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined.
- Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Use the back of a spoon to smooth out batter in cups. Press a cherry half into batter in each cup.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool cupcakes in muffin cups on wire racks for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin cups. Cool completely on wire racks.
- Using a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip, pipe Cherry-Almond Butter Frosting over tops of cupcakes. If desired, top with cherries. Makes 24 (2-1/2-inch) cupcakes.
Cherry-Almond Butter Frosting
- In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add 1 cup of the powdered sugar, beating well. Beat in maraschino cherry juice and almond extract. Gradually beat in additional powdered sugar. If necessary, beat in additional juice or milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until frosting reaches spreading consistency.
Test Kitchen Tip:
To make 3/4 cup sour milk, place 2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar in a glass measuring cup. Add enough milk to make 3/4 cup liquid; stir. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes before using.
Make-Ahead Directions:
Place unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw cupcakes, if frozen. Frost as directed.
Test Kitchen Tip:
If milk is used instead of cherry juice, use red food coloring to tint the frosting pink.