Cheerwine Cupcakes
The inspiration for these Cheerwine cupcakes is definitely my son, Ryan, and his love obsession with this “uniquely southern” soda. Cheerwine was created in Salisbury, North Carolina in 1917. As the name suggests, it’s full of “CHEER” for many who have tasted and fell in love with this burgundy-red, cherry tasting soda. Even the first Cheerwine slogan was “Smile, Drink Cheerwine, it’s full of CHEER!” For my son’s birthday, I wanted to create a cupcake with two of my son’s loves: Chocolate and Cheerwine, and these Cheerwine cupcakes do not disappoint. Full of both flavors, even in the icing! (Makes two dozen cupcakes.)
Cheerwine has an annual festival for those who want the full experience with tasting a variety of Cheerwine infused foods, with lots of food vendors, arts and crafts, Cheerwine swag, live music, a Kids Zone, the Cheerwine Museum and more. This year’s Cheerwine festival is May 20, 2023 noon-10pm. For more information about the annual Cheerwine festival and fun facts about Cheerwine, visit: The Story Behind the South's Favorite Cherry Flavored Soda (cheerwine.com)
Let’s begin!
Ingredients:
How to make Cheerwine cupcakes
Cupcake Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350℉ / 176℃ and line a cupcake pan with paper or foil liners.
Bake for 12-14 minutes or until when checked with a wooden toothpick, a few crumbs stick. Cool completely before frosting. (See frosting instructions below)
How to make cherry Cheerwine frosting
Frosting instructions:
In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and cocoa powder and set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and then add Cheerwine, cherry juice and vanilla and mix well. Gradually add the sugar/cocoa mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until light and fluffy. Pipe or spread on top of cooled cupcakes and enjoy! (I used a Wilton 1M tip for piping, shown in photo below.) Garnish with whole maraschino cherries, if desired.