In the world of sweets, cupcakes have been the dominating dessert for quite some time now. And one of the popular trends is to turn a favorite beverage into a cupcake flavor. There are countless margarita cupcakes, Guinness cupcakes, and cupcakes using soda.

Kate and I decided to take our favorite mocktail and turn it into a cupcake. It’s such a fun cupcake and would be adorable to use in February for Valentine’s Day, for a summer party, or any little girl’s birthday.

Shirley Temple Cupcakes

Ingredients for the cupcakes:

• 1 1/2 C plus 1 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1/2 C cherry 7-up, at room temperature
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 1 tbsp maraschino cherry juice
• red food coloring (optional)

Ingredients for the frosting:

• 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 1/2 C powdered sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp maraschino cherry juice

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake tray with paper liners.
2. In a bowl, 1 1/2 C flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time until incorporated.
4. Add one third of the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Add half of the cherry 7-up. Repeat until dry ingredients and soda are used (ending with the dry).
5. Add the vanilla and almond extracts.
6. In a small bowl, mix 3/4 C of the cake batter with the remaining 1 tbsp flour, maraschino cherry juice, and food coloring.
7. Distribute the red cake batter between 12 cupcakes. Top with remaining batter – do not mix.
8. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool.
9. Meanwhile, make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until fluffy. Add the powdered sugar and pinch of salt. Add the vanilla and almond extracts, the lemon juice, and maraschino cherry juice. Frost cupcakes.
10. Garnish with maraschino cherries and a a straw!

*This recipe is adapted from Shanon at http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2011/06/26/shirley-temple-cupcakes/*