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Cherry Heart Cut Out Cupcakes for Valentine’s Day

Cherry Heart Cut Out Cupcakes for Valentine’s Day

Cherry Heart Cut Out Cupcakes for Valentine’s Day blend sweet cherry flavor with a charming heart-shaped surprise at the center, delivering moist, tender cupcakes topped with creamy buttercream frosting. Perfect for celebrating love, these festive cupcakes are easy to bake and decorate, making them ideal for any skill level and a delightful Valentine’s Day treat.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 12 cupcakes 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Cupcake Batter

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • Red food coloring (optional)

Cherry Heart Filling

  • Fresh or maraschino cherries, chopped or drained

Frosting

  • Buttercream frosting, smooth and creamy

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Cupcake Batter: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. In a mixing bowl, cream together the room temperature unsalted butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with sour cream, until the batter is smooth and well combined. Add red food coloring if desired to enhance the Valentine’s Day theme.
  2. Bake the Cupcakes: Scoop the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
  3. Create the Heart Cut Outs: Once cooled, refrigerate the cupcakes briefly to firm up the crumb. Using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter, gently cut out the center of each cupcake. Carefully remove and set aside the heart-shaped pieces.
  4. Prepare the Cherry Filling: Chop fresh cherries or drain maraschino cherries to remove excess syrup. Fill the hollow heart cavities of each cupcake with the cherries, creating a juicy and vibrant surprise at the center.
  5. Replace the Heart Pieces: Gently place the reserved heart-shaped cupcake pieces back into the cherry-filled cavities, pressing lightly to secure them flush with the cupcake surface.
  6. Frost and Decorate: Generously frost each cupcake with smooth buttercream frosting. For an extra festive touch, pipe small hearts on top or sprinkle with red sugar crystals, rose petals, or fresh cherry halves.

Notes

  • Chill cupcakes before cutting to achieve cleaner heart shapes.
  • Use fresh cherries when possible for best flavor and texture.
  • Avoid overmixing the batter to keep cupcakes light and fluffy.
  • Do not overfill the heart cavities to prevent cherry juice leakage.
  • Use room temperature butter for smooth, fluffy frosting perfect for decorating.
  • Author: Lina
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 18-20 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cupcake
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 28g
  • Sodium: 150mg
  • Fat: 18g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 38g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 55mg

Keywords: Valentine's Day cupcakes, cherry cupcakes, heart cut out cupcakes, festive cupcakes, cherry dessert