Black Forest Cupcakes - Sandra Lee

Tonight I'm baking for two birthdays :) Dahlia (2nd) & Danielle (21), I LOVE cupcakes! I went through an entire year of baking all kinds and experimenting with all types of frosting.
This recipe for Black Forest Cupcakes is one of my absolute favorites & it's sooo easy!
& they can be made for any occasion (the frosting can be made any color!!!) 
The only change I made to this recipe is that I make Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting instead of flavoring the store bought Vanilla.

Black Forest Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25-ounce) box devil's food cake mix
• 1 1/3 cups black cherry soda
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 container vanilla frosting
• 2 teaspoons cherry extract
• 1 to 2 drops pink food coloring
• 24 whole maraschino cherries with stems ( I buy w/o stems)
• 8oz Cream Cheese (OPTIONAL FROSTING)
• Powdered Sugar(OPTIONAL FROSTING)
• 1/2 stick of butter(OPTIONAL FROSTING)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin tins with paper liners.

In a large bowl combine cake mix, soda, vegetable oil and eggs. Using a hand mixer combine all ingredients, batter will still be somewhat lumpy. Pour batter into muffin cups. Bake 19 to 22 minutes, turning the pans halfway through baking. Remove to a rack and allow to cool completely.

In a large bowl combine frosting, extract and pink food coloring. When cupcakes are cool ice with pink cherry frosting and top each with cherry.

Optional Cream Cheese Frosting:

Combine room temperature 8 oz cream cheese, 1/2 stick softened butter, & powdered sugar   (I add to taste)  in your mixing bowl and mix until smooth. Add cherry extract (or even juice from your cherries) & 1-2 drops of desired food coloring mix for a minute or so until blended.

**when you use the cream cheese option be sure to store in the refrigerator (I suggest an air tight container) or just make them the day you need them if you plan on them all being eaten :)

ENJOY :D