Cut-out heart Cupcakes

I found this recipe several weeks ago and have been anxiously waiting for Valentine's day to get closer so that I could make it.  We had a church bake sale today and I was so excited to get to make these cupcakes for it.  This recipe came from Glorious Treats Sweet Heart Cupcakes.  Her pictures are so much better than mine, so check it out.  I am not a photography and my pictures do not do these cupcakes the justice they deserve.  But I will say that were much easier to make than I expected.  Sometimes when I see a cute idea and then try it, it doesn't always come out the way I had hoped.  But these cupcakes came out great.  Here's the recipe and the directions.

First start out by making your favorite chocolate cupcakes.  I used a box, because I haven't found a scratch recipe that comes out right for me.  Feel free to use whatever you like.  Once the cupcakes have cooled, make the Maraschino Cherry Frosting below.

Maraschino Cherry Frosting


1 cup (2 sticks) butter
4 cups powdered sugar
4 Tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
1/2 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries (I used a small food processor to chop)

Directions:
1.  In the bowl of an electric mixer beat butter until smooth.
2.  With the mixer running, add 2 cups of powdered sugar, one cup at a time.
3.  Add 4 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice, one tablespoon at a time.
4.  Continue beating, and add the remaining 2 cups powdered sugar, and chopped cherries.  If desired, add a drop of pink food coloring.
5.  Beat until fully combined.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

Note:  When I made the icing, I was a little worried because it was still dry after I added the cherry juice.  But once I added the chopped cherries, it was perfect.


Heart Cutout Cupcake Assembly


1.  Use a serrated knife to cut the top off the cupcake, using the top of the cupcake liner as a guide.  (For cupcakes that are uneven, start on the high side and cut down, it made it much easier.)

2.  Use a small heart cookie cutter to cut out a heart shape from the cupcake dome.

3.  Spread frosting onto the cupcake base, in a mounded shape.

4.  If desired, sprinkle the cupcake dome with powdered sugar.  Place top back on cupcake and press down a bit.  (I sprinkled mine and the next day the sugar had dissolved into the cupcake).

I was worried that the tops would break when I cut out the heart.  Out of all 24 cupcakes, I only had one break.  I also only had one that was too low to cut the top off.  For that one, I iced it and then placed one of the other cutout hearts on top as decoration.  These cupcakes were so good.  The maraschino cherry frosting is divine.  It's not too sweet, but the cherries make it delicious.  I will be using this frosting a lot.