Cherry Coke Cupcakes with Cherry Vanilla Frosting

My sisters birthday was today and since she is a Coke lover, I decided to make her Cherry Coke Cupcakes with Cherry Vanilla Frosting and they were delicious! I used a cake mix and enhanced it with the Cherry Coke, so you don't taste a lot of it, but it gives it subtle flavor. These are super sweet cupcakes and worth making! 

For the Cupcakes-

1 Box of Chocolate Cake Mix

1 Cup Cherry Coke

1/3 Cup Vegetable Oil

1/4 Cup Maraschino Cherry Juice

3 Large Eggs 

 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your muffin pan with cupcake liners. In a mixer, combine the cake mix, Cherry Coke, cherry juice, oil and eggs. Beat at low speed until the dry ingredients are moistened. Then beat at medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Pour into your liners. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or as listed on your cake mix. Cool completely. 

When the cupcakes are cool, you will dip into the ganache. 

For the Ganache: 3/4 cup butter8 ounces semi sweet baking chocolate1 1/2 Tablespoons Light Corn Syrup

Melt the butter and chocolate over medium heat on your stove. Remove from heat and add the light corn syrup. Allow to cool slightly. Dip each cupcake into the ganache and place in the fridge to set. 

 After the ganache sets, you will frost the cupcakes. 

I did find that my chocolate ganache was melting a little as I was frosting, so it's best to just take a couple cupcakes out of the fridge at a time to frost. 

For the Frosting:

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened

A pinch of salt

1 Tablespoon clear vanilla extract

2 pounds confectioners sugar, sifted

1 1/2 Tablespoons Cherry Juice 

4-6 Tablespoons heavy cream

In a large bowl, cream the butter until fluffy. Slowly add in the confectioners sugar and continue to cream until well blended. Add the salt, vanilla, cherry juice and 3 Tablespoons of heavy cream. Blend on low speed until moistened. Add an additional 1-3 Tablespoons of heavy cream until you reach the desired consistency. Beat at high speed until frosting is smooth and fluffy.  

Frost the cupcakes and garnish with a cherry on top!