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Merlot Cherry Cupcakes with Sweet White Frosting for #SundaySupper

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Merlot Cherry Cupcake with Sweet White Frosting | Magnolia Days

Once upon a time there was a box. It traveled across the country to arrive at my door. The box was ordinary on the outside. The contents are what made it extraordinary. Opening it revealed two bottles of Gallo Family Vineyards wine and a lovely note. The note included information on the wines and sparked a thought process. My mind went into gear and soon a new recipe was developed: Merlot Cherry Cupcakes with Sweet White Frosting.

What made me decide on cupcakes? One of the wines was Sweet White Blend and I consider it a dessert wine. It is what took me in the direction of dessert. I thought of my Chocolate Kirsch Cupcakes and used that recipe as a starting point. GFV Merlot has flavors of black cherry and ripe plum. Of course I honed in on cherry and decided wine-soaked cherries would sub great for chocolate chips. The wine itself would sub for Kirschwasser. Next was the decision on frosting and it was an easy one. What goes with wine? Cheese does! So cream cheese frosting made with sweet wine was decided on in a split second.

Merlot Cherry Cupcake with Sweet White Frosting | Magnolia Days

Making the cupcakes had an interesting element. I discovered when beautiful red wine mixes with cupcake batter it turns into a hideous grey color. Well, you do not want to serve hideous grey cupcakes to your friends and family. Red food coloring came to the rescue. I added drops until it turned back into a deep purple-red color of both the wine and dark cherries. Next time I may add a few more drops to bump the color a bit more since it faded some with baking.

Merlot Cherry Cupcake with Sweet White Frosting | Magnolia Days

Merlot cherry cupcakes with sweet white frosting are festive treats. The cake part is moist, flavored with Merlot, and filled with wine-soaked cherries. The frosting is rich and creamy. It’s made with cream cheese, butter, sugar, and a touch of sweet white wine. These cupcakes are great for adult entertaining and occasions. They contain wine as an ingredient and are not suited for children.

Merlot Cherry Cupcake with Sweet White Frosting | Magnolia Days

The story begins with an ordinary box and ends with tasty cupcakes. That is what I call a nice ending. It also goes to show how a recipe has more to it than ingredients and methods. There is an unseen part of its history or memories associated with it. Sunday Supper is proud to partner with Gallo Family Vineyards to share recipes and an inside scoop on each of them. Scroll down to find the list and links to each one. We have fantastic lineup for you.

Gallo Family Vineyards Logo

More on Gallo Family Vineyards: You can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Their website has information on all Gallo Family wines, a store locator, and pairing guides.

Merlot Cherry Cupcake with Sweet White Frosting | Magnolia Days
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Merlot Cherry Cupcakes with Sweet White Frosting

A recipe for Merlot Cherry Cupcakes with Sweet White Frosting made with red wine soaked cherries and a cream cheese frosting with sweet white wine.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Author Renee

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

  • 2/3 cup Merlot wine red
  • 1/2 cup chopped dried tart cherries
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup whole milk at room temperature
  • Red food coloring

For the frosting:

  • 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 box confectioners sugar 16 ounces, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons sweet white wine plus more if needed

Instructions

For the cupcakes:

  1. Heat Merlot in a small sauce pan until it barely simmers. Remove from the heat and add cherries. Soak cherries for 1 hour. Drain and reserve 1/3 cup of the Merlot.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
  3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
  4. In a separate large bowl, cream butter and sugar using an electric hand mixer on high speed until light and fluffy.
  5. Add eggs and vanilla and beat to combine.
  6. Combine milk and reserved Merlot in a measuring cup.
  7. Add the flour mixture in three additions, alternatively with the milk in two additions, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not over mix.
  8. Stir in drops of red food coloring until desired color is reached.
  9. Stir in cherries.
  10. Divide batter among muffin cups.
  11. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (Tops of cupcakes should spring back when lightly touched)
  12. Remove cupcakes from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack. Frost with sweet white frosting.

For the frosting:

  1. Beat cream cheese, butter, and salt until smooth.
  2. Add confectioners sugar and vanilla. Beat to combine. Add enough sweet white wine until it reaches spreading or piping consistency.
  3. Spread or pipe frosting on top of cupcakes.
  4. Refrigerate cupcakes.

Recipe Notes

Time stated does not include cooling cupcakes. There may be extra frosting depending on how much you use on the cupcakes. Refrigerate extra frosting in a sealed container and use within 1 week.

The best recipes always have a story. Take a look at these by Sunday Supper contributors featuring Gallo Family Vineyards wines and enjoy the stories behind them too:

Brunch:

Mains and Sides:

Beverages and Desserts:

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Sunday Supper LogoWould you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? Click here: Sunday Supper Movement

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards.

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Comments

  1. Liz says

    Your Merlot cupcakes look divine, Renee! And I’m thrilled you added my favorite tart cherries to the mix as well. They must taste amazing steeped in Merlot!

    Reply

  2. Alice // Hip Foodie Mom says

    Renee,
    I have always wanted to make cupcakes with wine!! and now I can! These cupcakes look so perfect and delicious! and look at you using BOTH wines . . brilliant and delicious! Can’t wait to try this recipe!

    Reply

    • Renee says

      Thanks Heather. I’m loving the wine-soaked cherries so much that I’m sure I’ll use them again in another recipe. They taste fabulous.

      Reply

    • Renee says

      Thanks Dorothy. I was careful not to add too much red food coloring because I also thought about it looking too much like red velvet. And I would send you two if I thought they would ship well.

      Reply

  9. Katie says

    Oooh boy – soaking cherries in Merlot is a brilliant move. These cupcakes sound insanely good, especially topped with a cream cheese frosting (my all time favorite variety, haha).

    Reply

  11. Tom @ Waegook Tom says

    Screw going to the bar, I want to get drunk on these.

    Seriously though, the recipe sounds absolutely amazing. I’m a huge fan of dessert wine, and cherries are my favourite flavour of pretty much anything (along with almond). You, m’lady, are a genius.

    Reply

  13. MealDiva says

    Cherries soaked in Merlot– my mouth is watering! This look amazing! Reading your post reminded me a little of a cupcake wars episode on the Food Network and I’m glad a little food coloring fixed the grey batter! Yummy!

    Reply

  22. Nancy @ gottagetbaked says

    Renee, you’re amazing! I’ve never considered baking with wine but now, it’s the only thing on my mind, lol. That way I can “taste test” the wine by taking a few swigs before I add it to my desserts. And then wash the dessert down with more wine later. These cupcakes are beautiful!

    Reply

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