This Simple and Quick Cherry Frosting recipe can be made in only 5 minutes and is perfect to top over cherry cupcakes! Made with Maraschino cherry juice and a vanilla buttercream base, this will be your go-to frosting all cherry season long! Maraschino cherry juice is used to make this pretty pink color.
This cherry frosting is light and fluffy, is bursting with cherry flavor and has a bright pink color without the use of food dye. I topped these luscious cherry cupcakes with this buttercream but it would also be divine over chocolate filled cupcakes for that classic cherry and chocolate combo. Try it over lemon cupcakes for a summery treat too!
Working as a professional baker over the last 11 years, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t in creating recipes. When it comes to this cherry buttercream frosting, we don’t use fresh cherries here because you would need a lot of cherries to get the flavor right, and that would add too much juice to the frosting, making it too watery.
Instead with the concentrated Maraschino cherry juice we’re able to get the color and flavor with a very small amount of liquid- hooray!
Maraschino cherries are a type of cherry that has been soaked in a syrup solution, typically made with sugar and/or corn syrup. This process gives the cherries a bright red color and a sweet flavor. They are the ones you see on top of ice cream sundaes or other classic desserts.
directionsWhip 3 cups powdered sugar and butter together.Stir in vanilla, cherry juice (or milk), and cherries.Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency.Add more sugar or liquid as necessary.
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Whip 3 cups powdered sugar and butter together.
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Stir in vanilla, cherry juice (or milk), and cherries.
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Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency.
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Add more sugar or liquid as necessary.
HOW TO MAKE CHERRY BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
Cream the butter and sugar together: The easiest way to do this is by using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Add the butter to the mixer bowl along with the powdered sugar. Start slowly to avoid the sugar jumping out of the bowl, and mix on low speed until light and fluffy. This will take about two minutes. Whip the sugar and butter until its creamy like this.
Add cherry juice and milk: Slowly add the maraschino cherry juice and milk and mix until evenly combined. You can use more or less milk, depending on the consistency you’re going for.
Store and enjoy: Use immediately by spreading over your favorite desserts, or use a spatula to add it to a piping bag for decorating cakes and cupcakes. Enjoy!
This recipe makes enough frosting to pipe generously on top of 12 cupcakes, or decorate 24 cupcakes with a knife. It can also fill and frost a 2 layer 8 inch round cake or a 9×13 cake.
Use a blender or food processor to purée the cherries.
This luscious cherry frosting is made with real, fresh cherries whipped into a dreamy, fluffy buttercream frosting.
I was inspired to make this recipe after a visit to my friends who live in the Okanagan valley, which is full of fruit orchards. At a local farmers market I picked up some amazing, deep red cherries. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them.
Add in the vanilla and half of the cherry reduction. Mix until just blended. Add the remaining half of the powdered sugar and mix. Finally, add remaining reduction and salt and mix to combine.
Cherry buttercream recipe tutorial
FAQ
How to make red chocolate buttercream?
How do you make Cherry frosting?
Beat in confectioners’ sugar gradually until light and fluffy. Beat in heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until frosting reaches spreading or piping consistency. Mix in cherry preserves and vanilla extract. Delicious, sweet, and tangy, this cherry frosting is the perfect addition to cakes or cupcakes.
How do you make maraschino cherry frosting?
Beat in the maraschino cherry juice and almond extract until completely combined. Gradually beat in the rest of the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time. If your frosting is too thick, beat in additional maraschino cherry juice one teaspoon at a time. This delicious Cherry Frosting is the perfect finish for cupcakes, cookies, cake and more!
How do you make Cherry buttercream frosting without a jar?
You will only need a handful of baking ingredients to make this incredibly easy cherry buttercream frosting! If you don’t have a jar of maraschino cherries, a quick trip to the store may be required. Butter – 1 cup of butter ( softened, at room temperature ). Make sure that your butter is not too soft and do not melt it in the microwave.
How do you make a cake frosting?
This yields enough frosting to cover 18 to 20 cupcakes. Cream butter in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in confectioners’ sugar gradually until light and fluffy. Beat in heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until frosting reaches spreading or piping consistency. Mix in cherry preserves and vanilla extract.