Cherry Cheesecake Cupcakes

Cherry cheesecake cupcakes are a fun and portable take on a classic dessert. These cute cupcakes are as fitting for a potluck as they are for a dinner party!

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I like to keep a few impressive but easy recipes in my back pocket.

You never know when you’re going to want to make a nice dessert for dinner guests, take something to a potluck that will wow your friends, or drop off something special to the neighbors.

That’s when I turn to recipes like black magic cake, layered pistachio pudding dessert, brownie trifle, funfetti cupcakes, and these cherry cheesecake cupcakes.

We love a crowd-pleasing dessert that doesn’t take hours of work to make!

MY CHERRY CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES

It doesn’t take long to figure out that my cheesecake recipes are some of my very favorite recipes to make.

But as much as I love making traditional cheesecakes, I think it’s maybe even more fun to come up with fun twists on my favorite dessert.

I especially love coming up with more portable variations, like my cheesecake bars or mini cheesecakes. I’ve even turned cheesecake into cookies with my cherry cheesecake cookies.

This time, I took the flavors of cherry cheesecake – graham cracker crust, tangy cream cheese filling, and cherry pie topping – and turned them into cupcakes.

I started with a sturdy yellow cake recipe and stirred in some finely crushed graham crackers. Then I topped the cupcakes with my favorite cream cheese frosting, more graham cracker crumbs and cherry pie filling.

You can even core the cupcakes and add in a little more cream frosting or more cherry pie filling for a fun little surprise inside each cupcake.

HOW TO MAKE CHERRY CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES

These sweet little cupcakes look like they’re complicated to make. After all, they look so pretty with the pie filling on top!

But you’ll find that they’re way easier to make than you would have expected. 

Cupcake components

There are three main components to these cupcakes:

1. Graham cracker cupcake base
2. Cream cheese frosting
3. Cherry pie filling topping

For the cupcake base, I chose a lovely yellow cake. It uses cake flour, which makes it nice and light, and folded in finely ground graham cracker crumbs.

Even though we’ll put just ⅓ cup of graham cracker crumbs in the cake batter, you’ll be surprised at how much graham cracker flavor comes through in the final cupcakes!

For the frosting, I used my favorite cream cheese frosting recipe. It’s perfectly tangy and creamy and a frosting you’ll want to make again and again.

For the topping, I like to use my homemade cherry pie filling, but you can easily use your favorite store-bought cherry pie filling instead! 

Helpful tools

There are a few tools you will find are helpful as you make these cherry cheesecake cupcakes:

• Sifter
• Cupcake pan
• Cupcake liners
• Large cookie scoop – For portioning the cake batter into the baking tin
• Piping bags
• Piping tips
• Cupcake carrier – For storing and transporting the finished cupcakes

Making this recipe

Before you get started, make sure you have two standard 12-cup muffin/cupcake tins, as this recipe makes 24 cupcakes.

Use a mixer to cream the butter and sugar together for about 5 minutes, until super light and fluffy. Don’t try to rush this; this step is important for super light cupcakes!

Sift together the cake flour and baking powder. Set this aside.

Add the eggs to the butter mixture one at a time, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Add half of the flour, followed by all of the milk and the vanilla extract, then the rest of the flour mixture. Finally, fold in the graham cracker crumbs.

Use your large cookie scoop to divide the batter between the lined muffin cups before baking for 18-22 minutes.

Make sure you let the cupcakes cool completely before decorating.

To decorate, top each cupcake with some of the cream cheese frosting. Sprinkle on some more graham cracker crumbs and then top with a spoonful of cherry pie filling.

STORAGE AND FREEZING TIPS

Store cupcakes covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

I recommend waiting to top them with the graham cracker crumbs and cherry pie filling until right before serving. Let the cupcakes come to room temperature and add the toppings.

Freezing cherry cheesecake cupcakes

Since this recipe makes 24 cupcakes, you may want to freeze half of them for later.

I recommend freezing the cupcakes before you frost them. Place the cupcakes in a zip-top freezer bag, seal tightly, and freeze for up to 1 month.

You can also freeze the frosting. Place it in an airtight container and freeze alongside the cupcakes for up to a month.

When you’re ready to assemble, let the frosting thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Let the cupcakes thaw at room temperature. 

Let the frosting come to room temperature after thawing. Whip it with an electric mixer for about 30 seconds before piping into the cupcakes and topping with the graham cracker crumbs and cherry pie filling.

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Save Recipe

Cherry Cheesecake Cupcakes

By: Jamie

4.75 from 8 ratings

Prep: 25 minutes mins

Cook: 22 minutes mins

Total: 47 minutes mins

Servings: 24 cupcakes

SaveSaved Pin Print

Cherry cheesecake cupcakes are a fun and portable take on a classic dessert. These cute cupcakes are as fitting for a potluck as they are for a dinner party!

Equipment

• Standard cupcake/muffin tin

Ingredients

1x2x3x

US CustomaryMetric

For the cupcakes:

• ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• ▢ 1 ½ cups sugar
• ▢ 2 ¾ cups cake flour
• ▢ 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ▢ 4 large eggs at room temperature
• ▢ 1 cup whole milk
• ▢ 2 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ▢ ⅓ cup finely ground graham cracker crumbs

For the cream cheese frosting:

• ▢ 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
• ▢ 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened to room temperature
• ▢ 1 pound confectioners’ sugar about 3 ¾ cups, sifted
• ▢ 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the topping:

• ▢ ½ cup coarsely chopped graham cracker crumbs
• ▢ 1 can cherry pie filling or homemade cherry pie filling

Instructions 

For the cupcakes:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup standard muffin tins with paper liners.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed for 5 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the cake flour and baking powder. Set aside.
• Add the eggs one at a time to the butter mixture, mixing the batter well between each egg. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl with a rubber spatula and mix for an additional 30 seconds.
• Add in half of the flour mixture, then all of the milk and vanilla, followed by the rest of the flour mixture. Scrape the sides of the mixing bowl again, and mix for an additional 30 seconds to make sure the batter is smooth and ingredients are evenly incorporated.
• Finally, fold in the graham cracker crumbs with a rubber spatula.
• Use a large cookie scoop or ¼-cup measure to divide the batter between the prepared muffin pans.
• Bake in preheated oven for 18-22 minutes.
• Place pans on cooking racks and cool completely.

For the cream cheese frosting:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together cream cheese and butter until well combined, about 5 minutes.
• With the mixer on low, gradually add the confectioners’ sugar until thoroughly incorporated and smooth. Add vanilla and mix to combine. Turn mixer to medium speed and mix for approximately 5 more minutes.
• Pipe or spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes.

For the topping:

• Sprinkle frosted cupcakes with graham cracker crumbs and top with cherry pie filling.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcake, Calories: 249kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 63mg, Sodium: 118mg, Potassium: 62mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 14g, Vitamin A: 478IU, Vitamin C: 0.002mg, Calcium: 63mg, Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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