These homemade Vanilla Cherry Pie Cupcakes are a fun way to celebrate at any party. The surprise cherry center will make everyone smile when they find it.
Do you long for the lazy days of summer? It’s been so long since we have actually had a summer with absolutely nothing to do.
I remember when our kids were little, and we would look forward to summer time because it meant nothing but pool days and park fun.
Then our kids started getting older, we changed jobs, started a new business, and realized that summer is really just another season with more things to do.
Now don’t get me wrong. There are still plenty of lazy days basking in the sun at the pool, going for a drive to get milkshakes, or making a frozen salted caramel mocha hot chocolate at home.
But those fun things are scattered among baseball practice, soccer practice, dance classes, church activities, and work time. And don’t forget about trying to get quiet time, work out time and baking in between all the running around.
I’m feeling a nap come on just thinking about all of it.
This week we are getting things together for my husband to lead a team into Haiti for another pastor’s conference. (You can read about the Haiti Pastor’s conference and the lessons I learned from my trip to Haiti if you are interested.)
Plus, two of our kids will be celebrating their birthdays while he is gone, so we have a special birthday dinner for our family before he leaves. I should probably finish the food for that…
And then just when I thought baseball was over, our youngest got chosen for the All Stars baseball team, so more practices and games just went on the next few week’s schedule. I am super excited for him though.
This year he really stepped it up and played his heart out. It was so fun to watch the games and see that he knew where the ball needed to go each time he got it. I love that our kids are so involved in sports and enjoy playing the game.
Thank goodness for taking time out of each week to just relax and live life. A few weekends ago we had a birthday party for my father in law with our whole family. It was a day of nothing but eating, talking, and playing frisbee.
Oh, and snuggling the little nephews and nieces. One of my little nephews just adores my daughter, so it is so cute to watch him follow her around with stars in his eyes. She is such a good big cousin and will play with him all day long too.
One of the ways I like to relax is by spending time in my kitchen. Birthday parties need cake or cupcakes, right? So the day before the party I finished everything early, so I could experiment with these vanilla cherry pie cupcakes. Usually I am a cake mix kind of girl, but today’s recipe is for a homemade cupcake. If you want to use a box mix, go right ahead, but those will be slightly lighter and fluffier and might fall apart more with the filling inside.
This recipe is a little bit heavier making it perfect for hiding pie filling in the center. I used a can of cherry pie filling, but you could absolutely use your favorite kind. Lemon curd, chocolate pudding, hot fudge…the filling ideas are endless! What would you fill yours with?
Since this is a cherry pie cupcake, we need to have some sort of pie crust in it, right? You can use one refrigerated pie crust and cut shapes out of it. Sprinkle the shapes with a cinnamon sugar mixture and bake. Stars are great for the 4th of July, but you could do any small shape to go with your theme parties.
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These easy Vanilla Cherry Pie Cupcakes are a delicious treat for summer. A homemade cupcake with a cherry center will make every one smile!
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 refrigerated pie crust
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 - 21 ounce can cherry pie filling (you will only use 1/2 can)
- 2 - 10.6 ounce containers Cool Whip Frosting
- colored sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place 24 lines in a cupcake pan.
- Beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add this alternately with the buttermilk until all has been mixed in.
- Beat the mixture for another 1-2 minutes on medium.
- Fill the liners with the batter. Bake for 16-17 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs on it. Let cool completely.
- Stir together the sugar and cinnamon. Unroll the pie crust according to the package directions.
- Cut out mini star shapes. Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle lightly with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 7-8 minutes. Let cool.
- Use a cupcake corer and remove the center of each cupcake. Use a teaspoon to fill the centers with cherry pie filling. Top each cupcake with a generous swirl of Cool Whip Frosting.
- Add fun colored sprinkles and a star pie crust topper. Makes 24 cupcakes. Store the cupcakes in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Notes
*If you cannot find the Cool Whip Frosting, you can also use 1 - 3.4 box instant vanilla pudding whisked into 1 cup milk, then stir in 1 - 8 ounce container Cool Whip.
More fun cupcakes for summer from my friends:
- ICEE Cupcakes from Crazy for Crust
- Cherry Coke Float Cupcakes from Living Locurto
- Margarita Cupcakes from Brown Eyed Baker
Zainab says
I so agree with you. Summers are busy but having time to relax and have a lazy day is the best. Baking cupcakes on lazy days is also the best!! These cupcakes are gorgeous. So perfect for picnics and bbqs!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thanks Zainab!
Julie Henriksen says
Love the colors! Perfect for 4th of July?
Mir says
Why are summers busier than the school year? Madness.
These are so adorable!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
It’s those busy little people of ours! 😉 Thanks Mir!
Amy | Club Narwhal says
It really does feel like life just speeds up the older I get–and I miss those lazy summer days of my childhood! But these cupcakes are definitely consolation enough for me 🙂 So cute!
Ashton says
This are just dreamy looking! And Cool Whip Frosting?! *swoon* These are so perfect for summer time, pinned!
Funny thing about reading this is that I’ve sort of been struggling with my own summer schedule too! My friend (and Emma too!) want to spend all day by the pool and doing fun things. Which would be awesome…. if I didn’t have to somehow squeeze in work, exercise, and housework too! The office still isn’t even unpacked, because we’ve just been lounging by the pool since we moved here! LOL.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Well, try to enjoy this summer as much as you can with your busy schedule! 😉 Thanks Ashoton!
Jill @ KitchenFunWithMy3Sons says
These are SO pretty…love them!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thanks Jill!
Nancy [email protected] says
Summers we try to take time off from some things. Except this summer feels already busier than most, between VBS, the beach and running the kids around I am thinking I need another vacation! 🙂 I love how these are filled!
[email protected]+Chocolate+with+Grace says
So pretty and creative. A great twist on a classic!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thanks Mallory!
marcie says
Mmmm…cherry pie filling! Cherry pie and cherry cheesecake have been my favorites forever — cherry pie filling is the best. It’s the one thing that I think almost tastes better canned! These look amazing. 🙂
[email protected]+Food+Faith+Fitness says
Seriously, could these cupcakes BE any cuter?! I think not.
Love the vanilla/cherry combo…and of course, anything in a cupcake form makes my belly happy! pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Haha, I totally just pictured Chandler from Friends as I read your comment! 😉 Thanks Taylor!
[email protected]+foodlikecake says
These cupcakes are so cute and pretty!
Johlene says
Love the surprise centre! and love the 4th of July decor!!
I agree life gets more busy when your kids get older, and sometimes it can be overwhelming but if I had to do it all over, I would not change a thing!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Me either! ;)Thanks Johlene!
DessertForTwo says
These are so cute and creative for 4th of July! Love!! And I’m exhausted just reading about your schedule–wow!
[email protected] says
Summer is always the hardest, because I just want to read and lounge. Which is why I tend to work my butt off in spring so that I can relax a bit more. Of course moving has thrown a whole new wrench in my plans! Ha! These cupcakes are absolutely gorgeous. So fun!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank goodness I don’t have to worry about moving right now, I don’t know how you’ve done everything and stayed sane! 😉
Jessica @ Stuck On Sweet says
These are so fun! Loving the cherry vanilla flavor and the 4th of July sprinkles! I agree with Christina, exhausted hearing your schedule!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says
How cute are these cupcakes? Love the piece of crust on top.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thanks Erin!
Jamie | My Baking Addiction says
These are cupcakes are so perfect – I love the cherry surprise inside and that star – too darn cute!
Marly says
That’s the most dreamy looking cherry pie cupcake I’ve ever seen. Wait. That might be the only one I’ve ever seen…but I hope it’s not the last!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you so much Marly! 😉
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
Oooo I love the look of these fluffy cupcakes with their surprise cherry filling! Beautiful for the 4th of July for sure but really just amazing any day of the year! 😀
Nicole, RD says
We don’t have anything major this summer, but visitors keep us busy. I love the weekends of nothingness! More time to bake 😉 Annnnd cherries are in season 🙂
[email protected]+Mostly+Homemade+Mom says
My boys are 5 and 3 and I’m JUST getting into the sports craziness – my oldest starts “big boy soccer” in a few weeks, yikes! These cupcakes are seriously making my mouth water right now, yum!!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Awwww, yay for big boy soccer! 😉 Thanks Kelly!
Jennie @themessybakerblog says
These are absolutely gorgeous. I love the surprise cherry inside. Pinned.
aux+fourneaux says
Love the colors! cupcakes are so cute and pretty
Bye
Manuella
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thank you Manuella! 🙂
Alexis @ Upside Down Pear says
I need one of these cupcakes right now!! I can’t believe how fast this summer is going by. We waited the entire (and extremely loooong) winter just for this moment and now it’s running away! The perfect day would just to have one of these while sitting around the pool!
[email protected]+Carmel+Moments says
Festive and fun. Love cherry and vanilla together.
Pinning for sure.
Have a great weekend Jocelyn!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thanks Melanie! 🙂
[email protected]+Sweet+Baked+Life says
Love the cherry inside! Yum! What a great summer cupcake!
Kelly says
These cupcakes are gorgeous Jocelyn! Love the cherry filling surprise inside – pinned 🙂 Summers definitely feel more hectic – love when we have lazy days and weekends 🙂
[email protected]+Lovely+Little+Kitchen says
Super adorable cupcakes! Love that cherry filling in the middle. Pinning :0)
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thanks Julie!
dina says
these are great for the 4th of july. all your filled cupcakes look amazing!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
Thanks Dina! 😉
Shae says
This sounds delicious and I love the cherry surprise center! Very nice and definitely festive!
Chels+R. says
I wish I would of had time to make these for the 4th. We had so much family in town from Africa (my husband’s relatives are missionaries and are in the states on furlough) and we had just gotten back from a family reunion. These look so good I might just have to make them without any of the patriotic stuff. 🙂
Amy @ Amy's Healthy Baking says
These cupcakes look fabulous Jocelyn!! Those adorable stars are the perfect touch, and that fluffy frosting and sprinkles… Absolutely divine. 🙂 I remember those lazy summer days — they were the best! Sleeping in, lounging by the pool, random dessert parties with friends, picnics in the backyard… Where did the time go?? So happy for you that you’ve been able to sneak in some pool days though. You definitely deserve the relaxation with how hard you work!!