Cheery Cherry Chip Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 10 oz maraschino cherries drained
• 2 cups flour all-purpose
• 1 tablespoon double-acting baking powder 
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 
• 0.5 cup butter unsalted
• 1.3 cups sugar 
• 0.5 cup maraschino cherries 
• 0.3 cup milk whole
• 2 teaspoons almond extract 
• 1 serving purple gel food coloring 
• 2  egg whites beaten
• 12 oz vanilla frosting 
• 1 tablespoon maraschino cherries 
• 1 teaspoon almond extract 
• 1 serving purple gel food coloring 
• 18  maraschino cherries with stems

Equipment

• bowl
• paper towels
• oven
• knife
• wire rack
• hand mixer
• spatula
• muffin liners
• measuring cup

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line 18 regular-size muffin cups with paper baking cups; set aside.
2. Finely chop cherries with large chef’s knife.
3. Place chopped cherries in paper towel-lined bowl to drain while preparing batter.
4. In medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
5. In glass measuring cup, stir together 1/2 cup cherry liquid, the milk and 2 teaspoons almond extract.
6. Beginning and ending with flour mixture, alternately add flour mixture and milk mixture to butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in a few drops of food color until desired pink color is achieved. Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites. Fold in chopped cherries. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full.
7. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until cupcakes spring back when lightly touched in center.
8. Remove from muffin cups to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
9. To make Topping, spoon frosting into bowl with 1 tablespoon cherry liquid.
10. Add 1 teaspoon almond extract and enough food color for desired pink color; beat 2 minutes with electric mixer on medium speed. If desired, transfer topping to decorating bag fitted with large star tip; pipe topping onto cupcakes in large swirls. Or, spread topping on cupcakes with off-set spatula.
11. Garnish each cupcake with 1 cherry with stem.