Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper Cupcakes

I am a firm believer that it doesn’t really matter what we can’t do in life, what DOES matter is how we handle our weaknesses.

I mean, we can’t all be good at everything.  And that’s fine.  So long as we recognize it.

Like myself, for instance.

I’m bad at lots of stuff–I’m uncoordinated, scared of bugs, scared of the outdoors, awful with a lawn mower, and I’m completely and immaturely insanely jealous of women with good hair.

So you don’t see me out there trying to mow the grass and messing the whole lawn up, or taking my uncoordinated self skiing and falling down the mountain, gradually becoming a giant snowball with feet, hands, and skis sticking out by the time I reach the bottom.

Nope, not me.

Instead, I let my husband mow the lawn and when he skis, I sit inside and read and sip cocoa.

I mean, it’s a hard life, but a girl’s gotta know how to say when.

I still haven’t figured out a way around the girls with good hair thing, though.  And thanks to Pinterest, I find new women to mentally fight every day.  DARNYOULOWMESSYKNOTTUTORIAL!!! Don’t even get me STARTED on the fish braid.  UGH!!

Anyways, I’m thinking that one of these days when they crown me Boss of the Land, after I have a free candy party and fly on a unicorn (yeah, you think that the government hides aliens but unicorns don’t exist? ) I’m gonna make everyone fill out surveys about their strengths and weaknesses and then I will make rules accordingly.

For instance, I would make a law that  Paula Abdul wouldn’t be allowed to speak publicly about anything.  Instead, she could respond to questions and/or judge singers performances with an interpretive dance to either Straight Up or Cold Hearted Snake.

They say that like 98% of communication is nonverbal so they way I see it, I am doing her a favor.  I mean anytime she tries to really SAY anything, words kind of get in the way.

Also, I would totally do away with the part of the Kathy Lee and Hoda hour where we learn “what’s Hoda bumpin’ on her iPod today”.  Stop Hoda…just stop.  At this point, we have officially reached the age where even though we still might listen to gangsta rap, or the Black Eyed Peas, it’s actually not cool for us to be doing it.  Keep it to yourself.  Just trust me.

Anyways, I’m hoping that these points will motivate you to root for me when the Boss of the Land competition starts one day.  Things will be good under my reign, just know that.

And if that doesn’t convince you, how about some Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper Cupcakes?

Here in the South, drinks from Sonic reign supreme, a favorite being the Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. So I thought it might be fun to turn it into a cupcake.

I decided to do mine in jars so I could layer cherry and vanilla frosting really pretty.  If you want to leave them in regular muffin liners, you can just pipe two layers of frosting on top.

(click here for printable recipe)

 

INGREDIENTS

Cupcakes:

1 box chocolate cake mix

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 stick melted butter

2 eggs

1 cup cherry Dr. Pepper

 

Preheat oven to 350.  Line muffin tin with liners. 

 

In the bowl of a mixer, combine all ingredients.  Beat on low for about a minute.  Increase speed to high and beat for another minute. Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake for 15 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched.  Place pans on a cooling rack until cupcakes are completely cool.

 

Frostings:

Vanilla:

2 sticks butter, softened

4 Tablespoons Vanilla flavored syrup (the kind you use for soda/coffee)

3 cups powdered sugar

In the bowl of a mixer, beat butter and syrup on medium speed until combined.  Slowly add powdered sugar, beating on low until just mixed.  Increase speed to high and beat for about two minutes.

 

Cherry:

2 sticks butter, softened

1 jar maraschino cherries

3 cups powdered sugar

In the bowl of a mixer, combine butter and 4 TBS of juice from the jar of cherries.  Slowly add powdered sugar, beating on low until just combined.  Increase speed to high and beat for about two minutes.  I added red coloring to mine to make it red instead of pink, but it’s not necessary.

 

Unwrap cupcakes and cut in half horizontally.  Place bottom half of cupcake in your jar first, then pipe or spoon in a bit of vanilla frosting and then a bit of cherry frosting.  Top with the other half of the cupcake, and pipe/swirl more frosting on top.  Top with a cherry.

I used the small half pint jars you can buy in the canning section at Walmart.  You can get a box of twelve pretty inexpensively and they have nice, straight sides.

***Want another fun soda cupcake recipe?  Head over to my friend Shelly’s site Cookies and Cups and check out herSoda Can Cupcakes!!

For those of you who missed my Facebook post, I am beyond excited to announce that I developed recipes for an article called Sweet Offerings in the December issue of Parents magazine.  I was approached by an editor of theirs in June, and spent a few weeks in July getting my Christmas on and coming up with some fun and EASY holiday recipes that double as gifts.

This was my first magazine opportunity, and to be offered a whole feature in the Christmas issue of a magazine like Parents was a huge deal for me.  I am so SO thankful for the opportunity.  When I was a girl I always dreamed of writing and being published, and even though all I did was develop recipes, seeing my name in print was a dream come true.  I have you all to thank for that!!

I hope you enjoy the magazine!!

**I’d also love to say a special thank you for the kind comments and emails I’ve received about THIS post.  I’ve tried to find words to express what it has meant to me, but there aren’t any.  I am just so proud to be part of such a community, and touched by the personal experiences some of you have shared.

I hope you have a fabulous Monday!!