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    Home / Meal Type / Desserts / Cakes & Cupcakes / Gluten-Free Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

    Gluten-Free Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

    September 20, 2014 by Sarah Menanix · Modified: Aug 29, 2020

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    Cherry Garcia Cupcakes

    Before you start screaming that I'm a month late and it's not cherry season anymore, just hear me out. Rather than juicy summer berries, these cupcakes get their tart cherry flavor from freeze-dried cherries folded into the frosting - available all year round! I picked up this freeze-dried berry frosting trick from my friend Maryanne (The Little Epicurean) - it's her smart way of infusing intense berry flavor into frosting without ending up with drippy soft icing that won't hold its shape.

    Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting

    So there you go - now you can have these Cherry Garcia cupcakes in the middle of September. Which is a good thing because there's absolutely no way I could hold onto this recipe until next July. That'd just be cruel. If you rush out now, you might even find a few end-of-the-season black cherries to plop on top for decoration.

    Black cherries

    Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Cherry Frosting

    Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

    Okay, now that we've moved past that hurdle, let's talk about the cupcake I want to eat for the rest of my life. The cupcake I want served at my funeral (someone please take note - there better be chocolate chip cupcakes at my funeral). This chocolate chip cupcake is the real deal - the star of the show, with the cherry cream cheese frosting as its trusty sidekick.

    Imagine a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie in the form of a moist fluffy cupcake. A vanilla cupcake with a light crumb filled with pockets of melty chocolate chunks - all topped with a dollop of cherry cream cheese frosting to give it a refined tart flair.

    Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

    On this episode of kids say the darndest things:

    As most neighbors of food bloggers will probably confirm, they get a constant stream of homemade desserts to sample. More like: I pawn off sweets on my next-door neighbors to keep myself from hiding one cupcake after another in my bottomless dessert belly. There's a house for sale on our corner - they really should list "free desserts" as a selling point.

    When the three-year old answers the door, my plate of dessert is always met with wide eyes and bright smiles as she quietly asks what I've brought and why, pretending she's oh-so shy. Don't let that coy smile fool you though - she once uttered the words, "Mom, I'm shy" before fearlessly insisting I join her for a dance party in her room.

    While Lucas and his coworkers went ga-ga for the chocolate chip & tart cherry union, this pint-sized "shy" budding food critic stopped by a week after I'd brought over a half-dozen of these Cherry Garcia cupcakes to very matter-of-factly announce "usually I like the frosting best, but I did NOT like this frosting." Noted.

    This is a cupcake for grown-up taste buds - it will probably go over about as well as coconut-covered carrot cake at a child's birthday party.

    GOOD NEWS: MORE CUPCAKES FOR ME!

    Cherry Chocolate Cupcakes

    Continue to Content
    Cherry Garcia Cupcakes

    Gluten-Free Cherry Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

    Yield: 12 cupcakes
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 22 minutes
    Total Time: 52 minutes

    Gluten-free chocolate chip cupcakes with easy cherry frosting. A cupcake everyone will dream about!

    Ingredients

    Chocolate chip cupcakes

    • ⅓ cup white rice flour
    • ⅓ cup oat flour
    • ⅓ cup millet flour
    • ¼ cup sweet rice flour
    • ¼ cup tapioca starch
    • ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1-½ teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ cup sugar
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 2 large eggs, room temperature
    • ½ cup whole milk
    • 6 tablespoons dark chocolate chips, chopped

    Cherry cream cheese frosting

    • 4 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
    • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
    • 6 tablespoons ground freeze-dried cherries, sifted
    • 1-½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
    2. In a medium bowl, sift together the rice flour, oat flour, millet flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
    3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugar over medium speed.
    4. With the mixer on low-speed, add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each one.
    5. Add the vanilla extract, mixing until just combined.
    6. Keeping the speed on low, slowly add the dry ingredients in two batches, adding the milk in between, mixing until just combined.
    7. Fold in the chopped chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout.
    8. Divide the batter among 12 lined cupcake cups, until about ¾ full.
    9. Bake for about 22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
    10. While the cupcakes bake, prepare the frosting.
    11. Transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool.
    12. Once the cupcakes are cool, pipe cherry frosting on top and serve.

    Cherry cream cheese frosting

    1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter over medium speed.
    2. Add the cream cheese and whip until combined.
    3. Add the powdered sugar, in thirds, mixing on slow speed until combined.
    4. Add the vanilla and ground freeze-dried cherries, and beat on medium speed until smooth.
    5. Transfer to a pastry bag to pipe onto cupcakes, or spread directly on cupcakes with a knife.

    Notes

    Cupcake adapted from Food & Wine

    Frosting adapted from The Little Epicurean

    © Sarah Menanix
    Cuisine: Dessert / Category: Cakes & Cupcakes
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    53 Comments

    1. Tyler -

      September 20, 2014 at 6:19 pm

      These look amazing. My favorite cupcake flavor is chocolate bacon :)

      Reply
    2. Kristy @ Southern In-Law -

      September 20, 2014 at 7:12 pm

      These cupcakes look absolutely amazing!

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        October 02, 2014 at 4:27 pm

        Thank you so much, Kristy!

        Reply
    3. Sue -

      September 21, 2014 at 5:06 am

      Chocolate

      Reply
    4. Dee -

      September 21, 2014 at 5:19 am

      Absolutely, positively chocolate!

      Reply
    5. Mira -

      September 21, 2014 at 6:46 am

      Cherry season - almost over, but thanks to you I'm saving and definitely trying this cherry cupcake recipe very soon. I love that they are gluten free! They look beautiful, and the cupcake sleeves are very cute.

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 22, 2014 at 11:17 pm

        Thank you so much, Mira! Please let me know if you make them!

        Reply
    6. Ashley Pitt @ A Lady Goes West -

      September 21, 2014 at 6:53 am

      So I'd like to move next door to you then ...

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 22, 2014 at 11:18 pm

        You mentioned you were considering moving out of the city, didn't you? (Or did I make that up?) Well anyway, you should definitely come be my neighbor. I'll feed you cupcakes and you can help me work it off;)

        Reply
    7. Annie | MontgomeryFest -

      September 21, 2014 at 7:30 am

      I was! I was like - wait. wasn't cherry season like a month ago?! silly Sarah. and then I read on and I only wanted to be your neighbor for even more reasons than I already did. there was a lot of emotions. but what I really came to say was - white cake with raspberry chambord filling. aka our wedding cake.

      Reply
    8. Julie @ This Gal Cooks -

      September 21, 2014 at 2:09 pm

      Oh I do not care that it is not cherry season anymore. Give me these cupcakes any time of the year and I'll be happy! They look amazing, Sarah!

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 22, 2014 at 11:20 pm

        Haha - clearly I don't either! Thank you, Julie! I'm still hanging onto summer with every inch of my being.

        Reply
    9. Jenn L @ Peas and Crayons -

      September 21, 2014 at 2:26 pm

      I'm super boring and always go vanilla and chocolate as my fav [with carrot cake runner up!] haha - these look phenomenal! I have to buy buckets of Cherry Garcia for my husband and he would flip over these!

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 22, 2014 at 11:22 pm

        Thanks Jenn! Please do tell me if you make them for him:)

        Reply
    10. Carla (@charliesue) -

      September 21, 2014 at 2:27 pm

      LEMON cupcakes! With cream cheese frosting! (YUM.)

      (P.S. I'm not THAT far away... ;))

      Reply
    11. Alyssa -

      September 21, 2014 at 4:04 pm

      LOL! I love how honest kids are. You can't please everyone! I think they sound amazing though, and I want to be your neighbor.

      Reply
    12. Thalia @ butter and brioche -

      September 21, 2014 at 4:11 pm

      How amazingly delicious are these cupcakes.. definitely craving a bite of one right now! My favourite cupcake flavour would have to be red velvet with a thick cream cheese icing..

      Reply
    13. Umm Haneefah @The Halal Gourmet -

      September 21, 2014 at 5:37 pm

      You are one step ahead. You know everybody is going to say "but the cherries are out of season".

      These are sooo cutesy-poo. Too pretty to eat.

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 22, 2014 at 11:26 pm

        Haha - in an ideal world, I would have gotten these posted well before cherry season was over, but...(insert really good excuse here).

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    14. Suzanne @ Flour Arrangements -

      September 21, 2014 at 9:03 pm

      Love the idea of using freeze-dried fruit in frosting. Brilliant! Your cupcakes look and sound delicious!

      Reply
      • Suzanne @ Flour Arrangements -

        September 21, 2014 at 9:04 pm

        My favorite cupcake flavor, by the way, is chocolate with salted caramel frosting.

        Reply
    15. Kelly - Life Made Sweeter -

      September 22, 2014 at 2:13 am

      These cupcakes are gorgeous Sarah! I love the pretty color of the frosting! Cherry season or not, I'd love these all year round :)

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 22, 2014 at 11:26 pm

        Thanks, Kelly! That color comes naturally just from the freeze-dried berries! Yet another reason to put freeze-dried berries in your frosting:)

        Reply
    16. Oana @Through Oanas Lens -

      September 22, 2014 at 7:20 am

      I would love to move next door! Now, seriously, these cupcakes are just perfection. Have to try them!

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 22, 2014 at 11:27 pm

        I'll take more neighbors to eat my creations any day! Thanks, Oana! :)

        Reply
    17. Diane -

      September 22, 2014 at 11:25 am

      These are the most delicious looking cupcakes I have ever seen in my life.

      Reply
    18. Angela -

      September 22, 2014 at 11:30 am

      Favorite cupcake flavor is carrot! :)

      Reply
    19. Tina @ Just Putzing Around the Kitchen -

      September 22, 2014 at 11:34 am

      My favorite cupcake flavor is...either carrot cake or anything chocolate-based (duh) ;)

      Reply
    20. Justin -

      September 22, 2014 at 11:37 am

      Do muffins count... I like banana nut muffins. Do they come in cupcake form - Annie will eat the frosting.

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 22, 2014 at 11:30 pm

        So...Awkward...

        ;)

        Reply
    21. Kayley | The Kitchen McCabe -

      September 22, 2014 at 1:02 pm

      These cupcakes are beautiful and I love the freeze dried cherry frosting idea! Genius! Plus, I love that you made them gluten-free. Now that's an awesome bonus!

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 23, 2014 at 12:06 am

        Thank you, Kayley! This freeze dried berry idea is definitely my new go-to frosting move.

        Reply
    22. Amanda -

      September 22, 2014 at 1:41 pm

      Thanks for liking a pic on my insta! Just discovered your page and love your photos.

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 23, 2014 at 12:08 am

        Thanks so much Amanda!

        Reply
    23. Mallory @ Chocolate with Grace -

      September 22, 2014 at 6:28 pm

      Gorgeous pictures! I love the cherry chocolate combination!

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 23, 2014 at 12:10 am

        Thanks Mallory - It's one of my favorite combos these days.

        Reply
    24. bob -

      September 22, 2014 at 9:13 pm

      VANILLA FROSTING 4LIFE #simplethings

      Reply
    25. Chris @ Shared Appetite -

      September 23, 2014 at 2:34 am

      Maybe this is why I'm fat... I don't bring sweets over to neighbors. We eat them all here. Oops. Hahahahaa... these cupcakes are stunning Sarah! Like, seriously. Normally I'm a big red velvet fan... but these might just take the cake (get it?) for my fave!

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 23, 2014 at 12:13 pm

        You're so punny! (See what I did there?). Maybe it's a good thing we're not neighbors or we'd just eat our way into oblivion.

        Reply
    26. Min -

      September 23, 2014 at 3:29 am

      Aww I want to have a "shy" 3 year old who knocks at my door and invites me to a private dance party! I probably won't have much to offer as I haven't been baking much as of late. Can I be that neighbor that pays you a visit daily or am I too old for that? You can NEVER be too old, right? ;). I don't think I've ever tried gf cupcakes so def pinning this recipe! Hope your week is off to a wonderful start, my sweet dear friend!

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 23, 2014 at 12:14 pm

        You're never too old for that. Come over ANY TIME. Bring dance shoes:)

        Hope you're having a lovely week too!

        Reply
    27. Linda K. -

      September 23, 2014 at 3:18 pm

      I like a rich dark dark dark chocolate cupcake. Another one not really for the kids...

      Reply
    28. Katie @ Sweet Society -

      September 24, 2014 at 7:52 am

      These look amazing! Chocolate and cherry is the best and these have officially made me hungry:)

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 24, 2014 at 10:01 am

        Thank you so much, Katie!

        Reply
    29. kelly - a side of sweet -

      September 24, 2014 at 10:43 am

      I love the idea of infused frostings! Oh the possibilities! The cupcake liners are lovely!

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        September 24, 2014 at 7:42 pm

        Thanks, lady!

        Reply
    30. Karen Matlock -

      September 26, 2014 at 2:08 pm

      My favorite combinations are; cherry and chocolate and orange and chocolate :)

      Reply
    31. Kristen -

      September 26, 2014 at 6:55 pm

      My favorite is strawberry.

      Reply
    32. Sarah -

      November 05, 2014 at 4:59 pm

      Wow, these cupcakes are beautiful! And perfect in their matching polka dot wrappers.

      Reply
      • Sarah Menanix -

        November 06, 2014 at 1:38 am

        Thank you so much, Sarah!

        Reply
    33. Maggie -

      June 15, 2016 at 12:06 am

      I just came across this excellent recipe and wondered if it is possible to make the icing with fresh cherries? The freeze-dried version is not available where I live.

      Reply
    34. Jill Roberts @ WellnessGeeky -

      December 14, 2017 at 6:20 am

      Gorgeous pictures. I made these cherry chocolate chip cupcakes for the super bowl party and it was a crowd favorite. I'm also gonna pin this post on my Pinterest board my followers will love it. Thanks for sharing, Sarah!

      Reply
    35. Julia Stearns @ Healthirony -

      March 25, 2019 at 5:21 am

      I had a similar cherry chocolate chip cupcakes at a restaurant recently and found myself craving it and wondering if I could recreate it today.

      Reply

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    I’m Sarah (aka Snix)! Welcome to Snixy Kitchen - where I create gluten-free recipes with fresh, local ingredients to tell stories about my life.

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