Cherry Cola Cupcakes with Cola Frosting

I swear I don't actually make cupcakes every week! These were a special treat for a friend's going away party. He loves coke, so I decided to make him these cherry cola cupcakes. They were a big hit at the party and only a few people knew they were actually vegan. :)

 
Cherry Cola Cupcakes with Cola Frosting
makes 12 cupcakes, adapted from cupcake project

1 C cola flavor soda
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
3/4 C sugar
1/3 C canola oil
2 tsp cola extract (I got mine here)
1 1/3 C flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
36 maraschino cherries (2 inside each cupcake, and 1 on the top. leave these out if you want just plain cola cupcakes.)
 
Combine the soda and apple cider vinegar in a large bowl, and let stand for a few minutes.

Add in the sugar and oil. Whisk together.

Add cola extract, flour, baking powder, and baking soda and stir together.

Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 full. Drop 2 cherries into the batter of each cake (stems removed).

Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched.

Cola Frosting

8 oz vegan cream cheese
1/4 C vegan butter, room temperature
2 C powdered sugar (add more if you prefer a thicker frosting)
2 tsp cola extract

Beat cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer.

Mix in powdered sugar gradually until you reach desired consistency.

Mix in extract.

Spread or pipe on cooled cupcakes. 

Add another cherry on the top!

I made 2 batches of these for the party, one cherry and one just plain cola. I left the cherries off the plain ones, so people could tell the difference.

Hope you enjoy this recipe if you have a cola fan in your life!