Chocolate Cabernet Cupcakes

For once I didn’t need to use the Better Homes and Gardens New Baking Book for a baking inspiration. The Artful Cupcake – Baking & Decorating Delicious Indulgences by Marcianne Miller is one of those books that I purchased just for the pretty pictures. It’s a collection of lovely cupcake designs and recipes created by twelve professional bakers and compiled and modified for the home baker by Marcianne Miller, the author. I was looking for a cupcake recipe and design idea that was simple, easy to make but interesting and this one recipe and simple design by Martha Vining on page 26-27 caught my eye. All I had to do was shift some all-purpose flour together with sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon, unsweetened cocoa powder (the usual suspects) and mix them together before adding the wet ingredients that consist of vegetable oil, vanilla extract, a couple of eggs, cabernet sauvignon wine and then mix all of those ingredients in a stand mixer starting at low speed and then gradually increased to high speed for a few minutes and then fold in some dried cherries, spoon the dough into muffin cups, bake for about 20 minutes or so at 375 F (1) and voila! Here’s one lovely and sophisticated tasting cupcake with whipped cream and cherry on top. Who would’ve thought that cabernet sauvignon could be used as an ingredient for sweet baked goods! All I can say is: Martha Vining, you’re genius!

(1) For a detailed and more accurate recipe see source: The Artful Cupcake – Baking & Decorating Delicious Indulgences by Marcianne Miller, page 26 – 27 – “Chocolate with Cabernet Cupcakes” design and recipe by Martha Vining.