Chocolate Cherry Coke Cupcakes

My chocolate cherry coke cupcakes went over very well. There were several people who had more than one cupcake. I've decided I will make this recipe the first in my book. Towards the end of the night, after all the leads and supervisors had at least 1 cupcake, I started handing them out to random agents. There were a few that looked like they needed one and many whose night I made just with the simple offer of a cupcake. The only feeling that beats the one I get while making the cupcakes is the one I get when I know I just made someone a little happier or someone's night a little better.

I'm going to start making my own recipes by altering the recipe below to suit the flavor I want to make. My sister, Amy, has a birthday on Saturday and her birthday lunch is on Sunday. She told me to surprise her with something that tastes good. I have an idea of what I will do, but I don't wanna put it on here in case she's reading. 

Next up after my sister's are Corey's. He requested red velvet, normally too simple for my style but it's a classic. His will be made for Halloween so naturally I will be making them festive. :) "Black" velvet with orange colored cream cheese frosting.

Following Corey's last day is Treva's birthday. Between Tracy, Diana, Krystal and I, we came up with the perfect cupcake for her. She said she wanted something chocolate and a surprise. We came up with a chocolate cake, white chocolate chips in the middle with a strawberry cream cheese frosting drizzled with caramel. The frosting will be made with pureed strawberries rather than artificial strawberry flavoring (which I hate). Artificial strawberry doesn't do justice to the real flavor of strawberries.  Sounds good, huh?

After Treva's birthday, there isn't a real reason to make cupcakes until Diana's birthday, therefore, I will make them for holidays! Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and I figure what better way to celebrate it than with pumpkin cupcakes? Unless someone has a better idea lol. I found a 2 ingredient recipe involving a can of pumpkin and a box of cake mix. Just mix the 2 together and bake! I of course will be adding some pumpkin pie spice to add some flavor to it. Topped with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with some more spice and graham crackers, it sounds pretty perfect to me!

Then for Christmas I will be making 2 separate kinds. I will be making a gingerbread cake with cinnamon frosting and a chocolate chocolate chip/candy cane cake with whipped cream frosting drizzled with chocolate syrup and sprinkled with candy cane bits. I think I will buy a couple different kinds of candy canes to top the cupcakes with to make a little bit of a variety.

Diana's cupcakes will be simple. Chocolate cake with peanut butter chips and a peanut butter frosting. Sounds like my favorite candy: Reese's!

That's all I have scheduled for now but that could change... :) Until next time.....

2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
1/4 tsp. salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter (no substitutes)
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla