These bright pink cherry muffins are studded with maraschino cherries and topped with both a cherry glaze and a whole cherry. A fun and festive treat that’s perfect for parties, snack time or just for when you have a hankering for something sweet.
If you’re a maraschino cherry fan, you will adore these cherry muffins. Each muffin is moist, tender and chock full of cherries!
I find that people typically have a strong preference when it comes to maraschino cherries. You either love them or you hate them! I’m in the love category, so these pretty pink maraschino cherry muffins are a dream come true for me. They’re so bright and festive for any celebration, and your kids will be thrilled to come home to them for an after school snack.
How do you make cherry muffins?
This is a pretty basic muffin batter with flour, sugar, eggs and oil. A bunch of chopped maraschino cherries get folded into the batter, along with some cherry juice to give the muffins their pink hue.
The muffin batter gets evenly spooned into a muffin tin and then baked until light golden brown.
You can either serve the muffins as-is, or add a pink cherry glaze. I’ve made them both ways and you can’t go wrong even if you choose to skip the glaze.
The glaze really does take these muffins over the top, and is a simple mixture of butter, powdered sugar and cherry juice. You can make the glaze as thick or as thin as you like, just add more cherry juice to thin it out, or more powdered sugar to thicken it back up.
The finishing touch on these cherry muffins is a cherry on top! You could also add a few sprinkles and serve these at a birthday party for an unexpected treat.
Can you freeze muffins?
You can freeze these cherry muffins, but I’d recommend that you hold off on adding the glaze if you’re planning to freeze them. You can add the glaze to the defrosted muffins right before serving.
My kids are already asking for another batch of these cherry muffins, and I’m totally happy to oblige!
More sweet treats you’ll love
Cherry Muffins
Ingredients
For the muffins
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 16 ounce jar maraschino cherries chopped (reserve juice for later use!)
- 2 tablespoons reserved cherry juice
- cooking spray
- 12 whole maraschino cherries
For the glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 1 1/2 tablespoons reserved cherry juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
- Place the sugar, milk, vegetable oil, egg and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Add the flour and baking powder, then stir until just combined.
- Add the cherries and cherry juice to the bowl, then stir gently until well mixed.
- Spoon the batter evenly into the muffin tins.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes or until edges are just browned. Cool the muffins completely before adding the glaze.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, butter and cherry juice until smooth. If you'd like a thinner glaze, add more cherry juice, 1 teaspoon at a time.
- If you prefer a thicker glaze, add more powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Spoon 2 teaspoons of glaze over each muffin then immediately top each muffin with a cherry. Let the glaze harden, then serve.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on July 14, 2015 and was updated on September 24, 2018 with new content.
Heather says
Oh goodness, these look amazing! My oldest daughter loves cherries and would have so much fun helping make these.
Anosa Malanga says
Makes me drool for a moment. Definitely be trying this out. Its good to indulge for a moment and have some time to taste this awesome cherry muffins.
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
Are these muffins or cupcakes? Either way, they are adorable and look so delicious. I love the look of them too! Bookmarking!
chubskulit rose says
My daughter would like this muffin, she love maraschino cherries. Glad you have shared the recipe, I will show this to her since she likes to bake.
Ricci says
I love muffins but have somehow never had a cherry muffin?? How is this possible?? These cherry muffins look fantastic!!
Terri Steffes says
These muffins look amazing. I love cherry anything. I can’t wait to give them a try. Yum.
Dennis Littley says
I’d definitely be a fan of these muffins. The glaze is surely a bonus too!
Pam says
These muffins are so pretty and I bet they’re tasty too. I love trying out new muffin recipes.
Ashley says
My kids think these look amazing. I guess I need to make them now lol
Marysa says
Those chopped maraschino cherries look like a delicious addition to muffins. My kids would love these!
[email protected] says
I love cherry in baked goods so much. These pictures are gorgeous. I would love to try this recipe one day.
SHELLEY KING says
These look so amazing! Every one in my household is a major cherry lover. The biggest problem I would have making this recipe is my kids always eat all the maraschino cherries before I get to use them.
KIM CROISANT says
What a perfect treat for Valentine’s day. They are so cute!
Tasheena says
This recipe looks so much fun to make. I’ve never had cherry muffins before. However, I’m a huge fan of cherries.
Jeanette says
These look absolutely amazing! I have never made cherry muffins but my husband and my son both love cherries so much. I will have to make these as a fun surprise for them. They would eat them all in one sitting.
Melanie says
My kids love cherries, and I know that they would like this recipe! I will have to keep it in mind for our next party.
GiGi Eats says
You sparked an intense interest in my taste buds with these cherry muffins FOR SURE! They look PERFECTLY MADE!!
Amber Myers says
I am a huge fan of cherries! These muffins look so scrumptious. They would make a perfect treat, that’s for sure.
Lisa says
These muffins are great! I was looking for a good alternative to blueberry muffins and these cherry muffins fit the bill. My whole family loved these muffins.
plasterer bristol says
this sounds good. Something new to try as well. thanks for sharing this recipe.
Simon
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says
I think we all have those embarrassing pictures. Heck, I am still trying to figure out my camera. lol
These muffins look delicious!!! I love cherry anything! Pinned!
Meg @ With Salt and Wit says
Cherry muffins sound like my heaven! I love anything cherry and these muffins would be no different!
Mindy says
These sound so delicious! My almost 3 year old has decided cherries are his favorite, so I’ll have to try these!
Ashlyn @ Belle of the Kitchen says
Cherries are probably my hubby’s favorite fruit, so I’m pretty sure he would LOVE for me to make these! That glaze on top looks so good, too!
Fur Everywhere says
These muffins sound so delicious, and I love blueberries! I’ll have to try a batch of cherry and one of blueberry, too. Thanks for sharing!
Sara says
They would be great with blueberries too!
Susan | LunaCafe says
Fabulous! I’m going to try these with some pie cherries I just bought. Maybe sweeten them a bit before adding.
Sara says
Sounds great, you could either toss the cherries in a little sugar or try upping the sugar in the recipe by a few tablespoons.
Kimberly Ann says
Congrats on your cherry harvest! I did a similar post with a recipe from 2006 and today with comparison photos. So amazing to see how far we’ve come – your photos are gorgeous. 🙂
Sara says
Thanks Kimberly, just checked out your site and I love your pictures too, that CAKE! 🙂
Bethany says
So yummy! Definitely pinned this one for later, although I may use Marion berries instead.
Sara says
This would definitely work with marionberries!
Ashleigh says
These muffins look delish! One of my all time favs! Thanks you sharing!
Fran says
These looks so yummy! I might have go to the store and get some cherries!
Sara says
Do it, you won’t be sorry 😉
Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie says
What a beautiful post! These look divine!
Crysta @ WellWornSuitcase says
Yum! And a great way to use those awesome fresh cherries we are seeing around right now.
Sara says
Thanks Crysta, I figured I better make the most of cherries before they’re gone for the rest of the year!
Michelle @ Blackberry Babe says
I love cherry anything. These look wonderful!
valerie Hansen says
Oh my those look wonderful Sara! I love anything with cherries! I shall have to try these, wonder if they would work well with coconut flower….gluten sensitive stinks! :/ Thanks for sharing!
Sara says
I don’t know if they would work with coconut flour, but my guess would be if you tried an all purpose gluten free flour mix it would work.
Katy says
Ugh, that looks so good. I wish I was having that for breakfast instead of fruit. Damn diet!
Sara says
Um, these muffins have fruit…so diet food? Not quite, but I tried 😉
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer says
I love seeing before and after pictures of how far food bloggers have come! You are amazing! We all have to start somewhere, so do not stress about those old pictures. I will admit though, these new photos… I am drooling! I have some cherries in my fridge so I may have to get around to these muffins sooner than later!
Sara says
Thanks Kacey! I just look back on the old pics and laugh, back then I just didn’t even care, I figured if the recipe was good then the picture didn’t matter. Boy how times have changed 🙂
Maria Provenzano says
Ooooh I love cherries! These look so good 🙂
http://www.MariaProvenzano.com
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
You and I are peas in a pod. I’m going with yogurt popsicles for breakfast these days and glazed muffins with cherries or blueberries are right down my alley:) As for owning a cherry pitter, it’s been life changing for me, as I never knew the delights of cooking with cherries before. Now I’m obsessed with putting cherries in desserts.
Sara says
A cherry pitter makes life so much easier! It’s one of those kind of odd gadgets that you wonder why people have…until you own one yourself, and then you get it 🙂
Katarina says
They look absolutely amazing! I will save this recipe for later, thank yoz for sharing! I bet they are soo delicious.
Cait says
Cherry season is the best! These look incredible.
Aishwarya S says
Your food posts always make me hungry! They look so damn delicious!!
Amber | Caleigh's Kitchen says
I love having fruit trees in the yard! How lucky! These look perfect!!!
Sara says
Thanks Amber! It looks like we’re going to get a big crop of persimmons this year too, so you’ll be seeing persimmon recipes from me in the fall 🙂
Sara @ Bitz & Giggles says
The beautiful cherries I’ve seen at the store lately have been calling my name and I haven’t given in to buying any yet! I think you’ve convinced me that I just need to get back there and bite the bullet. . .oh, and then make these muffins, of course!
Sara says
You should buy then now, quick before they’re all gone for the year 🙂
Julia says
Cherry season is my favorite! I haven’t tried putting them in muffins but boy do these look great!! I need to try them out.
Marye says
These muffins look great! I love that you used fresh cherries!