Ingredients

  • 28 cupcake liners
  • Filling
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • Cupcakes
  • 1 (18 1/4 ounce) package yellow cake mix
  • 1 (3 1/2 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 28 vanilla wafers
  • Topping
  • 1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Line 28 cupcake cups with paper liners.
  • Prepare the filling: Place cream cheese in small mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer. Add the sugar, egg and vanilla and continue to beat for 1 minute.
  • Prepare the cupcake batter: Place the cake mix, pudding mix, milk, oil, eggs and almond extract in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mix on low for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides, increase speed to medium and beat for 2 more minutes.
  • Place one vanilla wafer in the bottom of each cupcake liner. Spoon 1/4 cup batter on top of each wafer. Gently dollop 1 heaping tablespoon of filling on top of each cupcake. The cup will be nearly full. Do not shake the pans.
  • Bake until the cupcakes are golden and spring back when touched, about 18 to 20 minutes. Cool in pans for 5 minutes.
  • Remove from pans and cool on wire rack for 15 minutes before topping.
  • Mist a teaspoon with vegetable oil spray and use this to press down on the cupcake to create an indentation. Place a heaping teaspoon of cherry pie filling in the well of each cupcake. Dust with powdered sugar.
  • Store in the refrigerator.