Little cherubs in capital keeping extra dry (8)
I believe the answer is:
amoretti
'little cherubs' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'capital keeping extra dry' is the wordplay.
'capital' becomes 'AI' (resembles 'Am', old-fashioned term for excellent).
'keeping' indicates putting letters inside (some letters kept inside).
'extra' becomes 'more' (both can mean additional).
'dry' becomes 'tt' (abbreviation for teetotal).
'more'+'tt'='morett'
'ai' going around 'morett' is 'AMORETTI'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for amoretti that I've seen before include "Little winged creatures" , "images of Cupid" , "Cupids in art" , "Bonkers" , "Plump lads" .)