Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Red Velvet Cupcakes








I think the red turned out great and of course in true southern style I topped it with cream cheese frosting and candy pearls! :)






Red Velvet Cupcakes


•2 1/2 cups of cake flour (NOT self-rising)
•2 tablespoons of unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
•1 teaspoon of salt
•1 1/2 cups of sugar
•1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil
•2 large eggs
•2 bottles of red food coloring
•1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
•1 cup of buttermilk
•1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
•2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar




1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with 24 paper liners.

2. Whisk together cake flour, cocoa, and salt.

3. With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, mix together sugar and oil until combined.

4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated.

5. Stir in food color and vanilla.

6. With electric mixer on low, add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and whisking well after each.

7. Stir together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl (it will foam); add mixture to the batter, and mix on medium speed 10 seconds.

8. Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 18 minutes.

9. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes.



These cupcakes are perfectly moist and perfectly red with just a hint of chocolate. Some people like a lot of chocolate taste but this recipe isn't overly chocolatey. Also, you don't have to use the red food coloring if you don't want to. The vinegar reacts with the cocoa and makes a lovely brownish red color that looks just as pretty!! :)






Cream Cheese Frosting

2 sticks of unsalted butter, room temperature
16 oz. of cream cheese, room temperature
6 cups of confectioner's sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)


1. Beat butter and cream cheese together until smooth. (about 3 minutes)

2. Mix in vanilla.

3. Add confectioner's sugar 1 cup at a time, beating on medium speed after each addition.



YUM!!! This is the best cream cheese frosting ever!!! Of course this is how I make mine because I like it to be thick and my husband doesn't like the tartness of too much cream cheese. You can easily make it thinner and more cream cheesey by not adding as much sugar! :)













If you love traditional southern desserts, you will love the hummingbird cupcakes I made for a baby shower!! I can't wait to share those with you! They have the same cream cheese frosting and they were SO GOOD! Stay tuned!





30 comments:

  1. Red Velvet cupcakes are my most favorite food in the universe...we get them at a bakery called, A Piece Of Cake, in Buckhead when we drive through Atlanta...someone always picks some up for me around my birthday and the holidays...your pictures look amazing!

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  2. I've copied and saved the recipe for when I'm back on my feet! Those look so delicious! What tip did you use to frost them?

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  3. This is one of my favorites! I love red velvet because it is always so moist. I hate the red dye though and have wanted to make it without but just never have.

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  4. I just made a batch of these last week. They turned out pretty well, but your recipe sounds better. I will have to give them a try next time I make red velvet. Thanks for sharing.

    Have a great day!

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  5. Oh my! Red velvet it such a treat and is my hands down favorite! Can't wait to try your cream cheese frosting. I looooovvvveeeee cream cheese!

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  6. These look delicious!! I might just have to make these soon!! Thanks for sharing!

    Have a good week!

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  7. I LOVE red velvet cake batter! I love how it's red. I seriously want to make cupcakes every time I read your beautiful blog! Candy Pearls?? I must get my hands on some of them because that looks so adorable! I'm doing a cake decorating class soon so I'll make sure to get some in my gathering of supplies!

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  8. I have never had red velvet cake before and definitely need to try it out.

    xo

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  9. They look adorable! You know I love red velvet :) I'm making some for tailgating this Saturday since they are maroon and white!

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  10. That looks so good! Beautiful red!

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  11. Those look delicious and amazing!!!!

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  12. Oh yum!!! Gosh, I want a cupcake so very much right now...

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  13. Amy, those look so good! I think that after I get these classes out of the way and I am on break, I'll give them a try. I never do well with cake and cupcakes, I don't think I cook them long enough....they always break apart! I gonna give those a try. they look so good!


    Amy, how is your sister doing? wasn't she sick?

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  14. These look insane, Amy! You're such a cupcake professional. I'm going to try this recipe next time I make red velvet. Thanks!

    xo
    Valerie

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  15. Girl! Could you please stop posting all your yummy sweets? Seriously - I'm going to have to stop coming to your blog because my mouth waters every time! :)

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  16. There's nothing better than a red velvet cupcake! Especially when it's topped with pearls :)

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  17. How cute are those?! My mouth is watering!

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  18. How many cupcakes does this make? Also - I am going to make your dark choclate peanut butter cupcakes. Can I use the same unsweetened dark chocolate cocoa that I use for those cupcakes in the red velvet cupcakes - or is it a different kind of cocoa that I need?

    This will be my first attempt at "from scratch" baking. Here's hoping it goes well!

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  19. Those look AMAZING! I might have to make them! :-)

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  20. OH my gracious, those look wonderful!! My mouth is watering over here!! Just found your blog, love it and following along! Can't wait to read more!

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  21. These look so yummy and the candy pearls really make them look fancy. I love cream cheese frosting.

    I hope you had fun at the Panthers game and I was sorry that I missed you!

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  22. Wow! How do you get them to look so perfect?! You really are so good! I bet the cream cheese frosting tastes fantastic. Mmmmm!!!!

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  23. Candy Pearls...PERFECT!!!!!!! Red velvet are my favorite!!!!!! :-D

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  24. What a gorgeous way to dress up red velvet cupcakes with those candy pearls! I LOVE IT! I am a cupcake freak and I think this literally is the prettiest way I've seen it done! (And the probably taste as good as they look)

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  25. Wow, beautiful. I can't wait to try it.

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  26. These turned out fantastic looking! I love how the frosting looks...so perfect! I wish I could taste one!

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