Hello and welcome to Valentines Week! All week-long I’ll be bringing you recipes and ideas for the sweetie in your life. Whether its Gal-entines day, treating your kids to something special, hearts day at work, or just a traditional Valentines Day celebration, these recipes are guaranteed to sweeten up your life.
Today we’re talking cupcakes — red velvet cupcakes. These are by far the most popular cupcakes I make. There’s just something about the moist cake with the creamy cream-cheese frosting that just makes you go mmmmmhmmmm. 🙂
Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Cupcakes:
- 2 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour
- 2 T. Cocoa Powder
- 1 tsp. Kosher Salt
- 1 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1 Cup Oil
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 oz. Red Food Color
- 1 tsp. Vanilla
- 1 Cup Buttermilk
- 1 1/2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda
For the Frosting:
- 1 Package Cream Cheese
- 1 Stick Butter
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
- 4 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 1 T. Milk
To start, pre-heat your oven to 350F. In the bowl of your stand mixer, combine Oil & sugar.
Once combined, add eggs one at a time. Follow with vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients (Flour, Cocoa Powder, & salt).
Alternate, 1/3 of the dry goods with 1/2 Cup buttermilk until incorporated. Follow with red food color.
In a small bowl, combine baking soda with vinegar and add immediately to batter. Mix to combine.
Using a 1.5 inch scoop, fill lined cupcake pans 3/4 way full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until cupcakes test done in the center (i.e. very little crumbs on the tip of a toothpick).
Cool in the pan for 5 minutes and the remove to a cooling rack & cool completely.
Meanwhile, cream butter & cream cheese together in the bowl of your stand mixer. Lower the speed and slowly add powdered sugar. Add milk a little at a time to help the frosting come together. Add a pinch of salt & the vanilla extract. Mix on high until light & fluffy.
Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a star tip & frost your cupcakes! I added toasted walnuts to these, but you can always leave the nuts off.
Now sit back and enjoy the fruits — or cakes — of your labor!
