Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes
Photograph by Leticia Alaniz ©2014 All Rights Reserved

Red is a beautiful color and it represents passion and love.  One of my favorite cake flavors is red velvet.  It is love at first sight.  This classic Red Velvet Cupcake is sure to please everyone that is lucky enough to eat them.  I like to make a huge batch as my brothers can’t stop at one.  I have to literally hide them because they might eat them all in one sitting!  I top the cupcakes with a smooth cream cheese frosting that is decadent on it’s own.  The rich chocolaty aroma and flavor of the cupcakes is sure to lure anyone into the kitchen while they are baking in the oven.  My favorite part about it is the red color with the chocolate flavoring that go together perfectly. I like to add less butter and sugar when I bake these velvety cakes.  Bake them for your next birthday party.  Below is the recipe I follow.

Original recipe makes 30 cupcakes

Takes about 40 mins to make

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup butter, softened 
• 1 cups sugar 
• 4 eggs 
• 1 cup sour cream 
• 1/2 cup milk 
• 1/4 tsp red food color
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract  

• Cream Cheese Frosting: 
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened 
• 1/4 cup butter, softened 
• 2 tablespoons sour cream 
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.

Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in sour cream, milk, food color and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until just blended. Do not over beat. Spoon batter into 30 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full.

Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely. Frost with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting.

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting: 

Beat cream cheese, softened, butter, sour cream and pure vanilla extract in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth.