Saturday, May 7, 2011

Red Velvet Cupcakes

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I've never eaten a red velvet cupcake before. I guess the whole, is it a vanilla or chocolate cake or just something in between steered me away from even attempting this cake. If it wasn't for my brother who begged me to make these cupcakes for his friend, I don't think I would ever make these. I chose a butter based instead of oil recipe for maximum flavour because I just couldn't see how a cake made with one tbsp of cocoa would have any taste. Red velvet isn't supposed to be a chocolate tasting cake, but the thought of a something tasting like it had a 'hint' of chocolate flavour didn't seem appealing to me. Plus with the tanginess from the buttermilk and vinegar, I was really worried these would have some weird flavour and that the only thing drawing me into eating these was the pretty red colour and cream cheese frosting!

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As it turns out, these weren't so bad. They were even moist the next day even after storing them in the fridge, which was great because most butter based cakes dry out. I used the recipe from the Joy of Baking, increasing the butter by 2 tablespoons.

Red Velvet Cupcakes:

1 1/4 cups (125 grams) sifted cake flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoons (10 grams) regular or Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature (I used 6 tablespoons)
3/4 cups (150 grams) granulated white sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup (120 ml) buttermilk
1 tablespoon liquid red food coloring
1/2 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line 12 muffin tins with paper cupcake liners.

In a large bowl sift together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

In a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk with the red food coloring. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.

In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter.

Working quickly, divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 18 - 23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.

Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes and them remove from pan. Let cool completely before frosting. Either spread the frosting with a knife or offset spatula, or use a large 1M Wilton open star decorating tip to pipe the frosting.

Read more: http://www.joyofbaking.com/RedVelvetCupcakes.html#ixzz1LhfpGcJ0

Cream Cheese Frosting
6 tablespoons of butter at room temperature
8 oz cream cheese at room temperature
1.5-2 cups of icing sugar, sifted depending on how sweet you like your frosting

Cream butter at medium speed until smooth
Add cream cheese and continue beating at medium low speed until there are no lumps
Sift icing sugar and continue beating at medium low until incorporated
Do not overbeat or else frosting will be too soft to pipe

I could only take this picture at night when the lighting is all screwed up, but this is what the red velvet cupcakes were really made for.
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45 comments:

  1. MMMM. I love red velvet. I think it has a cult following!

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  2. Love the bouquet! Red velvet cupcakes are always a must!

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  3. These look delightful. I felt the same way about red velvet for a long time but a few die-hard friends convinced me to try them and they are decent. But definately not my favorite

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  4. These cupcakes are stunning! So yummy-looking. Thank you so much for this recipe!

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  5. Hmmm - they look perfectly delicious. And I love the edible cupcake arrangement. Very cute idea.

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  6. These look so good! I've never tried them before but really tempted to now!

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  7. Those cupcakes look gorgeous. I tried red velvet once a long time ago, really need to try it again!

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  8. Wow! These are stunning and so tempting to look at. All of that frosting on top looks incredible!

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  9. I'm having a linky party called A Themed Baker's Sunday and this week's theme is Cheesecake! I'd love it if you dropped by and link up if you have any cheesecake recipes! if not I hope you'll join next week's theme: Cake/Cake Pops!
    http://cupcakeapothecary.blogspot.com/2011/05/themed-bakers-sunday-5.html
    Alyssa

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  10. I love Red Velvet Cupcakes. They have become a favorite in my house.

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  11. I've never made a red velvet cake or cupcake! I can't believe I haven't because as I was growing up it was always the cake I chose for my mother to bake me for my birthday. I need to try these!! Thank you!!

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  12. i made these recently for a blog challenge i stupidly set myself (164 recipes from the 2 hummingbird bakery books to complete) i was really worried with the mix of ingredients but they turned out lovely! I did my icing in a twirl though:
    http://diaryofabakeaholic.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/cupcakes-fit-for-a-king-and-queen%E2%80%A6-well-sort-of/

    loving you're blog, keep baking!

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  13. Anything with cream cheese frosting is alright by me. Just wanted to let you know that I've bestowed the Versatile Blogger Award on you. Stop by my site to check it out.

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  14. Ok I'm not sure if my comment posted...

    Hey wow you're back!! I've never had red velvet cake before, so when I made cupcakes last year, I wasn't sure what they were supposed to taste like haha Not my fav cake.

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  15. WOW!! Looks simply divine, very beautiful work. :)

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  16. These look gorgeous and absolutely scrumptious. Love your photography btw.

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  17. I have a PERFECT cream cheese frosting recipe I'm going to post on my blog now. Eatbakelove3.blogspot.com

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  18. Wow, I would never have guessed these had VINEGAR in them! How incredible! Keep up the good work, and any tips on how you get your presentation looking so trim and spectacular are welcome!!!

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  19. I'm obsessed! I want these. I love cream cheese frosting, it is what I used for my oreo chocolate cake on my blog! http://tastytimes-kate.blogspot.com/

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  20. mmm...these look so delicious!! I'm sure they taste even better. The pictures you took of them look great too!! What a cool blog showing recipes of how to make stuff!!I really enjoyed looking at your page!!

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  21. I initially had a problem with red velvet too (are you chocolate or vanilla? - make up your mind!) but people in the South are so in love with it and I have made it SO many times that I have finally become a convert!

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  22. Aww, they look so super cute...too pretty to eat 'em.
    Can you maka Christmas cookies or something like that, please? Would be really nice :)

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  23. they look scrummy yummy!!! i have to bake them soon, the pictures look great too. i love cream cheese frosting!

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  24. OK I have been looking for a red velvet recipe forever, and I finally found on I LOVE!! Thank you so much! I am making them again today because I can't get enough :)

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  25. I am so glad to come across your red velvet cupcake recipe. Can't wait to try it this weekend!

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  26. I've tried red velvet cake recently too. I went a simpler route and used a red velvet PC cake mix. I love the combo with the cream cheese frosting :)

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  27. Wow these look so great. We were wondering what made you add two tablespoons of butter. Also, do you get a lot of your recipes from Joy of Baking?

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  28. OMG I love these cupcakes. I have just started baking and I'm now in love with these!! I would love to have you follow my journey through baking and give me your expert advise!!

    Thank You

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  29. Oh red and goergous! I shall try to make them vegan version!

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  30. Wow, this looks delicious!! I'm always scared of making cupcakes. I only make naked cupcakes (ie muffins) but this has made me want to try it out!

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  31. I was thinking it is harder to make them. But i finally found some recipe that i think i can make it. Red velvet are good!

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  32. what a great recipe! and a lovely blog, i hope mine ends up as nice as yours!

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  33. These look so so good! I left you an award on my blog!

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  34. Wow these sound delicious! I'll have to try them!
    http://sweetlifebyt.blogspot.ca/

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  35. I simply adore Red Velvet cupcakes! No matter how fancy cupcake recipes you can find on web these days this is real good old school .

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  36. I love red velvet cupcakes and these look great, must be very tasty!

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  37. do you have to make my mouth water! hahha i absolutely love your posts :) i've only done one recipe post so far but soon to do more! :)

    http://ahemitsemme.blogspot.com/

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  38. Ahh I tried making red velvet cupcakes before but they came out really dry. Will have to give this recipe version ago. Ahh well done for your brother begging you to make them. xx

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  39. These remind me of my mother's red velvet cake. She makes it with a marshmallow frosting and it is always nice and moist even after being in the fridge a few days.

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