I love red velvet cupcakes, when they are made right.  I’ve had some red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing that is just too sweet and you can’t taste the cream cheese flavor.  Or I’ve had some red velvet cupcakes  that taste exactly like chocolate cake.  This  recipe is the perfect balance of red velvet cake (with a very light chocolate cake) and creamy cream cheese icing.  I did a lot of experimenting in the kitchen to find that amazing red velvet taste.  Some of my favorite red velvet cupcakes are sold at a bakery in Eagle Rock (Los Angeles) California called Auntie Em’s bakery. After tasting Auntie Em’s red velvet cupcakes, they inspired me to try and re-create their flavors with a recipe of my own.

Ingredients

Makes 24 cupcakes

• 1 cup butter (2 sticks) at room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• Red Food Dye
• 2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
• 3 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350.

1. With  a hand mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together butter and sugar until creamy.
2. Add in eggs, one at a time, mixing between each egg.
3.  Then add the vanilla, sour cream, buttermilk, vinegar, and mix on medium speed until combined.
4. Add about 10 drops of red food dye.  Mix and add more dye until desired color is reached.
5. In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda.  Add to mixer.
6. Mix on medium until all ingredients are combined.
7. Using a 1/4 scoop, place batter into cupcake holders.
8. Bake for 18-22 minutes. Check with a toothpick to make sure they are done in the middle.
9. Let cool before icing.  Recipe for icing here.
10. Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients

I have an amazing cream cheese icing that can be used on top of these cupcakes.  Check it out here.

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter at room temperature
• 12 oz of cream cheese (Preferable Philadelphia) cold
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 cups powder sugar (sifted is best)
• 1 teaspoon heavy cream (Add up to a tablespoon, if you’re not using it to pipe a cake or cupcake)
• 10 drops of food dye (optional)
• Sprinkles (optional)