Red Velvet Cupcakes

Classic red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting are always a hit!  These are moist and flavorful, with a hint of cocoa and a slight buttermilk tang.

Hey there! I’m posting on a Monday this week, instead of Tuesday like I usually do. I just wanted to make sure you saw these awesome red velvet cupcakes before you got too busy with the holiday! As you can probably tell, this is an older post, re-done. It originally published on January 26, 2016, but I’ve never been happy with the original pics, so I’ve re-shot the recipe and added a nifty video too. Hopefully now, this post will get the attention it deserves! These cupcakes are so moist and the cocoa-buttermilk flavor will make you swoon. They’re perfect any time of year, but especially at Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and (when garnished with a few fresh blueberries) the Fourth of July!

Are ya keeping warm?

It’s January, people!  If it didn’t seem that way before, it sure does now.  We got buried in over 2 feet of snow over the weekend, and things are feeling pretty frosty.  I’m not letting it get me down though.  Everything’s looking light and bright, and I’ve got my oven to keep me toasty.

With Valentine’s Day coming up in just a few weeks, I realized that although I have a few red velvet-ish recipes, I am somehow missing the most important one of all:  simple, classic red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.  I make this recipe pretty much every year for my kids’ class parties, and they’re always a big hit.  They’re super moist, with a little cocoa backnote and a slight buttermilk tang.  It all started with this recipe from Saveur a few years ago, and over time, I’ve tweaked it here and there to make it more to our taste.

I like that these are a little less oily, and a little more buttermilk-y.  Also, the cocoa flavor is a bit more pronounced.  And, I really don’t find it necessary to add quite so much red food coloring.  Just one tablespoon makes it plenty vibrant enough, in my opinion.  Do you agree?

** WATCH THIS QUICK VIDEO TO SEE HOW THESE RED VELVET CUPCAKES ARE MADE! **

And it wouldn’t be red velvet if not for a big, luscious swirl of tangy cream cheese frosting.

To get this look, just pipe a puffy dome of frosting onto the cupcakes, using a piping bag with a jumbo round tip.  If it’s for Valentine’s Day, you can garnish with candy hearts! And around July 4th they look great with a few fresh blueberries. But honestly, there isn’t any time of year I wouldn’t want red velvet, and red nonpareil sprinkles are always the perfect finishing touch!

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Red Velvet Cupcakes

Classic red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting are always a hit!  These are moist and flavorful, with a hint of cocoa and a slight buttermilk tang.

Prep Time 30 minutes Cook Time 20 minutes Total Time 50 minutes
Serves 24 (2 dozen) cupcakes     adjust servings

Ingredients

For the cupcakes

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk*
• 1 cup oil
• 2 egg whites
• 1 tablespoon red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the frosting

• 8 ounces (1 brick) cream cheese
• 1/4 cup (half a stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• red nonpareil sprinkles, for garnish

Instructions

To make the cupcakes:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a cupcake pan with papers.
2. Place the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
3. Place the buttermilk, oil, egg whites, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla in a large measuring cup, and stir together.
4. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry, and mix on low speed until smooth (about 90 seconds to 2 minutes).
5. Fill the cupcake papers about 2/3 full with batter.
6. Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the thickest part of a cupcake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
7. Cool completely, then top with cream cheese frosting and garnish with red nonpareil sprinkles.

To make the frosting:

1. Place the cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl, and mix on medium speed until smooth.
2. Add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing until smooth.
3. When all the powdered sugar has been added, turn the speed up to medium-high and beat for one or two minutes, or until fluffy.

by Allie {Baking A Moment}

Recipe Notes

*If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute by stirring 1 1/2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar into 1 1/2 cups of regular milk.  Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes, or until thickened and slightly curdled.

©Baking a Moment

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
Amount Per Serving	As Served
Calories 307kcal Calories from fat 131
% Daily Value
Total Fat 15g	23%
Saturated Fat 4g	20%
Transfat 0g
Cholesterol 16mg	5%
Sodium 196mg	8%
Carbohydrate 42g	14%
Dietary Fiber 1g	4%
Sugars 32g
Protein 3g

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:

	Calories	2000
Total Fat	Less than	65g
Sat Fat	Less than	25g
Cholesterol	Less than	300mg
Sodium	Less than	2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate		300g
Dietary Fiber		25g

More great cupcake recipes on my “Cupcake Recipes” Pinterest board!

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