Red Velvet Cupcakes

A friend asked me to make a cake for a Ruby Anniversary party.

To go with the ruby red / heart theme I also made red velvet cupcakes with a cream cheese frosting for the party.

I used the Hummingbird Bakery recipe as that had the best reviews online.

They were surprisingly easy to make and I managed to make them without covering myself or the kitchen in red food colouring. I topped off the cakes with red chocolate hearts.

I never got a chance to try one but mini me did and she loved it.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

(makes 12 cupcakes)

Ingredients:

60g Butter, room temperature

150g Caster Sugar

1 Egg

10g Cocoa Powder

20ml Red Food Colouring

½ tsp Vanilla Extract

120ml Buttermilk

150g Plain Flour

½ tsp Salt

½ tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

1 ½ tsp White Wine Vinegar

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/gas mark 3.
2. Put the butter and the sugar in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy and well mixed. Turn the mixer up to high speed, slowly add the egg and beat until everything is well incorporated.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, red food colouring and vanilla extract to make a thick, dark paste. Add to the butter mixture and mix thoroughly until evenly combined and coloured (scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula). Turn the mixer down to slow speed and slowly pour in half the buttermilk. Beat until well mixed, then add half the flour, and beat until everything is well incorporated. Repeat this process until all the buttermilk and flour have been added. Scrape down the side of the bowl again. Turn the mixer up to high speed and beat until you have a smooth, even mixture. Turn the mixer down to low speed and add the salt, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. Beat until well mixed, then turn up the speed again and beat for a couple more minutes.
4. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until two-thirds full and bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 mins, or until the sponge bounces back when touched. A skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean. Leave the cupcakes to cool slightly in the tray before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

300g Icing Sugar, sifted

50g Butter, room temperature

125g cream cheese, cold

Directions:

1.     Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed. Add the cream cheese in one go and beat until it is completely incorporated. Turn the mixer up to medium-high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 mins. Do not overbeat, as it can quickly become runny.

2.     When the cupcakes are cold, spoon over the cream cheese frosting on top.