Red Velvet Cupcakes

The girls love anything red velvet!  I wanted to make red velvet cupcakes that was a bit more on the healthier side.  I know, I know.....but my other criteria was it still needed to taste delicious.  After much searching, I found this Red Velvet Cupcakes on Spicy Ice Cream.



The cupcakes were fantastic and clearly a big winner with the girls!  The cupcakes were moist and how can it not be delicious with a wonderful cream cheese frosting.

Red Velvet Cupcakes
Printable Recipe
Makes 20-24

Cupcakes
2 ½ cups plain flour
1 ½ cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons cocoa powder
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons red food colouring
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 Cream Cheese Frosting
250g cream cheese, softened
1 cup icing sugar, sifted
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Line one or two 12-hole cupcake trays with paper liners.
2) Sift flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cocoa into a large bowl and whisk to combine.
3) In another bowl, mix the oil, buttermilk, eggs, red colouring, vinegar and vanilla extract on medium to low speed.
4) Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth and well combined.
5) Fill the cupcake liners with batter, until about 2/3 full.  Bake for 20-22 minutes, turning the pans once at about the halfway mark.  Cupcakes are done when a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
6) Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
7) To make cream cheese icing, combine cream cheese, sifted icing sugar and vanilla extract in the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix until smooth and creamy. Smooth onto cooled cakes.