Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Ready Time: 40 mins
- Makes: 18
Our namesake dessert is a New York classic that pairs rich cocoa cakes with cream cheese frosting.
DID YOU KNOW?
Red Velvet cake dates to World War II, when bakers used boiled beet juices to enhance the color of their baked goods. The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel came up with the original recipe, topping a beet-chocolate cake with tangy cream cheese. But it was a Texas food-dye company, run by John A. Adams, that popularized it. After tasting the Waldorf-Astoria cake, Adams realized that he could sell more dyes by marketing a red cake. It quickly became a favorite of home cooks nationwide. [Sources: NYT and Waldorf]
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, whisk together cake flour, cocoa, and salt. In a small bowl, mix baking soda and vinegar (it will bubble and foam!) and set aside.
Step 2
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat sugar and oil until combined. Add eggs, scraping down sides to incorporate fully. Mix in red food coloring and half of the vanilla extract. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture and buttermilk, alternating both in small batches, until fully mixed.
Step 3
Add the baking soda and vinegar mixture to the batter, and mix on medium speed for 10 seconds. Divide the batter evenly among cupcake cups, filling each three-quarters full. Place on a baking sheet.
Step 4
Bake in the middle of the oven for 18 to 20 minutes. Cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer pan to wire rack and cool completely. Bring butter and cream cheese to room temperature.
Step 5
Sift the confectioner's sugar over a bowl and set aside. In a medium bowl, beat butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce speed to low. Add confectioner’s sugar, in two batches, then remaining vanilla extract, and mix until smooth.
Step 6
Frost cooled cupcakes using a piping bag. To fill the bag, fold over the top to form a cuff, scoop in frosting, then unfold and twist to push frosting down, releasing any air bubbles. Using both hands, apply downward pressure to the frosting and follow a circular motion. Start on the outside of the cupcake and work your way in.
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Ready Time: 40 mins
- Makes: 18
For the Cakes:
Ingredients
- 2 cup(s) Cake Flour
- 1/8 cup(s) Dutch Process Cocoa
- 1 teaspoon(s) Salt
- 1 1/4 teaspoon(s) Baking Soda
- 1 1/2 ounce(s) Distilled White Vinegar
- 1 1/4 cup(s) Granulated Sugar
- 8 ounce(s) Vegetable Oil
- 1 teaspoon(s) Red Gel-Paste Food Coloring
- 1 teaspoon(s) Vanilla Extract
- 6 ounce(s) Buttermilk
- 2 Eggs
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together cake flour, cocoa, and salt. In a small bowl, mix baking soda and vinegar (it will bubble and foam!) and set aside.
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat sugar and oil until combined.
- Add eggs, scraping down sides to incorporate fully.
- Mix in red food coloring and half of the vanilla extract.
- Reduce speed to low.
- Add flour mixture and buttermilk, alternating both in small batches, until fully mixed.
- Add the baking soda and vinegar mixture to the batter, and mix on medium speed for 10 seconds.
- Divide the batter evenly among cupcake cups, filling each three-quarters full.
- Place on a baking sheet.
- Bake in the middle of the oven for 18 to 20 minutes. Cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Transfer pan to wire rack and cool completely.
For Frosting:
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon(s) Butter, Room Temperature
- 8 ounce(s) Cream Cheese
- 2 cup(s) Confectioner's Sugar
Instructions
- Sift the confectioner's sugar over a bowl and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, beat butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Reduce speed to low.
- Add confectioner’s sugar, in two batches, then remaining vanilla extract, and mix until smooth.
- Frost cooled cupcakes using a piping bag. To fill the bag, fold over the top to form a cuff, scoop in frosting, then unfold and twist to push frosting down, releasing any air bubbles. Using both hands, apply downward pressure to the frosting and follow a circular motion. Start on the outside of the cupcake and work your way in.
Meet Agathe & Arielle , Co-Founders (and sisters!), Red Velvet NYC
We believe dessert is about sharing and celebrating with people you care about. We love bringing people together and know you will too. XOXO