Red Velvet cupcakes are one of my favorites! But I have to admit, I didn’t even know they existed until I was in my pre-teen years. My Mom and I were walking through the baking aisle at the grocery store, and the red color drew me in! Since that time, I have also been able to get my Husband (among many others) hooked on this incredible cake!

For this recipe, you will need red food coloring. The recipe calls for gel food coloring. That is highly recommended. However, if you cannot locate gel food coloring, you can use traditional liquid food coloring.

The Whipped Cream-Cream Cheese frosting that accompanies these cupcakes is not overly sweet, and despite the cream cheese and whipped cream in the frosting, it is sturdy enough for piping. The vanilla and almond extracts really boost the flavor.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 bottle of red gel food coloring (liquid can be used as a substitute)
• 1 t of vanilla extract
• 1 t of oil (can use vegetable, canola, olive, etc.)
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 T unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 t baking powder
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 t vinegar
• 1 t baking soda

Yields 20-24 cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing after each. Add food coloring, vanilla, and oil. Mix until fully blended.
3. In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and baking powder. In a large measuring cup, combine buttermilk, vinegar, and baking soda. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to the large bowl, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix well after each addition. Line a muffin pan with paper lining cups and spoon batter into the paper liners.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for  20-22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle of a cupcakes comes out clean. Cool.

Whipped Cream-Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 1 t pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 t almond extract
• 2 cups heavy cream

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, sugar, and extracts using an electric mixer. After ensuring these ingredients are well combined, begin pouring in the heavy cream. Continue whipping the mixture until it has the appearance of whipped cream and can hold a stiff peak.

Frosting adapted from All Recipes