RED VELVET CUPCAKES for VALENTINE'S DAY!

Nothing says Valentine's Day quite like Red Velvet Cake. It combines that nice deep red Valentine color with Chocolate.

I've posted Natural Red Velvet Cake Recipes that don't use red food dye, but real Southern Red Velvet Cake cries out for the artificial red dye! One of my favorite no fail recipes (make it in a bundt pan or mini-bundt pans) is Marge's Red Velvet Cake which does use red food coloring.

Some people don't think of Red Velvet Cake as a chocolate cake but you use cocoa, so it's a cake deserving of this blog. Red Velvet Cake is made with cocoa, white vinegar, baking soda, and buttermilk, and it gets its deep color from red food dye. For some very 'Southern' tips and things about Red Velvet Cake that will surprise you, read Adrian Velez's post for CafeMom at The Stir.

So for another recipe, because variety is the spice of life, here's a slightly adapted Paula Deen recipe for Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting! I added more cocoa, because I do like them to taste a bit more chocolate-y. These are perfect for your Sweetie this Valentine's Day, and you can make ahead. Be sure and scroll down for a link to a very special Red Velvet Cake Surprise from CakeSpy!

RED VELVET CUPCAKES

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp DARK cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 Tbsp red food coloring
1 tsp white distilled vinegar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers (or use mini-cupcake pans and double).
In medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In large bowl gently beat together oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with handheld electric mixer. Add sifted dry ingredients to wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.
Divide batter evenly among cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning pans once, half way through. Test cupcakes with  toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For Cream Cheese Frosting:
In large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla together until smooth. Add sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

Paula Deen tops her cupcakes with nuts, but I suggest sprinkling with Red Velvet Cake Crumbs!

Want to try something really wacky and delicious? CakeSpy has a fabulous recipe for a Red Velvet Shake! Forget about your arteries. Ice-cream, milk, and a big piece of red velvet cake! Heaven. Now you know what to do with that last cupcake or piece of cake!

Happy Valentine's Day!