baking couture RED VELVET CUPCAKES

I have never made Red Velvet Cupcakes before. I made them today for my daughters 14th birthday, as she has said on a number of occasions that she loves them. I found them quite easy to make and the mix and icing are both divine. Yes I taste tested both before cooking and icing.

• 300g (2 cups) plain flour
• 30g (1/4 cup) cocoa powder
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 315g (1 1/2 cups) caster sugar
• 250ml (1 cup) buttermilk
• 200g unsalted butter, melted
• 2 eggs, lightly whisked
• 1 tbs white vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 tsp red food colouring
• 2 x 250g pkts cream cheese, at room temperature
• 300g (2 cups) pure icing sugar
• 120g butter, extra, at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla essence, extra

1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Line eighteen 80ml (1/3 cup) capacity muffin pans with paper cases. Sift flour, cocoa powder and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Stir through the sugar. Whisk the buttermilk, butter, eggs, vinegar and vanilla in a large jug until combined. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture. Add the buttermilk mixture. Stir until just combined. Stir in the food colouring.
2. Divide the mixture among the lined pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centres comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Use an electric beater to beat the cream cheese, icing sugar, extra butter and extra vanilla until smooth. 
   Spread over cupcakes.

recipe from Taste

A pic of my very first Red Velvet Cupcakes.