10 Easy Steps to Delicious Red Velvet Cupcakes

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Red Velvet Cupcakes are sweet, delicious, and super easy to make.  The name comes from the fact that the actual cake is traditionally a deep red color.  The cake itself is mostly traditional yellow cake, but has a hint of chocolate in it giving it it's unique taste.  The color can be achieved by using beats or strawberries, however I usually just use the traditional red food dye.  It's easier and I don't love the idea of beats in cupcakes, just seems wrong. 

Despite it's wide spread adoration, the Red Velvet recipe is thought of as very Southern.  In fact it was a Texas company, Adams Extract, that spread the recipe throughout the rest of the country during the Great Depression.

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Luckily Red Velvet Cupcakes aren't actually that hard to make.  If you're feeling particularly lazy you can always run to the store and pick up a simple mix, but if you're feeling slightly more ambitious try these simple steps for some crazy good cupcakes. 

1. Pre Heat the oven to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit- make sure you do this because when you don't it's a major pain in the ass to wait later on

2. Mix 1 1/2 cups of sugar and 1 stick of butter until "frothy" - if you wanna be super fancy than you can use an official beater, I usually just use a fork

3. Once the sugar and butter looks good mix in 2 eggs and beat until also light and fluffy

4. For this next step you will need 2 bowls.  In one bowl mix: 2 and 1/3 cups of flour, 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and a half teaspoon of salt.  In the other bowl mix: 1 cup of buttermilk, 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of red food coloring, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. 

5. When both look ready mix the wet and dry ingredients together

6. Then add cupcake papers and fill each one about halfway- if you're like me and forgot to buy cupcake papers simply butter the shit out of each holder and you should be fine. 

7. Set timer for 15 minutes, and then check in after that. 

8. Now moving on to the frosting.  Mix one stick of butter and 8oz of Philly Cream Cheese until creamy and delicious looking.  Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl for ideal mixture.

9. Throw in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and mix.  When that's all set mix in 2-3 cups of sugar (I used 3 for good measure).

10.  After that just wait for the cakes to cool and then add the frosting.  If you're like me and new to decorating, that's ok, my cupcakes were far from beautiful but still pretty delicious. 

Maybe next time I'll strive for something a little more beautiful like:

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