Red Velvet Cupcake

Recipe Rundown

TASTE: Perfectly-balanced sweetness that’s beautifully offset by the tangy cream cheese.
TEXTURE: Soft, tender and so moist, with a super silky cream cheese frosting.
EASE: Easier than you might think!
PROS: Super moist cupcakes with an unbelievable frosting.
CONS: A bit shy on the dome in order to preserve the moist texture, but once they’re frosted, nobody will ever know.

PRO TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE

• Weigh the ingredients using a kitchen scale. A kitchen scale provides the most accurate measurement, especially for flour. Place the bowl of your mixer on the scale and use the tare function to zero out the weight. Set or hold the sifter over the bowl to easily measure each dry ingredient and save time!
• Richer chocolate variation. If you prefer a stronger chocolate taste, you can add additional cocoa powder up to 2 tablespoons to the cupcake batter or you can substitute part of the cocoa powder with dark cocoa powder. Note that this will deepen the color and make the baked cupcakes appear less red. I recommended adding an addition tablespoon of milk if increasing the cocoa to 2 tablespoons.
• Personalize the color. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of liquid food coloring or 5 to 6 drops of gel food coloring to achieve a vibrant red color, or add more coloring for a richer red.
• Avoid stains. Keep in mind that food coloring will stain hands, linens, and surfaces quickly, so replace the lid promptly and use a damp paper towel to wipe any drips or splatters.
• Make your own sour milk. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can still make this recipe! Use whole milk and add a little less than 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to the milk and allow it to sit for a few minutes and curdle before using.
• Add more confectioners’ sugar for stiffer frosting. If you like your cream cheese frosting to be stiffer, add additional confectioners’ sugar until the frosting is your ideal consistency.
• Decorate with cupcake crumbles. Crumble one cupcake and use it to decorate the frosting. If you prefer a brighter red crumble garnish, add additional red food coloring to one cupcake before baking and stir to combine using a toothpick.