Red Velvet Cupcakes

February 03, 2020

Red Velvet Cupcakes have always been a classic, favorite flavor of cupcakes.

These are the most perfect Red Velvet Cupcakes. They have a moist and tender crumb. They peel away from the cupcake liners nicely. And the buttercream frosting is soft and sweet. Keep them classic with no adornment, or give them some festive sprinkles.

How to make Red Velvet Cupcakes:

Flour, cocoa powder and salt are combined with buttermilk, butter, sugar, vanilla and eggs. Red food coloring is added in too, of course. Baking and soda and vinegar are combined and added at the end. The flavor of red velvet is created by adding the combination of cocoa powder and baking soda/vinegar + buttermilk to a basic cake batter recipe. This batter bakes into the most delicious basic red velvet cupcakes. Buttercream frosting is piped on top.

What kind of frosting should you use for Red Velvet Cupcakes?

The frosting recipe included for these cupcakes is probably very different than other frosting recipes you’ve tried. It turns out very pillowy and soft, and if you use a round piping tip then it will frost onto your red velvet cupcakes just as you see in the photos. If you want to use a more decorative tip for piping or if you you just want to spread the frosting on with a knife, I suggest trying my Wedding Cupcake Buttercream instead.

Suggestion: you might consider making my heart-shaped Chocolate Wafer Cookies to use as a garnish on top of your cupcakes.

What’s the best red coloring to use for cupcakes?

The recipe calls for one bottle of red food coloring. It’s a one ounce bottle. Otherwise, it’s two tablespoons of red food coloring. I sometimes like to use gel paste to color my baked goods because it’s more controllable, and I think it imparts a better red color. You can add a little at a time until you get just the right red color that you’re looking for.

Here are a few things you might like to purchase to help you make these cupcakes:

My favorite cupcake tins: these are my absolute favorite! They are nonstick and easy to clean.
Cupcake papers: great, basic white liners!
Red Gel Paste: this is the red color that I prefer to use for red velvet cupcakes.
Piping bag: this set is great to have on hand, and it will last you forever!
Open Round Piping tip: this tip works well with this frosting recipe

Here are a few more cupcake recipes you might like to try:

Red Velvet Cupcakes

A favorite cake recipe turned into delicious cupcakes with white buttercream frosting.

RED VELVET CUPCAKES:

3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, (at room temperature)
3/4 cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter
2¼ cups granulated white sugar
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
One 1-ounce bottle (2 tablespoons) red food coloring
1½ cups buttermilk
1½ teaspoons baking soda
1½ teaspoons white vinegar

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING:

1½ cups whole milk
1/3 cup all purpose flour
dash of salt
1½ cups (3 sticks) butter, (at room temperature)
1½ cups granulated white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

PREPARE THE CUPCAKES:

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar and vanilla; beat until combined. One at a time, add the eggs; beat on medium speed after each. Beat in the food coloring on low.
Alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the egg mixture; beat on low-medium after each just until combined. In a small bowl, stir together the baking soda and vinegar. Add to the batter; beat just until combined.
Fill the cupcake liners two-thirds full. Bake 15 to 17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the centers comes out clean. Cool the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Gently remove the cupcakes from the pans; cool.

PREPARE THE FROSTING:

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk, flour and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce the heat; cook and stir 2 minutes more. Transfer to a small bowl; cover the surface with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until cooled (do not stir).
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, sugar and vanilla on medium speed for 5 minutes until light and fluffy and the sugar is almost dissolved. Add the cooled milk mixture, 1/4 cup at a time; beat on low after each until smooth.
Use an open tip on a piping bag to frost the cupcakes. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Note: this is a really unique buttercream frosting recipe that is softer than typical frosting recipes. It’s very good, but you can certainly try another kind of frosting recipe if you prefer. This one won’t pipe on with grooved shaping.

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