Velvet Cupcakes

As promised, here's a cupcake post! A new take on velvet cupcakes. Instead of going red all the time. We went on a different direction! Here's how we did it..

Velvet Cupcakes, makes 24 cupcakes.

2 cups sugar

2 sticks butter, room temperature

2 whole eggs

1-1/2 tablespoon liquid blue food coloring

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

2-1/2 cups cake flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare cupcake pans with paper liners. In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Mix cocoa and preferred food coloring together in a bowl to form paste and add it to the mixture. Mix well. Sift flour and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Add vanilla extract. Combine baking soda and vinegar then add to mixture. Pour the batter into cupcake papers. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place on a wire rack and let it cool completely before frosting.  

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 pound cream cheese,softened

2 sticks butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups confectioners sugar

desired food coloring

In another bowl, combine cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract together until smooth. Add sugar on low speed. Mix until light and fluffy. Add drops of food coloring. Mix well. Frost the cupcakes with butter knife or pipe it to the cupcake and serve.

Did I mention it's freakishly hot here? Well it is! Everything just melts! I shot this in our front yard and not only did the frosting melt but I did too. Haha! Also this kid came rushing into my spot, tempted to grab some cupcakes. Of course, a good teenager I am, offered her one. ;)

And don't be afraid to try different colors for your cupcakes! Enjoy!

xoxo Patricia and Pauline