The Cupcake Challenge: Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Mini red velvet cupcakes

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Round two of the Cupcake challenge saw the appearance of the red velvet cupcake. There is something about red velvet cake that intrigues me, I think it might have something to do with the feeling that you might have killed them when you bite into one of these and expose their blood red centre. Or maybe its the luscious cream cheese frosting that adorns them that makes them irresistible. Regardless, everyone seems to love them and so "I brought it on" with miniature versions of the ruby red cuppies.

Naked cupcake art

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I have spoken about my love of all things miniature, but when things are made even smaller it transcends love and I just go crazy. These mini cupcakes can be eaten in two bites, or one if you have an especially big mouth, don't worry its not a bad thing to posses....more room to fit food in! I baked 65 mini cupcakes, Daz took half and the other half came to my work.

"They're only pinch size, I bet I could fit 5 in my mouth at once!"

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The report was that after Daz announced the cupcake's appearance in the tea room, they quickly vanished. Some of his workmates were kind enough to send messages of appreciation, so I thought I would post them here. I was pretty chuffed, and it makes baking 65 mini cupcake AND frosting them well worth the hard work.

"You certainly brought it :) Delicious!"

"Have to say cupcake is very nice! looks very very nice too haha...love the creamy cheese topping on top. The lemon meringue cupcake is very nice too, the best cupcake I have had so

far! hahah"

"They are soooooo cute! and delicious!"

"Absolutely delicious. Home made or bought? No seriously they were that good!"

The leaning tower of cupcake

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So here is the recipe. Many years ago I found a recipe for southern red velvet cake on the foodnetwork website. Since then I've made my own changes.

Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time, 30 min. Cook Time, 15 min

Makes 65 mini cupcakes and 30 cupcakes or 1 large cake

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon fine salt

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

2 large eggs, at room temperature

2 tablespoons red food coloring

1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows

Crushed pecans, for garnish

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180C degrees. Place cupcake liners into a muffin tray.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In another large bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.

Using a standing mixer, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined and a smooth batter is formed.

Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cupcake liners. Bake until they spring back when touched in the centre (roughly 15 minutes).

Place on a cooling rack. Let cool completely.

Frost the cupcakes and garnish with pecans.

Sea of red

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Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 packet cream cheese, softened and at room temperature

4 cups sifted icing sugar

200g unsalted butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand-held electric mixer in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar, and butter on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to high, and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.)

Reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Add the vanilla, raise the speed to high and mix briefly until fluffy (scrape down the bowl occasionally). Store in the refrigerator until somewhat stiff, before using. May be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.

The power of cupcake within the palm of your hand

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