Wednesday, March 25, 2009

red velvet cupcakes



geez! two weekends ago (already?) i went on a total baking bender. red velvet cupcakes were the first adventure.


our story begins... in january i ditched out of an awkward fundraiser that i helped plan to get cupcakes. and lo! the cupcakes were the best that i've EVER had.


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after months of fantasizing about them, i tried my hand. oh, red velvet cupcakes. why is something merely "food coloring" flavored so absolutely enticing? it probably comes from the same part of my brain that genuinely loves waffle house and little people, big world. the kitschy, happy, slightly dumb part.

anyway, these are pretty cheerful suckers and delicious to boot and if i had more foresight (sat word, sadly enough) i would have made them for valentines day.

RED VELVET CUPCAKES
from better homes and gardens via the internet

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
¾ tsp salt
3 large eggs, at room temperature
¾ cup butter, at room temperature
2¼ cups granulated sugar
1½ tsp vanilla extract
2 tbs red food coloring
1½ cups buttermilk (or add 1 tbs vinegar per 1 cup milk, let it get all groovy for a few minutes. home science!!!)
1½ tsp baking soda
1½ tsp vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until combined. One at a time, add eggs; beat on medium speed after each. Bet in food coloring on low.

4. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to egg mixture; beat on low-medium after each just until combined. Stir together baking soda and vinegar. Add to batter; beat just until combined.

5. Fill cupcake liners two-thirds full. Bake 15 to 17 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near centers comes out clean. Cool pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Gently remove cupcakes from pans; cool.


i made marshmallow frosting but it was a pretty bootleg endeavor and hardened kind of nastily (don't get me wrong, i snacked on these puppies all week). in hindsight, i probably just should have made seven minute frosting. its in the joy of cooking, or any cookbook, or here.

2 comments:

Rachel G. said...

i like how your kitchenaid matches the batter :)

David G. said...

SSS = Ok
Magnolia > SSS