Birthday Red Velvet Cupcakes

Incase you missed it my 24th birthday was last week and I decided to do some baking in the morning. I choose to have a second attempt at red velvet cupcakes now I've found 'paste' food colouring which I think was my downfall last time. Today I thought I would share my special birthday red velvet cupcake recipe. They really aren't harder than any other type of cake but extra delicious.

You will need:

125g of plain flour                                      1 tbsp of cocoa powder
1 tsp of baking powder            ¼ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
50g of unsalted butter                                   100g of caster sugar
1 tbsp of red food colouring                      1 tsp of vanilla extract
1 large egg                                                               87ml buttermilk

And for the frosting:

250g of icing sugar                                         62g of cream cheese
62g of soft unsalted butter                         ½ tsp of lemon juice

Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl (one big enough to fit the ingredients will be fine). Then in a larger bowl, cream the butter and sugar, beating well, and when you have a soft, pale mixture beat in the food colouring vanilla extract.

The mixture should now be a very bright red colour, if it isn't add a little more food colouring. Then add 1 spoonful of the dried ingredients, then part of the beaten egg, followed by some more dried ingredients, then more egg, followed by the rest of the dried ingredients. Finally beat in the buttermilk and divide the batter between the cases. 

Bake in a preheated oven at 170℃ for about 18 minutes. Since it is more difficult to tell if they are cooked with the dark red colour just stick a cocktail stick in the centre. If it comes out clean they are perfectly cooked. If not then just put them back for another minute. 

While they are cooling make the cream cheese frosting. Sift the icing sugar into a bowl add the cream cheese and butter and beat with electric beaters. Pour in the lemon juice and keep beating until the mixture is smooth.

Finally once your cakes are cold spoon the icing over the top and enjoy. 

I classed these as a little treat for my birthday but I am finding myself craving them already... oops!

If you fancy some more baking - Lemon & Blueberry Birthday Cake