Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red Velvet cupcakes are easy to make...just have a little effort wifh your whisk. The buttermilk you can buy from bakery shop or make your own (combine 2 tbsp lemon juice with 500ml fresh milk and let it set for 15mins, you'll have the buttermilk you can use for your red velvet recipe). Cream cheese topping..with no topping, this cake does not have any Umph!..yeah! The topping that makes the taste so goooood....

RED VELVET CUPCAKES

(Makes 12 cupcakes)

1 1/4 cups cake flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cups granulated white sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon red food colouring

1/2 teaspoon vinegar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, room temperature

1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup (30 grams) confectioners' (icing or powdered) sugar, sifted

1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy whipping cream

Preheat oven to 175^oC and line 12 muffin tins with paper cupcake liners. In a large bowl sift together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder. In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined. In a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk with the red food coloring. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.  In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter. Working quickly, divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 18 - 23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cupcakes comes out clean. Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes and then remove from pan. Let cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting: In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners’ sugar and beat until smooth. Using the whisk attachment, gradually add the heavy cream and whip until the frosting is thick enough to pipe. Add more sugar or cream as needed to get the right consistency. Either spread the frosting with a knife or offset spatula, or use a large 1M Wilton open star decorating tip to pipe the frosting.