Red Velvet Cupcake
This recipe is an adaptation of two recipes from two of the most famous bakeries in the country - Magnolia Bakery in New York City and Sprinkles in LA. The cupcake recipe is fantastic, but the frosting... well, you'll never look for another cream cheese frosting recipe again.
Total Steps
7
Ingredients
18
Tools Needed
12
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 6 tablespoons red food coloring
- 5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 12 ounces cold cream cheese
- 1.5 sticks butter, firm but not cold (12 tablespoons)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 pounds powdered sugar, sifted (1 1/2 boxes)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour 2 cupcake pans.
Step 2
To make the batter: In a small bowl, sift the cake flour and set aside. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a small bowl, whisk together the red food coloring, cocoa, and vanilla. Add to the batter and beat well.
Step 3
In a measuring cup, stir the salt into the buttermilk. Add to the batter in three parts alternating with the flour. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated, but do not overbeat. In a small bowl, stir together the cider vinegar and baking soda. Add to the batter and mix well. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl, making sure the ingredients are well blended and the batter is smooth.
Step 4
Divide the batter among the prepared pans. Arrange the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and bake the cupcakes, switching positions of the pans halfway through baking, until a tester comes out clean. Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool completely on a rack before icing. To ice, mound about ¼ cup of frosting on top of each cupcake and use an icing spatula to make a swirl on top. If desired, decorate with colored sprinkles.
Step 5
Combine butter, salt, and cream cheese in a mixer and beat on medium speed.
Step 6
Add sugar until just incorporated. Do not over mix; the frosting should be thick but not fluffy.
Step 7
Add vanilla. If necessary, add milk to thin the frosting.