Red Velvet Cupcake

Finally, I have made it !!!

     This cupcake was on my agenda since a very long long time. I was looking for a suitable occasion. Had earlier planned to bake this for Animesh's birthday, but at that time I didn't get time to shop for the red food colour and cream cheese, so settled for Devilish Chocolate Cake then. And I didn't want to miss Valentine's day, because this is the perfect occasion, even though we no longer celebrate this day. 

   I started the preparation with a lot of fear as many things go wrong for people while making this cake. Either the the cake doesn't turn to have the required red colour ,or it becomes dense. Thankfully, nothing went wrong . Though, I gave a scare to Animesh with red colur on my hand. He almost rushed to get me some bandage :D .

    The cupcake came out soft and moist and with a beautiful red colour. The white cream-cheese adds to the beauty,though it is bit sweet.The recipe is adapted from the blog Apple A day mainly and some steps from Purplefoodie ..The ingredients from AAD have been halved to make 12 cupcakes.Amount of cocoa has been increased. Chocolate hearts are my own creation :)

And before I start my recipe, Happy Valentine's Day to all those who celebrate and Happy 14th Feb to those who don't. :-)

Cupcake  Ingredients

1 and 1/4 cup All purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar [ I used powdered Sugar]
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 and 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Egg
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup buttermilk [ For making the buttermilk look at Devilish Chocolate Cake recipe]
1 tbsp red food coloring [ good quality- have used Wilton Paste]
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. white distilled vinegar

Preparation

1. Prepare the cupcake pan by placing paper liners and applying a little butter.Keep aside.
2. Preheat Oven to 170 C.
3. Sift flour, baking soda and salt.Keep aside.
4. Beat oil and sugar till light and fluffy.Add eggs and beat at high speed till incorporated.
5.  In another bowl, make a paste of vanilla extract,cocoa and red colour.
6. Add this paste and vinegar to the oil mix and mix till evenly combined.
7. Add the flour mixture [1/3rd at a time] and the buttermilk [1/2 at a time] alternately, beginning and ending with the flour mixture (3 flour, 2 buttermilk). Let the mixture absorb the flour before adding more buttermilk. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl after the last addition of flour. No whites should be seen,
8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan or pans and smooth the top of the batter.
9. Bake for 18 -20 mins or till a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Mine were done in 18 mins. Don't overbake it as it will become dry.

Cream cheese and White chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

4 oz cream cheese

2 1/2 tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup icing sugar sifted

4 oz while chocolate melted  smooth by heating in microwave at 30 sec interval

Preparation

1. Beat Cream cheese and butter till light
2. Add vanilla extract
3. Add icing sugar and beat till smooth.
4. Add melted white chocolate and beat till it is smooth.

Assembling the cupcake

1. Apply the frosting on the cupcake by cutting the tip of a plastic icing bag . Apply less if your not too fond of icing sugar taste. 
2. I made the chocolate hearts by adding red colour to melted white chocolate and cutting heart shapes.