Sunday, July 3, 2011

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

These cupcakes are very moist and the frosting is thee best, really. I wasn't sure I would like red velvet but I really like this recipe! There is chocolate in the cupcake batter which helps give it a nice hearty flavor.





Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting  Makes two dozen cupcakes, Recipe adapted from Joy the Baker

8 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
6 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
4  Tablespoons red food coloring (I ran out at 1 Tbsp so mine aren't quite as red)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk (use her helpful post HERE to make your own buttermilk (which is what I did))
2 cup plus 4 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 Tbsp distilled white vinegar

Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about three minutes.  Turn mixer to high and add  the eggs.  Scrape down the bowl and beat until well incorporated.

In a separate bowl mix together cocoa, vanilla and red food coloring to make a thick paste.  Add to the batter, mixing thoroughly until completely combined.  You may need to stop the mixer to scrape the bottom of the bowl, making sure that all the batter gets color.

Turn mixer to low and slowly add half of the buttermilk.  Add half of the flour and mix until combined.  Scrape the bowl and repeat the process with the remaining milk and flour. Add the salt and beat on high until smooth.

Turn mixer to low and add baking soda and white vinegar.  Turn to high and beat a few more minutes.

Spoon batter into a paper lined cupcake baking pan and bake at 325 F for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center cupcake comes out clean.

Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then place them of a cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

 
 I stirred in some chocolate chips to half of the cupcakes, it was a great addition for chocolate lovers like myself.


Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
4 2/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted (I don't have one so just whisked mine)
5 Tablespoons butter, room temperature
8 ounces cream cheese, cold (I used room temperature)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tsp cocoa powder (this was my addition - take it or leave it)
A handful of grated chocolate chips (or pieces of a chocolate bar) to top the frosting

Beat the powdered sugar, cinnamon, and butter together in the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment.  Mix on medium-slow speed until it comes together and is well mixed.

Add the cream cheese all at once and beat on medium to medium-high until incorporated.
Turn the mixer to medium-high and beat for 5 minutes, or until the frosting becomes light and fluffy.

Do not over-beat as the frosting can quickly become runny (I think this happened to mine, but after hanging out in the fridge overnight, they were fine).

After the cupcakes were completely cooled, I frosted them and added some grated chocolate chips on top to make them look pretty - this would be much easier with a chocolate bar if you have one.




I took them to work for Cupcake Friday and they were a hit! The frosting was especially enjoyed - I'm telling you, that frosting could go on anything (carrot cake cupcakes/bars, chocolate cupcakes, chai cupcakes? I even used some on my cinnamon raisin bagel this morning!).

***

I've also been introduced to this awesome pizza place - Pie Five. It's like Subway in that you can go through the line and add whatever you want to your personal pizza. The best part? No extra cost to add anything to your pizza! The atmosphere is fun, funky and modern and the pizzas taste fresh. It just opened about a month ago and it may be one of my new fav restaurants! I did eat there both Friday and Saturday this week...

 Margherita pizza with onions added on Friday's lunch with co-workers

 Saturday's dinner with Nick - I told him he had to try this place. I got Margherita with lots of veggies added and he got their High Five with lots of meat. We both loved it!






Last night, we enjoyed Fort Worth Symphony's Concert in the Garden. It was a great summer event. We brought our own snacks - grapes, cupcakes and crackers with cheese - our own beverages and relaxed listening to the symphony. It was pretty hot for a while (upper 90's), but cooled down to the lower 90's after the sun went down.




Many patriotic songs were played and the night ended with fireworks...



It's been a great long weekend so far! I hope you all have a great relaxing weekend too. Oh and I did make another trip to Double Exposure and got some more goodies to share sometime. Love that place!

1 comment:

Rachel said...

Your photos look really good in this post. I can tell you are working on taking good close-ups of food or something :)

These cupcakes sound great. It looks like you had a good 4th. I miss you and am excited to see you this weekend!!!

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