Red Velvet Cupcakes

In an attempt to ween myself from all things chocolate, I can’t quite give up the most wonderful cupcakes in teh world-red velvet. Confetti Cupcakes, a local joint in our micro-town of Issaquah, WA recently opened, reviving my passion for a dessert I traditionally saved for Valentines. Now, with the resident evil among us, Barb, the owner and fellow former San Franciscan, has cursed and blessed me. I go in, nosh on the food, banter about her amazing decorations (she had a retail boutique in the city by the bay), and talk food. It’s awesome. Were it not for the other customers and my kids, I’d be there more frequently, which is a probably a bad thing in the long run.

Five years ago, it was the Curves franchise that was taking up retail space, (an ironic name choice I always thought, since working creates straight, hard lines on the hips where Aphrodite-esque roundth used to exist). Today it’s, Sprinkles and the like, using buttermilk and Valhrona chocolate to hide any evidence of a workout.

Red velvet afficianados know that a true red velvet boils down to good chocolate (Valhrona), buttermilk, nice butter, European if possible, but if not, regular, salted butter (even she uses salted butter, so I’m not alone). We agreed that that chocolate used wasn’t even as important as the butter.

“No lard or shortening,” she said, puckering her nose. “The aftertaste is horrid.”

As fate would have it, a mom’s event earlier this week featured red velvet cookies, using the same topping and were equally as good (just less of it to eat).

With that, I’m on a mission to publish a no-fail recipe. (BTW-most are the same, mine as a bit of vinegar, which makes all the difference in the world, IMHO).

Red Velvet Cupcakes
(Print this Recipe)
Time to completion: @50 min
Servings: 11-18 cupcakes depending on size

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 eggs, room temperature
1 cup buttermilk (organic if possible, the texture/flavor is different)
1 Tbs red food coloring
1 Tsp high quality vanilla extract
1/2 Tsp baking soda
1 Tbs distilled white vinegar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tsp salt

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Prepare the muffin tins. I prefer to use baking cups, tinfoil are fun at this time of year (silver and red can be found in most grocery stores or markets)
Beat the butter and sugar w/an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Stir in the backing soda and vinegar.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder and salt; reduce the speed on the batter, or turn it off, and hand stir in the flour mixture until just blended. (Over stirring kills the fluff, and the rise is not as good).
Pour or spoon the batter in to the cups and bakefor 20-25 min, depending on the level of moistness you desire.
Cool on a wire rack.

For the cream cheese frosting, I’ve used a ton, and always go back to Barefoot Contessa (though sometimes this is a bit buttery for some folks), or Martha Stewarts (because it’s on line) recipe for Cream Cheese Frosting. The only change I make is using salted vs unsalted butter.

My only counsel is this: the day you are going to make these curve-producers, go workout in the morning. You’ll feel slightly less guilt. (Emphasis on ‘slightly.’)