Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting [Menu]

 Although it's been a while since my last entry on Powdered Plum, there is one thing food related matter that I always stay in touch with online - and that's youtube cooking channels. It's an addiction. Two of my favorites would be Cooking with Dog and Food Wishes with Chef John. Both channels are endearing and funny, and my husband and I scramble to the computer together whenever there's a new post.Despite my love for them, though, I've never made a recipe from either channel until this past week.

I recently learned that I'm scheduled to graduate in May 2012! For getting married, moving several times, working, etc. I think graduating in five years is quite acceptable, and I'm really excited to be officially done with my undergraduate degree. When I leave the university (at least for the time being), I'll also be walking away from my job at the architectural office on campus, but, currently in our office is the "twelve fourteen days of Christmas". For the fourteen days following up to Christmas, each person in our office takes a day and brings in something tasty for everyone else to enjoy.

For my "day" last Thursday I figured I should try something new, and I decided to go with Chef John's Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting (since my husband and I had only watched the video about a dozen times the week before). I've made a red velvet cake before, but I've never seen a batter this red. The end product was moist and very chocolatey but not terribly sweet which worked well with the cream cheese frosting (which I had never had on a red velvet cake before). If you need a quick but delicious baked good, this is a good choice.

I'm happy to be starting a regular posting schedule again on Powdered Plum! Thanks for sticking with me during my hiatus! Happy baking!

Recipe ahead!

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

From FoodWishes with Chef John

Cupcakes (Yield: about 15 cakes)

• 1 1/3 c. all-purpose flour
• 3 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp fine salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 4 Tbsp softened butter
• 1 c. white sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 c. buttermilk
• 2 tsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp red food coloring

Frosting (Yield: about 2 cups - enough for this cupcake recipe)

• 1/4 c. softened butter
• 4 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 3/4 c. powdered sugar (or to your taste)

 The directions for this recipe are about as simple as they come! For the cupcakes, sift (or whisk) the dry ingredients together (flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, baking powder) and then add in the wet ingredients with either a whisk or a stand mixer (butter, sugar, eggs, buttermilk, white vinegar, extract, food coloring). I'm not exactly sure why sugar is considered a "wet" ingredient, but it is for some reason according to Chef John. I went with it and things worked out fine. 

You want to make sure everything is incorporated but don't mix more than what you need. Line a muffin (cupcake?) pan with paper cake liners, fill the liners about 3/4ths of the way, and then bake in a 350° oven for around 22 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before removing them to a baking rack to cool completely before frosting.

 The frosting is as simple as you would expect (even simpler if you're using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment). Beat together the softened butter, cream cheese, and vanilla and then slowly mix in the powdered sugar. Begin with a cup and move up from there. This frosting can be used immediately or put in the fridge to firm up. I, personally, like the texture of cold frosting, so that's the option I chose. Dust the tops with cocoa powder or serve without! Either way, I think you'll be happy with the result. 

For a lighter option, just brush the tops of the cupcakes with a simple glaze and some cocoa powder! I tried it, and I thought it was quite tasty!

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Nutritional Information
Analyzed using the Spark Recipe Calculator and Point Plus Calculator 

1 cupcake (without frosting)
Calories: 136.3
Total Fat: 4.1g
Total Carbs: 22.9g
Protein: 2.6g
Fiber: 0.7g
Estimated WW Value:  3.5 Points(+)

1 cupcake (with frosting)
Calories: 381.4
Total Fat: 13.9g
Total Carbs: 60g
Protein: 5.8g
Fiber: 1.4g
Estimated WW Value: 10.5 Points(+)