Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Adapted by Paula Deen
Eyeball cupcakes seen on Annie's Eats
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
Eyeballs - M&Ms, Gummi Lifesavers, red frosting
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake papers.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.
3. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.
4. For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.
*Eyeball Cupcakes -
To decorate the cupcakes, frost liberally with cream cheese frosting. Tint remaining frosting with red food coloring to desired shade. Place a Gummy Saver in the center of each cupcake. Using a pastry bag, pipe a small amount of frosting into the hole in the center of each Gummy Saver. Place a black M&M candy (logo down) in the center of each Gummy Saver and press down to adhere to frosting. Pipe squiggly lines of red frosting radiating out from around each Gummy Saver to create vessels.
Review: This is one of my favorite cupcakes, and Paula Deen's recipe is the best I have used. The eyeball cupcakes were a fun treat for our Halloween dinner party.
