Valentine’s day is coming up, and there’s no better way to celebrate than to make your loved ones delicious food! I love cooking for people and sharing the food I make, and I often use that as an in to start new friendships and deepen bonds with people I want to get to know. Enter, the universal dessert. The rich cream cheese frosting, hint of cocoa in the cake and the iconic red color make this the perfect way to start our 10 Desserts of Valentine’s Day series.
This is something you can make with your kids or your partner who doesn’t really know how to cook. It comes together quickly and doesn’t require any tools or specialty ingredients. This is the beginner’s bake you need to make for your loved ones this Valentine’s Day, even if you have no faith in your skills in the kitchen!
The four ingredient icing is also a great recipe to have in your back pocket, since it pairs well with red velvet, carrot cake, and in my personal opinion, any kind of cake.
Red Velvet Cupcakes Recipe
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
18 min
Serves
12
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cupcakes
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup neutral oil (vegetable or canola)
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1–1½ tbsp red food coloring
Cream Cheese Icing
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2–2½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Steps
Red Velvet Cupcakes
1
Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners.
2
Mix dry ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt.
3
Add wet ingredients
Add oil, buttermilk, egg, vanilla, vinegar, and food coloring.
Whisk until smooth and fully combined.
4
Bake
Divide batter evenly among liners (about ⅔ full).
Bake 18–22 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
5
Cool completely
Let cupcakes cool fully before frosting.
Cream Cheese Icing
1
Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
2
Add powdered sugar gradually until fluffy.
3
Mix in vanilla.
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