Small Batch “Red” Velvet Cupcakes
And by “red” I mean chocolate b/c I was too lazy to go to the store to buy red food coloring since all I really wanted to do was eat the cream cheese frosting 🤷♀️
Ingredients
Chocolate cupcakes (recipe adapted from @audreysaurus <3):
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/3 cup milk mixed w/ 1 tsp white vinegar (let sit for 5-10 minutes until slightly curdled - acts as a substitute for buttermilk)
1/3 cup warm water
2 Tbsp oil (vegetable, coconut, etc.)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Cream cheese frosting:
4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven to 325F
Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners
Add all dry cupcake ingredients to a bowl and mix to combine (make sure all clumps of cocoa powder are broken down)
Add in the wet cupcake ingredients and whisk until just combined (*do not overmix*)
Fill the muffin tins 3/4 of the way up and bake for 15-25 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out with a few wet crumbs)
Let cool for 20-30 minutes
Using a stand or handheld mixer, cream together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy
Add in the powdered sugar 1/4 cup at a time, until fully combined
Add the frosting to the cooled cupcakes and enjoy!