Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ummm...can I just say, "CUTE!" ?  I can't remember where I found this picture...I just took a screen shot of it at some point...before Pinterest was around. :)

Red velvet cake is my very favorite kind of cake, and these cupcakes are so adorable. But the bad part about the heart shape? I don't think I could enjoy these cupcakes without some buttercream frosting on top of them.  Maybe I could use the same concept with sprinkles on top of the frosting?

Here is our family Red Velvet Cake Recipe, passed down for generations. :)

Red Velvet Cake

1/2 c butter, softened

1 1/2 c sugar

2 large eggs

1 c buttermilk

2 TBSP cocoa

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp vinegar

1 tsp vanilla

 1 oz red food coloring

1 tsp soda

 1 tsp salt

 

1) Mix vinegar and soda nad let stand.  Cream sugar and buttter.  Add eggs and beat.

 

2) Make a paste of cocoa and a litle bit of the red food color.  Add this to the creamed mixture with the rest of the coloring.  Add buttermilk alternately with flour.  Add salt and vanilla.

 

3) Mix well.  Then add vinegar and soda mixture.  Pour into three well-greased and floured 8-inch round cake pans.

 

4) Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Remove from pans and cool well on wire racks.

 

FROSTING:

Mix 1 c milk and 3 TBSP flour in a small saucepan.  Cook over medium heat until thick, stirring constantly.  Let cool to room temperature.  Cream 1 c butter and 1 c sugar with electric mixer until very fluffy.  Add 1 tsp vanilla.  Add in the flour mixture a little at a time, beating well as you go so it doesn't curdle.  Beat really well.  Frost between layers and refrigerate.  Serve cold.

 

This has been the birthday cake I have requested almost every year since I was a kid.  I love it, and I'm pretty sure I could eat an entire cake of it by myself.  (I probably shouldn't admit that...oh well. :))