My Favorite Red Velvet Cupcakes

Makes 2 dozen cupcakes

• 15 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour (approximately 3 1/2 cups)
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 13 ounces granulated sugar (approximately 1 3/4 cups)
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 3 large eggs
• 1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon red food coloring
• 1 1/4 teaspoon vinegar
• 1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 cup water

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line your muffin tins with cupcake liners.

Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cocoa in a bowl and set aside.

In the bowl of your mixer (with a paddle attachment) mix the oil, sugar, and buttermilk. Add the eggs, food coloring, vinegar, vanilla, and water. Mix well. Add half the dry ingredients, stir and add the rest, scraping down the sides and mixing just to combine. Don't over mix to avoid making a tough cupcake.

Scoop the batter into the paper liners. Bake for 20-30 minutes until the cupcake springs back when touched and a toothpick comes out clean. I baked mine for 20 minutes.

Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

The Frosting

• 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
• 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 pound confectioners' sugar (3 1/2 cups)

I weighed the sugar using my kitchen scale, but volume measurement will work as well. Set aside.

Cream together the cream cheese, butter and vanilla using your electric mixer and the paddle attachment. Sift the sugar into the cream cheese and butter mixture, mix on medium speed until well combined. Spread a generous amount of the frosting on each cupcake.