Nothing beats rich, moist, light, and airy red velvet cupcakes topped with luxurious no-butter cream cheese frosting. This simple and easy recipe will have you making these cupcakes more often than you planned.
Table of Content
Did you know that the red velvet cake was first made during world war II? I believe when food was rationed the bakers had to use boiled beet juice to enhance the color of their baked goods. There are still some traditional red velvet cakes that use beets in the recipe to keep them moist. Now we just call them chocolate beet cake or something similar not necessarily red velvet cupcakes.
Another interesting find for me was that although the red velvet original recipe is known to be American, it was actually not frosted with cream cheese frosting. Rather it was made with a French butter icing called roux icing, which is very time-consuming to make but really light and fluffy. The cream cheese frosting is just a modern variation that over the years has become the most associated with moist red velvet cupcakes or cakes.
About these cupcakes
Bright, red, rich, moist, light and fluffy with a hint of cocoa. These cupcakes have a soft crumb and work great with many different frosting.
The recipe is simple and easy. I use oil, vinegar, and buttermilk to create an alkaline reaction, which in turn gives a very light and airy texture to the cupcakes.
Today, I have used the classic cream cheese frosting but often I will frost them with my no-butter cream cheese frosting. If you love rich cream cheese frosting I highly encourage you to try it out.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Cocoa powder - This is not a chocolate cupcake. The cocoa enhances the red color. It makes the red deeper, richer, and dramatic. If you don't want to add cocoa powder - just add two drops of a brown color instead.
- Canola oil - Any flavorless cooking oil will work great. For example, olive oil has a strong flavor and smell, which we definitely don't want.
- Buttermilk - You can make homemade buttermilk in 5 mins so don't look for substitutes
- Sugar - I prefer to use white sugar so it won't alter the color of my cupcakes. And yet, feel free to use the same amount of light brown sugar. I would not recommend dark brown sugar.
- Red food color - You can use beetroot color for a natural substitute. And yet, you would need more than 2 tablespoon for the whole batter. I would recommend adding ¼ cup beetroot juice that has been condensed by boiling for 15 to 20 mins. Simultaneously reduce the buttermilk to ¼ cup as well. I use regular color gels for my cakes since they are more concentrated.
Step by step instructions
Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 160 C / 320 F.
- Line your muffin pan with cupcake liners
- In a bowl sift together, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, & salt. Set aside
- Combine the red food color and vinegar with the buttermilk and stir well. Set aside
- In a bowl of a stand mixer, whip the egg for a minute then gradually add the sugar. Continue to whip until light and fluffy.
- Next, gradually add the oil followed by the buttermilk mixture
- Finally, fold in the flour mixture. Ensure everything is well combined.
- Divide batter equally between the cupcake liners
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 18 to 20 mins. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then on a cooling rack.
- Cool completely before you decorate.
Frosting
- In a mixer bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese, salt, and whipping cream for a minute
- Add powdered sugar one cup at a time until you’ve used all the powdered sugar
- Continue to whip on medium-high for 2 more minutes until you have a light and fluffy frosting similar to the whipped cream consistency
Assemble
- Place frosting into a piping bag with a round piping tip
- Pipe a dollop of frosting on each cupcake. Give it one big squeeze until the blob reaches the edges of the cupcake. Then another smaller one on top making sure to end with a point.
- Enjoy
Frequently asked questions
Bake them until just done - over-baking can dry them out.
Use ingredients like sour cream, buttermilk, yogurt, apple sauce that help keep the cupcakes moist.
Add simple syrup to cupcakes before frosting.
There are a few things you can do - we discussed it in this post -- how to avoid cupcake liners peeling after baking.
There are few things you can do to bake similar size cupcakes - we discussed that in detail here - How to bake same size cupcakes.
This will make a small 6-inch cake. If you want to make a red velvet cake I highly recommend using my tried and tested recipes for cakes.
Best Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting - Oil-based Cake
Moist Red Velvet Cake with Italian Meringue Buttercream - Butter-based Cake
Strawberry Red Velvet Cake with strawberry filling
Oh, these cupcakes are delicious with just about any frosting. I have shared with you more than 30 different buttercream flavors here on the blog but these are just a few suggestions.
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Printable Recipe
Moist Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
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Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1 ¼ cup (155 g) All-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tablespoon Cocoa powder
- ¾ cup (150 g) Sugar
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) Canola oil
- 1 Eggs large
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) Buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Baking soda
- ½ teaspoon Vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoon Vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon Red food color (or ½ teaspoon food gel color)
Frosting
- 8 oz (226 g) Cream cheese
- 8 oz (226 g) Powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon Whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 160 C / 320 F.
- Line your muffin pan with cupcake liners
- In a bowl sift together, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, & salt. Set aside
- Combine the red food color and vinegar with the buttermilk and stir well. Set aside
- In a bowl of a stand mixer, whip the egg for a minute then gradually add the sugar. Continue to whip until light and fluffy.
- Next, gradually add the oil followed by the buttermilk mixture
- Finally, fold in the flour mixture. Ensure everything is well combined.
- Divide batter equally between the cupcake liners
- Bake in a preheated oven for about 18 to 20 mins. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes then on a cooling rack.
- Cool completely before you decorate.
Frosting
- In a mixer bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese, salt, and whipping cream for a minute
- Add powdered sugar one cup at a time until you’ve used all the powdered sugar
- Continue to whip on medium-high for 2 more minutes until you have a light and fluffy frosting similar to the whipped cream consistency
Assemble
- Place frosting into a piping bag with a round piping tip
- Pipe a dollop of frosting on each cupcake. Give it one big squeeze until the blob reaches the edges of the cupcake. Then another smaller one on top making sure to end with a point.
- Enjoy
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Marion
Veena, can i make these into blue velvet cupcakes. If yes, is it that I just use blue food colouring instead of red. Also, which food colouring do you use, out here I have the Wilton brand food colour gel
Veena Azmanov
Marion, don't use this for blue velvet, because the cocoa powder is also there. Instead, use my vanilla cupcakes and add blue color.
Marion
Veena, then would this be more like a vanilla cake which has been coloured blue, do let me know.
Veena Azmanov
Well, you can use the red velvet - replace the cocoa powder with flour and use blue color
Marion
okay will try this out - thanks Veena.
NEEL KAMAL KALIA
How many medium cupcakes can be formed using this recipe.
I want to bake 24. What will b the recipe for that. Please share
Veena Azmanov
Neel the recipe card says 12 cupcakes, just change that number to 24 cupcakes and it will automatically calculate the recipe for 24 cupcakes
Alexandra
Simply delicious - red velvet is my weakness, and this recipe does not disappoint! The cupcake is light and fluffy. Everyone loved it. The cream cheese frosting is the perfect addition, I could eat it on its own.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Alexandra. So happy you enjoyed it so much. Yes, the cream cheese frosting is a treat. Thanks for coming back to write this feedback.
Brian Jones
What a great recipe, super simple and really tasty, everyone loved them, thank you 🙂
Veena Azmanov
Thank you so much, Brian. So happy you enjoyed this recipe so much. Thanks for coming back to write this feedback
Jeannette
I can never pass a red velvet cupcake recipe! Delicious and so satisfying! Thanks for sharing, Veena!
Veena Azmanov
Me too. Love red velvet cake.