More Cupcakes...YUM!

This week, in my personal cupcake challenge, I decided to make Red Velvet Cupcakes.  I just love the way that word rolls off my tongue...try it...say, "Red Velvet Cupcakes".  Doesn't it sound delicious?  I have never made red velvet cake before so I started my paging my way through the world wide web, looking for and comparing recipes.

After much deliberation, and comparing of ingredients, I decided to go with Paula Deen's Red Velvet Cupcakes.  This recipe uses only 1 tsp of cocoa which seemed good to me.  Last week's chocolate cake recipe used 2/3 of a cup and they turned out a bit bitter.  In the final evaluation though, I think there is an optimal amount somewhere between 1 tsp and 2/3 cup...this batch could have had a more chocolately taste.  I was drawn to her use of buttermilk though and no vegetable shortening.  I have discovered that I am a bit repulsed by the appearance of shortening in a mixing bowl.  But I digress...

This week I also purchased silicone baking cups...

...and I was excited to try them out.  They're so pretty and fun.

I started by assembling the ingredients for the cake...wet ingredients in one bowl and dry in another.  Aiden walked in at just this moment and asked why I was putting blood in the cupcakes.  He didn't even sound surprised, it was a pretty matter-of-fact question.  Hmmm...it's a pretty red mix, that's for sure.

The cakes baked up perfectly.  Here's a few things I have learned so far though...take the mini cakes out about 5 minutes sooner.  I learned this after the fact, and will be applying it to next week's cupcakes!  Also, this cake mix was less creamy and I could have filled the cups a bit fuller.  I am still loving my bit star tip and icing bag...I feel so professional!

I got a little carried away and played with different techniques for the icing.  This recipe for cream cheese frosting...also Paula Deen's is amazing.  I loved it...and so did all my tasters.

So...I know you're dying to know the score for these Red Velvet Cupcakes...

Cake Flavor...3 stars

Frosting...4 stars "Mommy, you're already known for your frosting!"

Presentation...2.5 stars "Mommy, you need to get more creative"

They are honest tasters, that's for sure.  Aiden actually tried to sabotage the score because these weren't chocolate cakes.

Next week, I am going to get really risky and modify this recipe.  I am going to put in less red food coloring, more cocoa and bake for fewer minutes.  I'll let you know how the experiment turns out. Oh...and about the silicone baking cups...I'm not sold on them.  It was hard to get the cupcake out and then I had to wash them all.  I think there is a time and place for reusable and I am not sure it's a cupcake wrapper.