Red Velvet Cupcakes Pink Frosting (Printable Version)
Moist red velvet cupcakes with silky pink cream cheese frosting, ideal for festive occasions.
# Ingredient List:
→ Red Velvet Cupcakes
01 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
04 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1/2 cup buttermilk, room temperature
09 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
10 - 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
11 - 1 1/2 tablespoons red food coloring
→ Pink Cream Cheese Frosting
12 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
13 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
14 - 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
16 - 1-2 tablespoons milk, as needed
17 - 2-3 drops pink food coloring
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine oil, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, vinegar, and red food coloring. Mix until fully incorporated.
04 - Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent tough texture.
05 - Divide batter evenly among prepared cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full.
06 - Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
07 - In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until light and creamy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
08 - Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until fluffy. Mix in vanilla and pink food coloring until desired shade is reached. Add milk, a small amount at a time, to achieve spreadable consistency.
09 - Once cupcakes are completely cooled, frost with the pink cream cheese frosting using a piping bag or spatula.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The texture is impossibly moist, almost like a cake truffle melted in your mouth
- That signature tang from cream cheese frosting cuts through the sweetness perfectly
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients blend together seamlessly—cold cream cheese creates lumpy frosting every single time
- The vinegar might seem weird but it's actually essential for that classic red velvet chemical reaction
03 -
- Touch the top of a cupcake to check doneness—it should spring back, not leave an indent
- If your frosting's too thick, add milk one teaspoon at a time until it reaches spreadable consistency