RECIPE: Moist and Flavorful Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing and Coconut Top

by Utokia Langley (www.shesgotflavor.com)

I love love love cupcakes BUT red velvet is my favorite!!   You will find many recipes that only call for 1-2 tbsp. of coco powder because they say red velvet is not meant to be all about  chocolate flavor!   I say PLEASE, my red velvet cupcakes have a  huge helping of chocolate flavor.   So for all you red velvet cupcake lovers who also love yourself some chocolate, this is the recipe for you!!   The coconut I decided to add on top of the already sweet cream cheese icing is just a testament to what She’s Got Flavor represents; the “FLAVOR” of course!!   Did I mention this cupcake is MOIST?   UH yeah!!   Super moist, every bite will just melt in your mouth!!

Moist and Flavorful Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing and Coconut Top

INGREDIENTS:

2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Hersey)
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. salt
2 sticks of softened/room temperature unsalted butter
4 tbsp. of vegetable oil
2 cups of granulated sugar
4 eggs at room temperature
1 cup sour cream
½ cup of buttermilk
2 1 ounce bottles of red food coloring (I use McCormick)
3 tbsp. pure vanilla extract (I use McCormick)

READY, SET GO:

1. Preheat your oven to 350
2. Place cupcake cups in muffin pan and set aside
3. Sift (dry mixture) flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda into a bowl, mix to incorporate and then set aside
4. Whisk/Beat butter and sugar for 3-4 minutes, add eggs in one at a time, add sour cream, butter milk, vegetable oil,  vanilla and food coloring and mix 1-2 minutes
5. Gradually add dry mixture in but do not over beat
6. Scoop batter into cupcake cups with an ice cream scooper for size consistency
7. Bake for 22 minutes or until you stick a tooth pick in the center of cupcake and it comes out clean
8. Take cupcakes out of pan and place on cooling rack before icing

TIME FOR THE CREAM CHEESE ICING WITH COCONUT TOP, WHOO HOO!!!!

INGREDIENTS:

1 12 ounce whipped cream cheese (I use the ones in a container by Philadelphia Cream Cheese)
4 sticks of room temperature unsalted butter
3 tbsp. of pure vanilla extract
1 2 pound bag of confectioner sugar
Coconut to taste

READY, SET, GO:

1. Mix all ingredients together with the exception of coconut
2. Once mixture is creamy add to piping bag and pipe onto cooled cupcakes
3. Sprinkle top of icing of each cupcake with coconut (use lots or less whatever you like)

ENJOY ENJOY AND ENJOY!!!!

Utokia
Sizzle Sizzle Baby ~

Utokia Langley is the video cooking mean machine and blogger behind She’s Got Flavor, a written and video blog created to Sass up your kitchen experience and assist you in creating flavorful dishes that will surely please!   She’s Got Flavor is developing a seasoning line that will help intensify the flavor in your food and make life easier and less cluttered in the kitchen for you, stay tuned.   Above all Utokia is a child of God, a wife, mother of two beautiful children who think Mom’s videos and food are “da bomb” and a true friend to many.   Check her and other recipes out at www.shesgotflavor.com and don’t forget to follow on twitter at @shesgotflavor or LIKE her facebook FAN page