This is a recipe for Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. A perfect dessert for Valentines Day, or any day as far as that goes.

I love red velvet, but have never attempted to make it. I had no idea you need three bottles of red food coloring to get that rich red chocolate.
I’m not a regular frosting fan, but I love a cream cheese version. This combination is divine and for step by step how-to, please head over to her post on these cupcakes. You’ll be glad you did. What a great treat for Valentine’s Day.
Recipe for Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I hope you give this recipe for Red Velvet Cupcakes a try. And if you do, please come back and let me know how you liked it and give the recipe a star rating.
Your feedback is valuable to me for developing future recipes. And if you have a favorite cupcake recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
And if you’re looking for more cupcake recipes you won’t want to miss:
Cheesecake Black Bottom Chocolate Cupcakes
or this one for Chocolate Chile Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups cake flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa not Dutch processed
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups canola oil
- 2 1/4 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 3 ounces red food coloring
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
- Frosting
- 16 ounces cream cheese cold
- 12 tablespoons butter at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 6 cups powdered sugar sifted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Put paper liners in three 12 count muffin tins.
- Whisk flour, cocoa and salt together in bowl.
- Beat oil and sugar in an electric mixer on medium till well blended. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Lower mixer speed to low (you don’t want any splashing!), and carefully add the red food coloring. Add vanilla, then alternate flour with buttermilk, starting with half the flour, then half the buttermilk, the rest of the flour, then ending with buttermilk. Scrape down the bowl, then mix just briefly till combined.
- Place baking soda and vinegar in a dish and stir to combine. Add to batter with mixer running. Beat for just 10 seconds.
- Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake 25-30 minutes or till cake tester comes out clean. Let cool slightly, then remove from pans. Cool completely before icing.
- For frosting, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla just till blended. Add powdered sugar slowly (2 cups at a time) and beat till frosting is smooth and at the correct consistency. You may find you prefer more or less powdered sugar than called for. Makes 4 cups.
Red Velvet Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting …They’re what’s for Red Dessert.
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
My mother used to make us a red velvet cake for Valentine’s Day. Thanks for reminding me, When it comes to all those sweets, I’d be happy to have one of each! Happy Valentine’s Day, Lea Ann.
I’m a red velvet cake fan! So fun.
Thanks – great to know the recipe works as-is in Denver!
It did for me.
Did you make any altitude adjustments for these cupcakes? Thanks.
I did not Anita, because I simply don’t know how. :/
Red Velvet are such a great classic, and how perfect for this month’s theme!! These look lovely!
Thank you Anna
Liz and her red velvet cupcakes are definitely top shelf but so are you. Everything on your blog is delicious and these cupcakes are right up there. Yum!
Thank you THANK you Maureen. Coming from you that’s such a lovely compliment.
I always loved it when Mom would make Red Velvet Cake… I like the cupcake idea better! Liz has wonderful recipes… Great choice to share!
Thank you Kate.
It’s the amount of the red food colouring that I’ve kinda stopped making red velvet. I love it though, and it’s one of the chocolate desserts I do like. Thankfully, you can get fairly decent natural food colouring so these cakes are back on my repertoire.
I love your cupcake, and like you my favourite frosting is the cream cheee one,
I think this was a great pick for the red clue!
Want to do lunch next week? M, T and Th is good for me …let me know if one of those works for you.
Nazneen
I’d love to do lunch. Let me check my calendar. I need to sign in to my work server, or I’d let you know right now.
Red Velvet Cupcakes….a perfect choice!!!
Thank you Wendy.
Your so right, Liz is a top-shelf baker and your cupcakes are looking equally as delicious!! 😉
Thank you Alice.
Lea Ann, the cake minus the food coloring sounds delicious. Call me an Old Hippie Chick, but I couldn’t use red dye if you held a gun on me! 😀 But I don’t give a rip about cholesterol, so I’d eat that frosting with a spoon!
I don’t even know whats in it! I probably wouldn’t if I’d read the label.