red velvet cupcakes

lauren and i made these a few nights ago on a rainy afternoon. you'll notice i try alot of barefoot contessa's recipes, she's the best. so i saw her making these on tv the other day and thought i'd try them!

recipe

21/2c flour

1/4c unsweetened cocoa powder

1tsp. baking powder

1tsp. baking soda

1tsp. kosher salt

1c buttermilk, shaken

1tbsp. red food coloring

1tsp. white vinegar

1tsp. vanilla

1stick unsalted butter

11/2c sugar

2eggs

frosting

8oz. cream cheese, room temperature

11/2sticks unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2tsp. vanilla

31/2c sifted confectioner's sugar

preheat oven to 350 degrees. line the muffin tins with paper liners. sift together the dry ingredients. then in a bowl mix the buttermilk, food coloring, vinegar and vanilla. then in an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar together. add the eggs one at a time. add the dry and wet ingredients (altering three times, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients). scoop the batter in the muffin cups. then bake for 20 minutes. cool completely then frost. for the frosting mix the cream cheese, butter and vanilla. add the sugar last, don't whip! just until combined. 

like i said this recipe comes from barefoot contessa. the major point i'd make about this recipe is take them out sooner! i only baked them for 18minutes and i think that was even a little too late (next time watch closely after 15minutes). the cake was really dense, but overall the cupcakes were yummy. 

*picture came out too dark! so i made it black and white :)