Thursday 10 September 2015

Red Velvet Cupcakes


Finally, after 3 posts of me eating out, you get a baking post today. Relieved? I am sure you are. This auntie has not quit the baking department as yet.

Would you believe me if I told you that I have never eaten a Red Velvet Cupcake until I baked these? Where have I been?


Red Velvet Cupcakes/Cakes have been a curiosity to me for the longest time. I used to wonder, how does it taste? It has vanilla in it and some cocoa powder and how would that turn out?



I could have bought one to sample from the cupcake kiosk but this madam is too stingy to fork out cash for a tiny cupcake that costs upwards of RM4.

Now curiosity satisfied. So how do I find? They are alright I suppose. Sorry for the lack of enthusiasm. I don't dislike them, that's for sure.



They taste of vanilla with a mild chocolaty flavor. I was quite surprised that I liked the sweet cream cheese frosting. I usually do not like frosting especially if they are too sweet.

These cupcakes are moist with a tender crumb and if you store them in the fridge, take them out for about 30 minutes before serving so that the cake can soften.


The liners peeled off.
For some reason, the cupcake liners for this batch sort of peeled off by themselves while the cupcakes were cooling on the rack. Maybe they were feeling the heat from this terribly hot weather and they wanted to take off their clothes. So they got naked.



I baked this second batch because I was not happy with my piping in the first batch. Look at the first batch. 



The frosting looked so.....so.....I don't know. Compared to the second attempt, it looked so...... amateurish.



It all lies in the piping tip. The first batch was piped using a plastic tip while for the second, I used Wilton 1M tip (after watching a few tutorials on Youtube). I still have a long way to go in the piping department and I need more practice.



I still want to taste a Red Velvet Cake not baked by me, so that I can gauge if I got it right. So the next time I walk past a cupcake shop or kiosk at the mall, I will buy one for a taste test.

For now, I am happy that I satisfied my curiosity. I am not disappointed with these Red Velvet Cupcakes but to be honest, I would prefer a chocolate cupcake anytime :)














Red Velvet Cupcakes
Recipe source : Adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction

Ingredients :

For the cupcakes :
- 160g self-raising flour
- 30g cornflour
- 4 tsp cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs
- 60g butter, softened
- 100g caster sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) grapeseed oil
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp distilled vinegar
- 1/8 tsp liquid red coloring

For the frosting :
Recipe source : Adapted from Joy of Baking

Ingredients :
- 250g cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 60g icing sugar (sifted)
- 4 tbsp cold whipping cream (adjust according to the consistency of the frosting)

Method :

For the cupcakes :
1. Sift flour, cornflour and cocoa powder together and set aside.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition.
4. Add grapeseed oil and beat until mixture is emulsified.
5. Add vanilla extract, distilled vinegar and red coloring.
6. Beat until well mixed.
7. Add flour in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk, starting and ending with flour (I used spatula to fold the flour. You may use mixer at low speed).
8. Scoop batter into lined muffin pan and bake at 160C for 20-22 minutes or until skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. (Mine was done after 21 minutes).
9. Remove from oven and cool on cooling rack.

For the frosting :

1. Beat cream cheese until light and fluffy.
2. Add icing sugar and beat until well mixed.
3. Add vanilla extract and beat until well mixed.
4. Start with 2 tablespoons or whipping cream and beat until smooth. Add another 2 tablespoons of whipping cream and beat until you achieve piping consistency. The frosting must be soft enough t be piped and not too soft so that it can hold its shape.

Pipe the cupcakes when they are completely cooled. Serve or chill in the fridge if not serving immediately.

43 comments:

  1. I love red velvet...but it makes me very sad. I had a very very good friend, he made the best red velvet I ever had but he passed away last year, tragic self accident, only in his 30's. So so so sad.

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    1. Was that your friend, the late Jimmy? Yes, that was very sad indeed. He went way too early.

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  2. I have not bake for a long time, lazy...

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    1. Sharon. don't be lazy. Better go and vote tomorrow hee..hee...

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  3. Good morning Phong Hong, You've done the red velvet cupcake beautifully. The colour and frosting are perfect. Thumbs UP!!!

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    1. Good afternoon, Ann! Thank you for your compliments. It really made my day!

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  4. Hahaha, usually people use beetroot for red velvet cake, then that would make the cupcake taste different. If you use red coloring, it will just make the cake look red but taste the same as a plain cupcake.

    But I think you said you don't like beetroot? (Or was it someone else?) So maybe you will not like it..

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    1. I was too lazy to make my own coloring, so I just used the one that comes in a bottle :) I have not eaten beetroot yet, maybe one day I will try it. I heard that it has an earthy taste.

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  5. Yes, the frosting does look better in your 2nd attempt....but I do agree you need more practice if you want to make it look more professional....hee...hee....but for home baker....boleh lah! I think your frosting needs a bit of height ;) I actually thought it was the consistency of the frosting that made the difference until you mentioned that it was the type of tip used.

    They say a red velvet is supposed to taste more like a buttermilk than a chocolate cake. You should get a tang from the buttermilk and just a hint of chocolate. Some say it tastes like cough mixture :D I'm not a fan of red velvet (especially when it comes with a thick cream cheese frosting)...I've had it only once and I can't quite remember what it tasted like.

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    1. hah..hah...since I bake for home consumption, I doubt I will get enough practice with frosting. The taste is kind of in between vanilla and chocolate, so iffy, if you know what I mean. I prefer plain rather than frosted cakes, unless if the frosting is made of chocolate hah..hah...

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  6. Ahhh, red velvet.. To me, it's butter cake with red colouring, and topped with cream cheese frosting. But I know it's more than that.. It uses buttermilk.. At one time very "hing" red velvet, even until now.. Sure got cream cheese frosting one if I see red velvet.. I think cupcakes are easier to make than whole cake, easier to finish too, haha..Errr, beetroot? I prefer red colouring, honest.. I've sen mummies posting pictures in FB on healthy food for babies, using beetroot, the whole ABC soup turned red, errr bo sukak la..

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    1. Louiz, now that I have tried it (assuming that my version is correct lah), I will say that I am not crazy about it. It is nice but not as nice as chocolate cake. I haven't tried beetroot as yet. Maybe one day I will. It is supposed to be healthy. Some people make beetroot juice to drink.

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  7. yeah for once the Red Velvet cake like so popular and everyone was like dying to try one.. but Uncle SK very ulu lah, he never goes to posh cafe or bakery to enjoy these posh cakes lah.. he just buy cheapo RM2 roti to eat only, haha!! but he is better than Auntie PH lah, she is baking queen and yet she has not baked her own red velvet cake!! how unbelievable and how unforgivable!!! hahaha~~

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    1. hah..hah..better late than never! Red Velvet Cake is very glamorous and I think it is more of a novelty.

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  8. the first red velvet cake I tried and till date the only once, was baked by my Anay Twilight Man and his beautiful wife Letchumy.. so touched you know, when someone bakes cake and then purposely hand delivered all the way to you.. that was the sweetest and best cake I have had!! now everyone should know how to move me, just bake me a nice cake or some cookies, I will weep like nobody, hahaha~~ :)

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    1. Oh, that cake baked by TM and his lovely wife must be very delicious indeed! See this Anay of yours keep begging/hinting me for cake when he already has a baker at home. tsk..tsk..tsk... So now we know how to "bribe" you :D

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  9. so red velvet is supposed to have chocolates and vanilla in them and taste like one?? I didn't know, I have been wondering why the bright bloody red color of the cake, at once I thought the red color is from some natural ingredients like dragon fruit or beet root, until I was told it is just all coloring.. hence I never knew about the chocolate and vanilla taste, just expecting "cake taste" only lah, haha!!

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    1. The cake has a vanilla and mild chocolaty taste. Like neither here nor there kind of taste, to me lah. I prefer either vanilla or chocolate. So I find that the taste is just OK, not saying anything bad about it.

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  10. BTW digress a bit since talking about color, I still have not tried rainbow cake before!! is it still the popular cake now?? PH has baked one before or not??

    okay back to the red velvet cake.. I don't quite like the cream or icing on cupcakes, they are all the time too sweet for my liking.. if could be a little salty or sourish, I guess would be better and suits my taste.. I think PH must have actually enhanced and done something for her icing that she actually likes that!!

    ooh, back to coloring.. since there is red velvet, will there be other colors like blue, green, purple, yellow etc velvet?? hmmm, yellow seems nice huh?? it's minions color, I like~~ xD

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    1. Rainbow cake I think is still popular, It is basically vanilla flavor just that it is baked in many colors and layered. Very pretty cake but I am too lazy to bake such a cake.

      I also generally do not fancy icing or frosting. Somehow I like this one maybe it is because it is cream cheese with vanilla flavor. Something like eating cheesecake. The sweetness level higher than what I am used to but not overly sweet. That is why I like it.

      hah..hah..I suppose if you want any other color except red, why not? Yellow Velvet Cake. muahahaha!!

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  11. Hi Phong Hong,

    Before baking my first red velvet cupcakes, I said ewww at the addition of colouring!!! ... but now, I can appreciate the sexy side of these cakes. Now seeing yours, I know you have been seduced... ha ha ha!!! Maybe not as seduced yet as some very chocolaty cake... but can't deny that you are seduced :p

    Zoe

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    1. Hi Zoe! Yes, Red Velvet Cakes are so alluring and a thing of beauty! But I will always be seduced by a chocolate cake hee..hee...

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  12. Hi Phong Hong,
    Very nice velvet colour and I love the rosette frosting too. I've tasted red velvet cupcake before but very buttery and sweet lor.

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    1. Hi Karen! Ya lor, this cake is more suited to ang moh taste. I still prefer butter cake or chocolate cake anytime.

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  13. Red velvet cakes are more pricey when sold outside.. is it because the flower is difficult to obtain? I was contemplating buying a red velvet cheesecake here in JB.. it was most expensive compared to the other cheese cakes.. more expensive by 5rm at least.. but I think the red velvet tastes very nice.. Good Bakes, PH!!

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    1. Claire, I feel that it is expensive due to the novelty factor. Just because it is Red Velvet Cake, therefore we pay a premium for that. And thanks for the compliment hee..hee...

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  14. I like this : "Maybe they were feeling the heat from this terribly hot weather and they wanted to take off their clothes. So they got naked.":))))))))))

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  15. I have not eaten red velvet cupcakes before but I have eaten a slice of red velvet cake which does not taste special at all. To me it was just a slice of cake with red colouring. Is it meant to be made with cocoa powder?

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    1. Mun, there is cocoa powder in the cake but not much. So it has a mild chocolaty taste.

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  16. I like your frosting, it looks very pretty like a rose. When people give me cupcakes to eat I will just scrap away all the tall sweet frosting on top no matter what flavour the frosting are - what a waste but I just don't like them.

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    1. hah..hah...me too do not like frostings. But somehow, I like this one.

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  17. Looks yummy! But for me I will just ditch the cream on top, not a fan of such cream, hehe!

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    1. Hayley, usually I also don't like frostings but this one I like :)

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  18. I like the cheese frosting, that's make the whole cupcake look so delicious..

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    1. Agnes, that's the hallmark of a red velvet cake :)

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  19. Love that you bought a sample to taste test yours :p. These cupcakes look amazing! I also agree though, sometimes I would prefer a regular chocolate cupcake

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  20. Looks good but I dunno why I'm not that crazy about red velvet. :P

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  21. Hi Phong Hong, I have never eaten a red velvet cake too, just like you, dont want to pay a couple of dollars just for a tiny cupcake...looks like I have to bake a batch to try ;)
    I like your cream cheese frosting, will want to try it...plan to make some chocolate cupcakes for my niece's birthday. What kind of whipping cream should I use? dairy or non dairy? Thanks for sharing this recipe and your baking experience!

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    1. Hi HHB! Well, I look forwards to your red velvet cake, if you ever decide to bake one! I have not tried non-diary whipping cream, so I'll have to say use diary hah..hah...

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