Valentine's Treats!

Today I made a batch of homemade RED VELVET CUPCAKES. Thats right, I caved in to the craze and made those suckers. They turned out quite delicious but my frosting went a bit awry (not enough sugar!), so I decided to use store-bought cream cheese frosting...which in my opinion is way better! Go figure. For Valentine's Day, all sorts of great desserts are rediscovered. Theres just so much chocolate and red floating around its hard not to get all caught up in it! Heres the recipe I used and a picture thats not mine (I'll take some tomorrow when they're properly frosted!). Perhaps you can bake your sweetie some of these? They'll LOVE you for it.

Red Velvet Cupcakes
recipe from Paula Deen

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat to 350. In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients. In a larger bowl, carefully whisk together oil, buttermilk, food coloring, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla. Add the dry to the wet and mix until smooth and combined using an electric hand mixer.
Divide batter between cupcake pans lined with papers (should make about 24). Bake 11 minutes- turn- bake 11 more. Test for doneness with a toothpick.

Frost with whipped cream cheese frosting:

1/2lb c. cheese
1 stick of butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 c. powdered sugar

YUM!