Southern Red Velvet Cupcakes

These were delicious and a lot of fun to make, they didn't turn out as red as I hoped - I would recommend adding a little more red dye.

Ingredients for the CUPCAKES:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature
2 Tbsp red food coloring
1 Tbsp white distilled vinegar
1/2 Tbsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. 
2. Line cupcake or muffin pan with liners
3. In mixing bowl sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt. 
4. In another mixing bowl, stir together the eggs and oil.
5. In a mixing cup, lightly whisk together the buttermilk, food coloring, vinegar and vanilla extract.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients and buttermilk mixture to the egg mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. We are trying to achieve a dark red color.

Add the batter to the cupcake liners, until they are 3/4 full. 

Bake for 13-14 minutes.

Here are your yummy cupcakes!

Ingredients for the CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

4 cups confectioners sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/2 tsp salt
4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Combine the sugar, cream cheese, butter, salt and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and blend for 2 minutes.

I frosted my cupcakes using a Wilton 1M tip.
The first photo shows a frosting technique where you push the frosting down and then lift up, in little "mountains" all over the cupcake; I garnished it with edible pearl sprinkles.
The second photo is just a swirl technique from the center of the cupcake to the edge.