Red Velvet Cupcakes
Soft, buttery, and moist, these red velvet cupcakes aren’t just for Valentine’s Day! They’re so easy to make and are topped with a homemade cream cheese frosting.
If you only make red velvet desserts around Valentine’s Day, you’re missing out! Although the gorgeous color of red velvet desserts is great for both Valentine’s Day and Christmas, there are no seasonal ingredients needed to make red velvet anything.
If you’ve been toying with the idea of making a red velvet dessert lately, consider this the push you needed to follow through.
These homemade red velvet cupcakes are one of my go-to desserts for feeding a crowd. They’re quick and easy to make, and I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t love the unique flavor of red velvet!
Ingredients in This Recipe
You’ll need a few special ingredients to make this recipe, but you likely have them on hand already. Let’s go over a few ingredients you’ll need to make red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting:
- Cake flour: Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, which helps create a lighter and softer cake. I do find that actual cake flour works best to create a soft cupcake, my favorite brand is Pillsbury Softasilk.
- Cocoa Powder: You’ll only be using 2 tablespoons of unsweetened natural cocoa powder in this recipe. It provides a little chocolate flavor, but it’s not too overpowering.
- Vinegar: A little vinegar helps the cupcakes rise and enhances the color of the red cupcakes. I used distilled white vinegar, but apple cider vinegar or something similar will work fine too.
- Butter & Oil: I found that the cupcakes made with just butter were too dry and the cupcakes made with just oil were a little bland. The solution? I used a combination of butter and oil to give the cupcakes a buttery taste and keep them moist.
- Food Coloring: There’s one tablespoon of red liquid food coloring to give these cupcakes their classic red color. I prefer to use McCormick’s food coloring in this recipe.
- Cream Cheese: Make sure to use a block or brick of cream cheese for this frosting. Cream cheese that’s in a tub typically has ingredients added to thin it out and make it spreadable, which will usually give you a runny frosting.
How to Make Red Velvet Cupcakes
Before making the cupcake batter, you’ll want to preheat your oven and line two standard 12-count muffin tins with 16 cupcake liners. One that’s done, you can make the batter:
- Whisk together the dry ingredients: I like to sift the cake flour and cocoa powder to remove any lumps, then whisk in the baking soda and salt.
- Cream together the butter and sugar: Do this in a separate bowl. I prefer using my stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, but you can use a handheld electric mixer too. It’s important to cream the butter and sugar together for 4 to 5 minutes. This will incorporate more air into your cake batter and create a lighter cupcake.
- Add the remaining wet ingredients: To the butter mixture, add the egg. Once incorporated, beat in the oil, vanilla, food coloring, and vinegar. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl, as needed.
- Add the dry ingredients and buttermilk: You’ll need to do this in three stages. Start and end with the dry ingredients, and be careful not to overmix the batter.
- Divide the batter among the cupcake liners: Make sure you don’t overfill the cupcake liners, otherwise the cupcakes will overflow. I only fill my liners about halfway full, it won’t seem like much but the batter rises quite a bit in the oven.
- Bake the cupcakes: Bake just until the tops spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack before frosting them.
I used my homemade cream cheese frosting for this recipe because it pairs perfectly with red velvet. If you’re looking for a different kind of frosting, my homemade vanilla buttercream or even chocolate buttercream would be delicious on these cupcakes too.
Once you’ve made the frosting, you can decorated the cooled cupcakes and enjoy!
Tip: I’ve written a full tutorial for how to frost cupcakes here. It’s super easy!
FAQ’s
Do the Cupcakes Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes, because this red velvet cupcake recipe features cream cheese frosting you will need to store the cupcakes in the fridge. I recommend storing them in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out.
Can Gel Coloring Be Used?
Yes, that would be fine! I would start with about 1 teaspoon, then add more if needed.
Can This Recipe Be Used to Make a Cake?
Yes, you can bake the batter in one 9-inch round cake pan for 30 minutes instead of making cupcakes with it. For a double layer red velvet cake, you’ll want to reference my classic red velvet cake recipe.
Baking Tips
- When measuring your cake flour, avoid scooping it from the container with your measuring cup. Instead, stir the flour around, spoon it into your measuring cup, and level it off with the back of a knife.
- I highly recommend using cake flour in this recipe, as it will produce the softest and fluffiest cupcake. However, if you don’t keep cake flour on hand you can always make your own.
- You can freeze both the cupcakes and the cream cheese frosting in separate containers. Be sure to store both in airtight, freezer-safe containers to prevent freezer burn.
More Red Velvet Recipes to Try!
Video Tutorial
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the red velvet cupcakes:
- 1 ⅓ cups cake flour spooned & leveled (145 grams)
- 2 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder (10 grams)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature (60 grams)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
- 1 large egg room temperature
- ¼ cup oil canola or vegetable work well (60 ml)
- 1 tablespoon liquid red food coloring (15 ml)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- ⅔ cup buttermilk room temperature (160 ml)
For the cream cheese frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened (115 grams)
- 1 (8-ounce) package brick-style cream cheese softened (226 grams)
- 2 cups powdered sugar (240 grams)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- To make the red velvet cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two standard 12-count muffin pans with 16 cupcake liners and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, sift the cake flour and cocoa powder together, then whisk in the baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, cream the butter and sugar together on medium speed for 4 to 5 minutes or until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and mix until fully combined, then mix in the oil, red food coloring, vanilla extract, and vinegar, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Mix in the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the buttermilk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Make sure to mix in each addition until just combined and be careful not to over mix the batter.
- Evenly distribute the batter between all 16 cupcake liners in the prepared muffin pans, only filling each one about halfway full.
- Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the tops of the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Carefully remove the cupcakes from the pan and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the cream cheese frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the butter and mix for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until well combined and smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and continue mixing until fully combined, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, pipe the frosting on top.
Hi Danielle! These cupcakes look amazing! If I’m in a pinch will the buttermilk substitute change the quality of the cupcakes at all?
No, you probably won’t notice much of a difference 🙂
Do you have the nutritional values for this recipe?
I’m not sure about the nutritional information, but you can plug everything into an online calculator to get an estimate.
I’m making this right now, and weighing everything, and 1/4 cup of butter equals 10 g… Not 40. I’m super confused now. Pls help!
Are you measuring 4 tablespoons or half a stick of butter? 1 tablespoon of butter is about 15 grams so 4 tablespoons is 60 grams.
I’m making these cupcakes tonight and need them for work tomorrow. Can I use red velvet bakery emulsion in place of the food coloring? And do I use the same amount?
I’ve never used it, so I’m not sure. I believe it also adds flavor (like an extract), so it may change the flavor of the cake if you use it.
I have been making these for a few years now and they are the perfect red velvet cupcakes! My son wants them for his birthday every year.
This is by far the best red velvet cupcake recipe I’ve made. If you have to find/make cake flour, do it. This recipe is incredible and such a staple. I do 5 cups of powdered sugar and adjust the milk amount accordingly, for the frosting but the cake in of itself is nuts.
Amazing cupcakes ! Definitely a keeper! Thank you
best red velvet cupcake, look no further this is a winner.
really flavorful and has a great crumb.
Quick Question – I would like to double or triple this recipe. Do you think it can be doubled as normal or do i need to make other adjustments?
Yes, it would double just fine! Or you can use my red velvet cake recipe here. It’s very similar, just scaled up to make 30 to 32 cupcakes.
can I use salted butter in place of unsalted for both the cake and frosting?
You can use salted butter in the cupcakes and omit the salt. I probably wouldn’t use it for the frosting though.
Hello . Can I use all purpose flour instead of cake flour ?
I recommend using cake flour for this recipe. I do have a cake flour substitute here that you can use.
Hi,
Would this recipe work alright with Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour?
I honestly haven’t tried this recipe with gluten-free flour, so I’m not sure.
Best recipe ever! One of the most delicious cupcakes that I have tried before. I brought some to my job to share with friends for Valentine´s day and the thought I bough them in a cake shop lol
Wow! This was my 1st time making red velvet. I was a bit worried as I could smell the vinegar while mixing the batter and there was a funny smell while it was baking. Once it was done, all you could smell was the cocoa. The cupcakes were so light and moist. Everyone loved them. Can’t wait to make another batch.
Great recipe! Super light and fluffy with the perfect red velvet flavor. I made them for a friend’s birthday and she absolutely loved them!
may I use beetroot powder in the red velvet cake and how much? Thanks!!
I haven’t tried it, but I imagine that you could dissolve some beetroot powder in a little water and use it in place of the food coloring.
Super tasty and easy to make. Perfect for kids to help bake with you
Love red velvet! I’ve also made green velvet and blue velvet cupcakes. 🙂
Hi! I think your red velvet cake is delish. These cupcakes have given me trouble and I can not figure it out!
I bake a lot (have a small biz) and had saved this recipe for future use, so I figure I must have had good luck with it before. The past 3 times I have baked it the centers sink.
I know it’s not my leavening agents, I use the same for other goods. I thought maybe I over filled, but that didn’t fix it. I don’t think I’ve over mixed.
Any thoughts?? Thanks!
Are you getting 16 cupcakes when you make the recipe? If so, are you using cake flour or a substitute? And are you mixing in the dry ingredients until just combined?
To make Frosting less sweet, I tried to reduce the powdered sugar but it come out with a bit running. What should do to have Frosting a bit less sweet? Can I use cornstarch? How many teaspoons?
Thank you
Amp
Did you make sure to use a block/brick of cream cheese? If so, you could try adding a tablespoon of cornstarch to the frosting.
All of the proportions are correct. I’ve made them dozens of times and the butter and sugar cream together just fine. As for the color of the cupcakes, it may have just been the food coloring that you used. I always use McCormick and it works great.
Hey Danielle! These taste DIVINE, but I don’t know why mine had small whitish grey clusters in it. Any idea what would cause this? If I can figure that out then I’m going to make them and take them to a holiday potluck. Thank you!!
Do you think the sugar was thoroughly mixed together with the wet ingredients? And did you make sure to use room temperature ingredients? It could have also been that the dry ingredients weren’t completely mixed in and there were some clumps of flour in the batter.
Hello can I substitute the baking soda with baking powder or does it effect the final conclusion
Many thanks
I haven’t tested it with baking powder, so it’s hard to know how it would turn out. Baking soda is stronger than baking powder, so if you do, you will need to use about 3 to 4x the amount. I have a post that explains more about the difference between the two here. I’d recommend sticking with baking soda for best results though.
I loved these cupcakes because they came out fluffy and moist. As I read another reviewer about how moist these cupcakes are that will crumble I decided to remove 10 grms of cake flour and replaced with 10 grm APF. It was good but next time I will do 15 grms swap so it is a bit firmer. It came out perfect at 15 minutes mark. I did baked at 240 F. The cake is super sweet and a bit flavorless compared to other recipes I have tried in the past. I believe this is a true red velvet cake. Next time (just for my palate lol) I would decrease a bit the amount of sugar, and I would add a bit more vanilla extract. Maybe an extra egg yolk for richness. So far, I am sticking to this recipe. Thank you for sharing it!! xoxo
These are SO GOOD! The frosting is to die for.
Hello Danielle. Thank for sharing these wonderful recipes.
Can I substitute the cake flour for “gluten free” flour?
I haven’t tried it, but I would recommend trying to find a gluten free cake-flour blend to substitute for the cake flour.
My first time making it and it was so soft and squishy it was delicious! The only problem I had was after I took them out the oven they started shrinking and didn’t look the greatest. Any tricks to keep them nice and plump like they were while in the oven?
Did you happen to over mix the dry ingredients? It could be that you mixed in too much air, causing them to shrink when you took them out of the oven.
Hi Danielle,
My cupcakes deflated and they came away from the paper. Do you know why this would happen. It’s summer here and is very hot at the moment. Do you think that’s why?
Flavour was totally there. Just didn’t present as well as I’d hoped.
Hi, Lisa! It sounds like the cupcakes may have been slightly underbaked. Did a toothpick inserted into the center come out clean? Humidity could also affect them as well as leaving them in the pan too long after you take them out of the oven.
For whatever reason, red velvet is my kryptonite. The flavour on this recipe was excellent, the colour was perfect and the rise/doming was extremely disappointing. It looked very spongy and had flat tops and did not rise as much as I anticipated…where did I go wrong? I’ve over mixed before so I was paranoid not to, so would this be under mixed?
Did you make sure to use cake flour? Have you checked your baking soda to make sure it’s still fresh? If you didn’t mix the butter and sugar long enough, that can cause them to not rise as much too.
Looks like a great recipe. Do you have an alternative recipe if I wanted to make 2 dozen or can this one be doubled without any issues please.
You can just double this recipe, it will make about 32 cupcakes though.