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.
Hello,
I am seeking guidance here. I tried these cup cakes. I had no cake flour so I made use of notes and made one by taking out 3 tbsp and adding 3 tbspof corn starch to it. My cup cakes raise well but while baking and inside oven only they sunk from middle. What could be the possible reason? I did you the oven thermometer as I am aware that temperature do vary. They tasted fine but out of shape. Please do reply.
Did the cupcakes sink in the center once they were finished baking?
Got the same problem too ? i followed the instructions carefully but still end up like her.
Did they sink quite a bit? It’s hard to say what happened, but over mixing the batter or slightly underbaking the cupcakes could cause them to sink.
Wow this recipe is amazing. I am only 15 years old and this was literally the first baking I ever did. The cupcakes were just beautiful and the frosting was delicious.
So glad you liked the cupcakes!
About how much batter does this make? Wondering if I should double the recipe for two 8 inch pans.
It’s enough for one 9-inch cake. If you double the recipe, I’d recommend using two 9-inch cake pans or three 8-inch pans.
Followed this recipe exactly but the cupcakes stuck to the papers so you only got about half of the cupcake can you please let me know why? They tasted great but was a mess getting them out of the papers
Sorry to hear that, Beth. I haven’t had any issues with these cupcakes sticking to the liners. Did you use regular paper liners or something different?
Regular paper liners
Did you let them cool completely first? If they’re still warm that can cause them to stick more to the liners. If you did let them cool, you could either spray your liners with a little cooking spray or try nonstick liners that are made from something like parchment paper next time you make them. I believe you can also add a baking dish with some water on the bottom rack of your oven while the cupcakes are baking and the moisture will help with that too. Hope that helps!
I just finished making these cupcakes, their to die for!! I got 12 cupcakes and with the extra batter, I put it in a heart shaped pan, and added a boxed white cake mix prepared as directed on the box. It’s delicious and needs no icing!! Next time I’ll put the white cake mix in first and maybe marble the remaining?! Yum!
Thank you,
Vicki Hetrick
So glad the cupcakes turned out great for you, Vicki!
Just made them for my daughter’s boyfriend. They came out perfect and they are devouring them now. I did not have any vinegar, curious how that would have changed them.
Glad the cupcakes turned out great for you, Linda! The vinegar helps to enhance the red color in the cupcakes.
Superb.baked great.i tried really yummy.
how is 1 and 1/3 cups 145g? my scale says 170g. I made these 3 x times (stupidly) .. the first in cups.. the second and third in grams.. before I realised the flour weight is incorrect.. very frustrating..
Are you using all-purpose flour or cake flour? 1 cup of cake flour that is spooned into the measuring cup and leveled off with a knife is 110g so 1 and 1/3 cup is about 145g. 1 cup of all-purpose flour is 125g per cup. The gram measurement in the recipe is correct for cake flour.
Super tasty cupcakes, they look perfect apart from they appear brown. It is my first attempt though. How do I get the vibrant red colour? More colouring and less cocoa powder?
Hi, Claire! They should be pretty red. Did you make any adjustments to the food coloring or anything?
Hi! I just made these cupcakes, they taste pretty good, but I also had the sinking problem. After reading the comments, I was very careful not to over mix the batter. Maybe I filled the molds too much?
Anywho, crumbled the cakes and will layer the crumble with baileys whipped cream- so no real harm done. I’d like to try the cupcakes again, I’ll buy new baking soda to make sure that wasn’t the problem… any other suggestions to make sure they don’t deflate?
So sorry to hear that, McKenzie. Did you use the cake flour substitute or regular cake flour? Did you make 15-16 cupcakes or did you make less? Did you happen to open the oven doors? And did you make sure to beat the butter and sugar together for several minutes? You can also test your baking soda to see if it’s fresh by adding some to something acidic (like lemon juice or vinegar) and it should bubble.
Can you make a stacked cake with this recipe?
This recipe would only be enough for a single layer. You can use this recipe for a layered cake: https://www.livewellbakeoften.com/the-best-red-velvet-cake/.
Made them today!
Delicious. However the frosting did not turn the way I expected… was so liquid!
Any tips how to make it less runny?
Hi, Georgina! Did you use a block of cream cheese or did you happen to use cream cheese spread? If you use a cream cheese spread, the frosting can turn out runny.
Can I use gel food coloring to make these cupcakes? If I can, is there a special way to do it?
Yes, that would be fine but you’ll want to reduce the amount. I usually just use a toothpick and dip it in the gel food coloring, then add it to the batter.
I put 1 table spoon of the gel coloring do you think it’ll be okay ?
I haven’t tried these with gel food coloring, but it should be okay.
I’ve made these twice now, the first time I had to compromise with a few of the ingredients because I didn’t have it all in my cupboard but they came out tasting amazing! But a little flat, so I just made the recipe again and followed it to the letter and these are incredible, my go to cupcake recipe from now on for sure.
If you use cream cheese spread like I did the icing will not be as stiff as it is intended and you wont get the nice stiff frosting but its really tough finding the proper stuff where I am, and the frosting came out tasting amazing anyway, I added a bit more cream cheese spread than the recipe called for to compensate since its less dense than the good stuff.
Thank you Danielle!
So glad you liked the cupcakes, Abigail! You can also use a regular buttercream frosting too, I linked to one in the post. Glad you were able to make the frosting work with the spread though!
I followed this recipe and these are the best red velvet cakes my daughter and I have ever made. We even had one the day after and it was still moist and soft as if we had just baked them.
I made the cupcakes yesterday and they are amazing!!! I am so happy I baked it!! The only thing didn’t work is the frosting, it’s so liquid and too much sweet but anyways is delicious
Hi, Clara! Did you use a block of cream cheese? If you happened to use cream cheese spread in a tub, that can cause the frosting to be runny.
I made the recipe exactly what it says, but my frosting just fell down when I put it on the cupcake already cold. I don’t know what happened.
Did you happen to use cream cheese spread instead of the packages/blocks of cream cheese? If so, that can cause the frosting to be runny.
Can you swap out oil canola or vegetable for sunflower oil?
As long as it has a neutral flavor, that should be fine.
Can I triple this recipe and if so do I need to do anything other than triple the ingredients?
I’ve double it and it worked just fine. It will probably be okay, but it will make a lot of batter so you’ll want to be careful not to over mix it.
Do you have you use cake flour? I have some but I’m just hesitant to use it because every time I do my cupcakes come out dense.
I highly recommend it because it will make the cupcakes lighter and taller. As long as you’re spooning & leveling the cake flour, they should not turn out dense.
Hey what is the substitute for eggs in this cupcake….?????
You may be able to use a flax egg, but I haven’t tried it.
Thank you, Danielle, for a terrific recipe! My son really liked them, and that frosting rocks!!
Thank you, Stacy! So happy to hear that!
Hi Danielle,
I made these cupcakes on Friday for my cousin’s birthday party. I have a few comments. First off, they’re are quite delicious! However, as an adult, I would have preferred something with a heartier bite… a little more dense. But that’s just me. My cousin loved them and that’s all that matters. She bakes as well so I was quite nervous when she asked me to me make the cupcakes and I didn’t know how this recipe would turn out. Second, I too had an issue with the measurement of the flour. I scooped it in the measuring cup, just like you said, and I also weighed it, twice. Got two different weights each time. I bake enough to know that a few ounces of flour extra wouldn’t really matter. I wouldn’t say my cupcakes sank in the middle but they didn’t really rise. Next time, I will just add more batter. Because it was hot and humid last week, in order to achieve the quantity of cream cheese taste my cousin wanted, I cored the middle and filled them with a cream cheese filling. I was only able to use a little cream cheese in a butter cream frosting to pipe the frosting because it would have melted had I use too much. My biggest compliment is that this will be my go to recipe for red velvet cupcakes. Not only did my cousin love the cupcakes, but one of the kids ate four (4) and they were the first ones to go. They were that good! Thank you
When you say you got two different measurements, was it quite a bit different? If it’s a few grams, that’s normal and won’t affect the recipe too much. Did you use cake flour for the cupcakes too? That helps them rise taller and properly, but you can certainly use more batter too. I’m glad everyone enjoyed the cupcakes though!
Hi Danielle, I don’t have distilled white vinegar. Is there anything I could use to substitute it?
Thank you!
Do you have another type of vinegar? You could probably use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar.
Noted, thank you! I used lemon juice instead, in a 1:1 ratio and it turned out really great!
I have tried many red velvet recipes and I am so happy I have finally found my go to recipe, thank you!!
I’m addicted to these cupcakes and bake them A LOT!!! They’re my favorite of all time! Thank you SO much for the recipe!
Sunny greetings from Germany!
I’m a prolific baker but have never baked red velvet cupcakes before. My husband said “I think these may be the best cupcakes you’ve made yet”….. a high compliment indeed. I especially appreciate the detail in instructions that make a big difference that not all bakers will know (paddle attachment, don’t over mix, temperature of ingredients) and your extra efforts in experimenting with your ingredients. For those having a sinking issue, over mixing or too soft butter (softened in microwave) could be areas to troubleshoot. Thank you for a great recipe and my new favorite baker to borrow from.
So glad the cupcakes turned out great for you!
I dud nit have cake flour so I substituted and added the cornstarch etc.
I did not overbeat
BUT they sank slightly in center
I will fill now to address that but i was disappointed
My guess: “cake flour” is needed and subbing doesnt really work.
Sorry to hear that, Denise. I find that the cake flour substitute usually works fine in recipes. There are other factors that can cause sinking. Did you happen to open the oven door at all and were they fully baked when you removed them from the oven? Also, if your baking soda isn’t fresh that could cause them to sink too. A little frosting on top should cover up the sinking in the center.
Can these be made without liners, in mini loafs, using baking spray? Thanks!
That would be fine!
Hi how do I get the frosting to be stiff, I use Philadelphia cream cheese.
This frosting is softer than regular buttercream. You can try adding more powdered sugar, but keep in mind that will make it sweeter.
I made these cupcakes and they tasted great! However the icing was too runny and only after reading the comments did I realise that you had to use a block of cream cheese, which was unspecified in the method. The icing also tasted great though!
Yes, if you use cream cheese spread that can happen. Glad you liked the taste of the cupcakes though!
These were the best red velvet cupcakes ever! under 20 minutes after they have been iced, they “magically dissappered”… I made about 30 of the mini cupcakes and they had to bake for 15 -16 mins. I also made another 5 normal sized cupcakes and they took about 25ish mins. They turned out to be perfect! Nice, soft, moist, not too dense, and most of all, DELICIOUS!!!!
Hello!
I’m living in Sweden right now, so I am unable to buy buttermilk and cake flour? Is there something I can replace these two ingredients with?
Thanks!
Hi, Kate! I included a buttermilk and cake flour substitute in the recipe notes.
Hi. I was wondering if I could bake cupcakes from the red velvet cake mix I bought at the store. It’s the Betty Crocker red velvet cake mix and I’m wondering if I just follow the box instructions and instead of cake tin pour the batter into cupcake trays would that turn out okay?
I will try your cream cheese frosting tho. Looks yum!
Hi, Fatima! Yes, they should turn out fine that way. Your box should designate how many cupcakes it will make and how long to bake them.
Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. I’ve tried it and it was successful! My family loved it! ???
I used full cream milk to make my buttermilk and used brown sugar for granulated sugar. ? the cupcake is not too sweet, perfect for our taste buds ?
My husband loves red velvet cake. But try as I may, I just don’t like the traditional recipe with vinegar and buttermilk. The last one I made, I added rum extract and my family loved it. But I will definitely try this one to see if my husband likes it best. Thank you!!