Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups self-rising flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk (1 Tablespoon white vinegar with enough whole milk added to equal 1 cup)
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/4 cup (two 1 oz. bottles) red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 2 large eggs
• 4 oz. unsalted butter, softened
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 24 Hershey kisses, unwrapped
• 24 Reese’s peanut butter chips
• 24 mini Nilla Wafers
• A few dabs of frosting to use as glue (from this recipe, or canned frosting)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°.

2. 2

   In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, sugar, and cocoa powder.

3. 3

   In the bowl of an electric mixer, or in a large bowl using a hand mixer on low speed, mix buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla, red food coloring, white vinegar and eggs.

4. 4

   Slowly add the dry ingredients until combined, and increase speed to medium. Beat for 5 minutes.

5. 5

   Line two muffin pans with cupcake liners. Fill each liner about halfway with batter. (Not essential to have, but a funnel pitcher is perfect for this kind of job to minimize the mess.)

6. 6

   Bake for 17-19 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick or cake tester. Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.

7. 7

   --- Cream Cheese Frosting: ---

8. 8

   Beat together the butter and cream cheese.

9. 9

   Slowly add the confectioners sugar and incorporate, a little at a time until completely blended. Add the vanilla and mix.

10. 10

    Frost the cupcakes with a knife or offset spatula, or using a pastry bag and large tip.

11. 11

    Decorate the top with chocolate sprinkles and/or edible glitter. Then top with a Hershey Kiss acorn, if desired (see below).

12. 12

    --- To make edible acorns: ---

13. 13

    Using the frosting as your glue, attach one peanut butter chip to the top of each mini Nilla Wafer.

14. 14

    Then using another dab of frosting, attach each Nilla Wafer to the bottom (flat side) of a Hershey kiss. Allow to dry before using them as cupcake toppers.