My red velvet cake recipe is one of the most popular recipes on this blog. Recently I used my red velvet cake recipe to make red velvet cupcakes and wasn’t too thrilled with the texture anymore. (I get bored quick with a lot of things) They were too light and fluffy, yes that’s totally possible.

easy red velvet cupcakes recipe easy cream cheese frosting recipe

Great for a cake, not so good for cupcakes baked in paper liners. It could have been a user error since I know so many of you guys have raved about how good of a cupcake that batter makes. If you are content with it then by all means, continue using that recipe.

easy red velvet cupcakes recipe easy cream cheese frosting recipe

Hoooowever, I like my cupcakes to be light, fluffy  yet have some density to them so that they don’t tear apart at all when you pull off the paper. I remedied this situation easily with the one-bowl mixing method,  reducing the amount of oil and changing the ingredients ever so slightly. I also made sure I didn’t overfill the cupcake liners.

easy red velvet cupcakes recipe easy cream cheese frosting recipe

The results: Perfectly soft yet sturdy, super moist and delicious red velvet cupcakes with the perfect “is this is a box cake?” texture and classic, southern red velvet taste.

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These red velvet cupcakes are finished off with a super easy 3-ingredient cream cheese frosting and  a sprinkling of pecan pieces. Easy, peasy, delicious!

easy red velvet cupcakes recipe easy cream cheese frosting recipe

Watch me make these easy red velvet cupcakes from start to finish!

The Recipe

Easy Red Velvet Cupckes

By Divas Can Cook
Recipe type: dessert, cupcakes
Serves
2 dozen
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4.6 from 84 reviews

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 oz red food coloring
  • ½ cup hot water
  • 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • FROSTING
  • 1 (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons butter, softened at room temperature (do not melt)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325
  2. In a large bowl mix together sugar and oil until well combined.
  3. Beat in eggs until mixture is uniform in color.
  4. Add in buttermilk, vanilla extract and food coloring.
  5. Mix until well combined.
  6. Mix in hot water and distilled vinegar.
  7. Add flour.
  8. Mix together baking soda, baking powder, salt and add to bowl.
  9. Add in cocoa powder.
  10. Mix to combine all ingredients.
  11. Line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
  12. Pour ¼ cup of batter into each liner.
  13. Bake to 18-20 minutes or until tops are spongey to the touch. (do not over cook. SEET NOTE*)
  14. Remove from oven and let cupcakes sit in pan for 5 minutes.
  15. Place cupcakes on a cooling wrack to finish cooling.
  16. Make the frosting by creaming together cream cheese and butter. Slowly add in powdered sugar and beat until creamy.

Notes

*DO NOT OVER COOK-It's ok if a few crumbs cling to the toothpick if doing the toothpick doneness method. In this case, cupcakes will finish cooking as it cools in the pan and be perfectly moist when cooled.