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You are here: Home / Bars & Brownies / THE BEST RED VELVET CUPCAKES

THE BEST RED VELVET CUPCAKES

May 30, 2017

Red Velvet Cupcake

A big birthday meant lots of celebrating and fete-ing around here.

Oliver turned 16 on Friday, and we spent all weekend toasting him and hosting his friends.

For the big night he was able to pick the menu, and he chose Flat Iron Steaks, Caesar Salad and Tater Tots.

Oliver's Birthday Steak Dinner

But let’s be honest here.

Steaks, when grilled perfectly (and as you can see above, topped with Buffalo Milk Butter), are both luscious and satisfying

Flat Iron Steaks for Oliver's Birthday

and it’s hard to beat a crouton-topped Caesar Salad

Caesar Salad Portland

but sometimes it’s primarily about the starch.

And for most 16 year old boys, Tater Tots reign supreme in the world of side dishes.

Tater Tots

(Mine were tossed with garlic powder and salt and baked until beguilingly crispy on the outside, steamy and potato-pillowy inside.)

I always love the opening of cards and presents, and it always gets me teary to listen and watch my family relate to one another.

Oliver and Charlotte Birthday

Thanks to all the relatives from out of town that mailed cards and presents — you made his day.

Saturday night we went to Charlotte’s friend Aliza’s Bat Mitvah, and her ceremony was so beautiful.

It was held at the Elysian Ballroom downtown, and it was beyond lovely.

Aliza Bat Mitzvah

Every little detail of the event was perfect– from the decor to the tables to the food and crafty DIY stations.

Further, the ceremony was unbelievably moving as we watched beautiful Aliza be welcomed into her community as an adult.

For almost two hours the 200-plus crowd was rapt as we listened to family members, friends, and Aliza partake in readings from the Torah and elsewhere.

Aliza Bat Mitzvah

Congrats, beautiful sweet girl.

And then it was Sunday, the day of Oliver’s party, an event that started at noon with just one friend and movie and snacks.

Snacks for Teenagers

Charlotte has been having fun playing around with my French paring knife and she’s been working on her strawberry roses.

Strawberry Roses

Even when they’re not perfect, they’re so juicy and delicious.

By mid-afternoon the group included six kids, and they all had fun watching movies downstairs, running to the park to play, playing games outside and then descending at our house for homemade pizza (feta and four cheeses plus sausage and pesto) in our backyard.

Pesto Pizza Portland

Oliver's Birthday

Little did Oliver know that Charlotte and I’d had spent the better part of the afternoon baking up a storm for this big weekend with a recipe that is one of Oliver’s favorites.

Red Velvet Cupcakes.

Now regular readers know that I’m usually loathe to flit with superlatives lightly.

But trust me: this recipe calls them the BEST EVER, and it’s true.

This recipe is MONEY.

red velvet cupcakes

The cake is both spongy with the lightest, moistest crumb and when it’s topped with cream cheese frosting, it’s sublime.

I don’t include the recipe for the cream cheese frosting below, but it’s so easy. Start with an 8 oz. container of room temperature whipped cream cheese, 2 Tbs. of room temperature butter, a tsp. of vanilla, a couple Tbs. of milk or orange juice and enough powdered sugar to get your frosting to your desired consistency and sweetness (usually a couple cups).

I actually made two batches of both cake and  frosting, and in the pictures that follow you can see one of the cream cheese frosting batches was made with orange juice, the other with milk — and personally I liked the one with the more pronounced orange flavor best.

Tangerine Cream Cheese Frosting

With so many cakes and cupcakes to decorate, Charlotte broke out the new decorating tool we’d bought at Sur La Table.

IMG_4085

We baked such a big quantity because there were so many occasions ahead and people I wanted to reach out to, like the friend of mine who’s son just broke his arm.

He got his very own cake, too.

Red Velvet Cake

I mean really — what else can you do for a 13 year old you don’t know well who’s in pain and struggling with a new cast?

So we made a surprise delivery with this.

Red Velvet Cake

And then we served some up for those teenagers at Oliver’s party.

Red Velvet Cake Cupcakes with Oliver

And yet more were dropped off to neighbors yesterday on Memorial Day.

Charlotte and Red Velvet Cake Cupcakes

(I just love how little kids screamed with excitement when they noticed the red, white and blue component to them.)

Lastly, another tray was brought to a BBQ we were invited to.

Red Velvet Cupcake

Man, I just love a party that starts off with Kombucha toasts

Kombucha for Memorial Day

and ends with cream cheese salutes.

Red Velvet Cupcake

Now that the weekend is over, I’ve been thinking.

It’s so hard to believe that it’s been 16 years since he joined us…

oliver baby pic

and I’m so grateful for the young man he is now.

Oliver and Bailey in Car after Sledding

So here’s to you, Oliver. I couldn’t be prouder of you or love you even one tiny bit more.

And for the rest of you, do yourself a big old favor.

Make up a batch of these incredible cupcakes. Like right now.

red velvet cupcakes

I guarantee you there’s someone in your life that could use a little cream cheese loving — and perhaps that starts with you.

IMG_4083

Hope you all had a great Memorial’s Day weekend, too.

THE BEST RED VELVET CUPCAKES
 
Print
Prep time
15 mins
Cook time
25 mins
Total time
40 mins
 
Believe the hype; this cake lives up to its moniker: a supremely moist, almost springy interior and when topped with a cream cheese frosting, this baby is sublime.
Author: Divas Can Cook Blog
Recipe type: dessert
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • 2 C. all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 C. sugar
  • 1 C. vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 C. buttermilk
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1-2 oz.red food coloring
  • 1 tsp. white distilled vinegar
  • ½ C. of prepared plain brewed coffee, cooled to room temperature
  • a little butter and flour or non-stick spray to prepare pans
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and the vegetable oil.
  4. Mix in the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla nad red food coloring until combined.
  5. Stir in the coffee and white vinegar.
  6. Combinethe wet ingredients with the dry ingredients a little at at ime, mixing after each addition, just until the combined.
  7. Generously grease and flour pans or muffins sheets (I used non-stick spray and they came out easily).
  8. Pour the batter evenly into pans.
  9. Bake in the middle rack until dough no longer looks wet and a toothpick comes out clean -- roughly 25 minutes for cupcakes to 35 for cake (depending on size and your oven).
  10. Allow the cakes to cool slightly in pan and then remove gently.
  11. Once the cakes have cooled completely, ideally, frost cakes with cream cheese frosting or in a pinch, just a light dusting of powdered sugar.
3.2.2925
 

Filed Under: Bars & Brownies, Cakes, Eat Portland, Parties, Recipes

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Comments

  1. Connie says

    May 30, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    Great choice on the tater tots, Oliver! I love, love the photos of him with his sister and cuddling with the doggie – so sweet.

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      May 30, 2017 at 11:09 pm

      One thing I’ve learned is that tater tots are NEVER wrong! Thanks for the sweet note, Connie!

      Reply
  2. Lisa O'Brien says

    June 1, 2017 at 4:36 am

    Happy Happy Birthday, Oliver! What a lucky kid you are to have such a loving family! Your day sounded very special and your food choices superb! I can’t believe you’ll be driving around soon…I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled:-) I can’t wait to hear what you do with your life…you’ll have great things ahead I’m sure! I love the two photos of you at the end–they are priceless. Those big brown eyes look exactly the same. Wow how fast time goes by…enjoy! Can’t wait to try those yummy cupcakes…maybe Charlotte can teach me how to make those roses!

    Reply
    • Sarah Kline says

      June 1, 2017 at 4:06 pm

      Hello Lisa! I miss the days in which I’d see you regularly…! Thanks for all the good wishes and sweet thoughts. Time flies!

      Reply

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