Sunday, June 1, 2008

Red Velvet Cupcakes

In Los Angeles, cupcakes are ubiquitous. Every bakery you visit showcases a wide array of flavors and presentations. Red velvet is a flavor that every bakery replicates, and there is huge debate on which is the best. From what people shared with me, they delight in the shocking, totally unnatural red color and savor the delicate flavor of the cake and rich frosting.

I like red velvet, but I can't say that I love it, as I think that there are so many other delicious flavors to invest my calories in. Thus, I have never had a deep desire to bake a red velvet cake.

This weekend, I planned on baking cupcakes for a colleague at work to celebrate her birthday. This was the perfect excuse to try out a red velvet recipe! I did some extensive researching on the internet (boy o boy, people are really passionate about what makes the perfect red velvet cake!) and decided to go for this recipe at Food Network.























The verdict on this first try--- I liked the flavor of the moist crumb of the cake. The cream cheese frosting goes really well with the cake.














Colorwise, I don't think I put enough red food coloring (red velvet calls for an alarming amount of red food coloring), so I ended up with maroon velvet. Regardless, with some fresh berries on top, they made for some cute cupcakes. I hope my co-workers will agree!

16 comments:

CB said...

Beautiful cupcakes! Love the fruit garnish. YUM! I use that food network recipe as my go-to red velvet too! :)
/Clara

noskos said...

Wow those look great! Love the color!!

Mari said...

Your red velvet looks stunning and I think the color is perfect, so you needn't worry! Berries work really well with RVC, I've put berries between RVC layer cakes before and had great results.

Ivy said...

I am speachless, these look so great! The berries really compliment the cake sooo well.

steph- whisk/spoon said...

these are knock-outs! really beautiful!

The Food Librarian said...

These look wonderfully yummy! And, yes, isn't there a cupcake stand on every single corner in Los Angeles? :)

Anne said...

They look awesome. My recipe calls for a whole bottle of red in addition to the chocolate in the cake and I'm always surprised how red (and staining!) they are. I made a fake red velvet for my husband once (he can't eat chocolate any more and it was our wedding cake) with a vanilla cake and it was pink, lol. Maroon is much better and they look SO beautiful!

Dizzee Cake. said...

So Cute!! I love the berries- perfect for 4th of July.

Cakespy said...

These are a work of art. Thiebaud would pee himself!!

My Sweet & Saucy said...

These look great!

Happee Monkee said...

SO beautiful. What a good job!

Katie said...

that was inspirational! red velvet is my grandpa's favorite. i sent him a picture of your's the day you posted and he said he wanted me to make them. my decorating was a little less than successful (your's looked straight out of bon appetit), but the recipe was great. thanks for posting the link!!! they were delicious.

Alexa said...

Your co-workers are lucky to have you for a colleague. Those look beautiful, rich and decadent.

Susie Homemaker said...

These are just gorgeous - I may have to make RV now!!

Caitlin Sullivan said...

Your cupcakes look beautiful! I am making red velvet cupcakes for my friend's graduation party this weekend (they are her favorite) and I can only hope mine will come out half as pretty as yours! One question though, I read a few mixed reviews of the recipe on the food network website. A few people complained about how oily they came out- did you find that as well? Yours LOOK fantastic so maybe they just didn't follow directions! Thanks : )

Anonymous said...

The best looking red velvet i'e seen yet. Good job!

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