How to Make Valentine's Day Dessert: Red Velvet Cupcakes

Featuring the sweet taste and red coloring befitting of Valentine's Day, red velvet cupcakes consist of a chocolate cupcake topped with a cream cheese frosting.  Different from a standard chocolate cupcake, red velvet cupcakes have a deep red color, created by the addition of food coloring. No additional embellishments are necessary once the cupcakes have been frosted, but some bakers may choose to add Valentines Day-themed candies or designs.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIHThJIWP7g 

To create red velvet cupcakes, a batter is prepared by mixing a variety of wet ingredients into a mixture of dry ingredients.  This process, known as straight mixing, needs just a few seconds of stirring before the batter is spooned into a cupcake pan and baked.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIHThJIWP7g

• 2 1/2 cups cake flour
  
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons red food coloring
• Cream cheese frosting
• Heart-shaped candy decorations, optionalhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIHThJIWP7g

• Large mixing bowl
  
• Sifter or wire mesh strainer
• Small mixing bowl
• Medium mixing bowl
• Muffin or cupcake pan
• 2 dozen cupcake liners
• Spoon, ladle or ice cream scoop
• Toothpickshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIHThJIWP7g

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Place the cupcake liners in the cupcake or muffin pan
   
2. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder using the sifter or wire mush strainer.  Place the sifted dry ingredients into the large mixing bowl.
3. Combine the buttermilk and white vinegar in the small mixing bowl.  Mix briefly.
4. Add the vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract and red food coloring to the medium mixing bowl.  Stir until smooth using the wire whisk, then add in the buttermilk mixture and mix again.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients in the large bowl.  Mix slowly, using the wire whisk until just incorporated.
6. Transfer the batter into the lined cupcake or muffin pan.  Fill each liner two-thirds full.  Tap the pan to even out the batter within the pan wells.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes.  Check the cakes by inserting a toothpick into the centers.  The toothpick should be fairly clean when the cakes are baked.
8. Allow to cool completely.  Frost the cupcakes using the cream cheese frosting.  Sprinkle cakes with the heart-shaped candy decorations, if desired.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIHThJIWP7g