1. Prepare the Oven and Cupcake Tin

Before you start mixing the ingredients, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cupcake liners. This will ensure that your cupcakes don’t stick to the pan and come out cleanly once baked.

2. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. These dry ingredients form the base of your cupcake batter, and whisking them together helps ensure an even distribution of the baking agents, which is important for a fluffy texture.

3. Combine the Wet Ingredients

In another bowl, whisk together the egg, vegetable oil, buttermilk, vanilla extract, red food coloring, and vinegar. The vinegar reacts with the baking soda to give the cupcakes their signature light texture. The food coloring will create that vibrant red hue that makes Red Velvet Cupcakes so visually stunning.

It’s essential to use room temperature buttermilk and eggs to ensure that your batter comes together smoothly. Cold ingredients can cause the batter to separate or curdle.

4. Add the Wet Ingredients to the Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring gently with a spatula or a whisk. Mix until the ingredients are just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can result in dense cupcakes, so stop mixing as soon as there are no visible streaks of flour.

The batter will be slightly runny, but that’s perfectly fine! It will create a moist and light texture once baked.

5. Fill the Cupcake Liners

Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling each one about ⅔ of the way full. This will allow enough space for the cupcakes to rise and form a beautiful dome shape. You can use an ice cream scoop or two spoons to evenly divide the batter between the liners.

6. Bake the Cupcakes

Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake the cupcakes for 20-25 minutes. Start checking for doneness at the 20-minute mark. Insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake; if it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs clinging to it, the cupcakes are done.

Avoid opening the oven door frequently while the cupcakes are baking, as this can cause them to deflate. If you’re baking more than one tray at a time, make sure to rotate them halfway through for even baking.

7. Cool the Cupcakes

Once the cupcakes are done baking, remove the tin from the oven and let the cupcakes cool in the tin for 5-10 minutes. This helps them firm up slightly and makes them easier to remove from the pan. Then, transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting. If you frost the cupcakes while they’re still warm, the frosting may melt and become runny.

8. Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a medium-sized bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, mixing until fully incorporated. Once all the powdered sugar is added, beat in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness.

If the frosting is too thick, you can add a small amount of milk or heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. If the frosting is too runny, add a little more powdered sugar until it thickens up.

9. Frost the Cupcakes

Once the cupcakes are completely cool, it’s time to frost them! You can use a knife, a spatula, or a piping bag with a decorative tip to apply the cream cheese frosting to the cupcakes. Spread a generous amount of frosting on each cupcake, creating a swirl or a simple smooth top.

If desired, you can garnish the cupcakes with sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or a dusting of cocoa powder for a bit of extra flair. However, these cupcakes are delicious on their own and don’t need much decoration to shine.

10. Serve and Enjoy

Your Red Velvet Cupcakes are now ready to be served! They’re perfect for any occasion—whether you’re hosting a party, celebrating a birthday, or simply treating yourself to a sweet snack. Enjoy them with a hot cup of coffee, tea, or a glass of milk for the ultimate indulgence.