Red Velvet Cupcakes

I made these Red Velvet cupcakes for our Ladies' Christmas Party this year.  

I used a recipe that's been in our family for years.  It was always a favorite for birthday cakes when my siblings and I were growing up.  Back then, we called it Red Astoria Cake.

Now, it has become a Christmas tradition.

Here's the recipe:

Red Velvet (Astoria) Cake

½ c butter

2 eggs

1 ½ c granulated sugar

2 oz. red food color

2 T cocoa (I use Hershey’s Special Dark)

1 t vanilla

1 T vinegar

1 t baking soda

1 c buttermilk

2 ¼ c cake flour

¼ t baking powder

¾ t salt

Directions:

Cream well butter and sugar.  Add eggs.  Beat well.  Add vanilla.  In a small bowl, mix together food color and cocoa; add to creamed mixture.  In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt and baking powder. Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk.  In a small cup or bowl, stir together baking soda and vinegar.  Immediately stir by hand into batter.  Pour batter into 2 greased 8” pans or fill cupcake baking cups 2/3 full.  For cake, bake at 350 for approximately 30 minutes.  Cupcakes are done when a toothpick inserted come out clean.

Notes:

When I use the dark cocoa, I usually add an extra tablespoon or so of sugar.

Be careful not to over bake!

I usually use a cream cheese frosting since the cooked frosting that actually goes with this recipe gives me fits!!  I'll post them both at a later time and link back up with this recipe.

Enjoy!