Strawberry Red Velvet Cupcake

Not a baker but want to impress your sweetie with a baked treat? This is the recipe for you! Over the past few years companies have started releasing Red Velvet Cake mixes, making it even easier to make this popular treat. But we're going to take it one step fancier so that your Valentine will never know you faked your way through this treat...all it takes is a little strawberry seduction.  To make this rich, decadent cupcake all you'll need is...

• Red Velvet Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water...but we're replacing the water for this one)
• Strawberry Puree (to replace the water your recipe calls for, I pureed frozen strawberries)
• Strawberry Syrup (you know, the stuff you put on ice cream)
• Store bought Vanilla Icing
• Butter (room temperate...around 1/2 cup....but it's up to you)
• Icing Sugar (optional)
• Garnish: Strawberry Candy, Fresh Strawberry, Chocolate Covered Strawberry

And now the transformation...

Step 1: Sort of follow the directions on your Red Velvet Cake Mix. Start by preheating your oven and add the oil and eggs...but DO NOT add the water. Replace all of the water your cake mix calls for with Strawberry Puree.  Mix the ingredients together until it is smooth.

Step 2: Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners.  Top each uncooked cupcake with a teaspoon or so of Strawberry Syrup. Bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 3: On to the icing! Traditionally you'd use Cream Cheese Icing, but for this recipe we're keeping it easy for the non-bakers.  But if you want Cream Cheese Icing, click HERE for the recipe. To make a simple Vanilla icing just mix together your store bought Vanilla Icing and Butter on high until smooth.  Add some icing sugar if it's not sweet enough for you or just too buttery for your taste.

Step 3: Now it's time to bring it all together and ice your masterpieces! To up the fancy try using an tip in a piping bag.  Just go to Bulk Barn or Micheal's and pick up a simple tip like the #1M (ask a clerk for help).  Ice your cupcakes and top them with the garnish of your choice.

Happy Faking! 

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Red Velvet Cupcake

I'm not sure what  I love more about Red Velvet Cupcakes, the chocolate mouth coating texture of the cake or the mouth watering cream cheese icing - YUM!  I have made Red Velvet Cupcakes from scratch and I have to say, my Faking Fancy Red Velvet Cupcake recipe rivals, if not beats, that recipe.  To pull this one off you'll need...   

• Chocolate Cake Mix (plus ingredients to make the cake...usually eggs, oil, and water)
• 1 cup of Buttermilk
• 4 ounces of Bittersweet Chocolate (melted)
• Red Gel Food Colouring
• 1 - 8oz package of Cream Cheese (room temperature)
• 1/4 cup of Butter (room temperature)
• 2 teaspoons of Vanilla
• Icing Sugar

Here's the recipe...

Step 1: Kinda  follow the directions on your chocolate cake mix. Go ahead and preheat your oven and add the oil and eggs...but DO NOT add all the water.

Step 2: Replace 1 cup of the water it calls for with Buttermilk.  So, if your mix calls for 1 and 1/3 cup of water, then add 1 cup of Buttermilk and 1/3 cup of Water.  Mix the ingredients together until it is smooth.

Step 3: Melt down the 4 ounces of Bittersweet Chocolate - but be careful not to overheat or burn the chocolate.  Mix the melted chocolate into your batter until fully incorporated.  Now, add in your Red Food Colouring until it's as red as you want it to be.  To get the best colour using the least amount of food colouring, I'd recommend using a gel food colouring.

Step 4: Spoon the batter into your cupcake liners and bake as directed on the package.  Once they are done baking, let them cool completely.

Step 5: On to the most delicious of all icings...cream cheese!  Beat the Cream Cheese and Butter together until fully incorporated.  Add in the vanilla and slowly add in icing sugar until it tastes the way you like it.  Once it's as sweet as you like it, make sure that your icing is mixed well and is smooth.

Step 6: Now it's time to top off your Red Velvet Cupcakes with the most delicious Cream Cheese Icing.  I like to add a lot, so you may want to double your icing recipe.  To ice these I used a piping bag and tip #1M.
Feel free to pile on the icing - HEAVENLY!

Happy Faking!

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