Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cupcakes

Hi, sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've just been finishing off my degree and I haven't really had time for baking, let alone writing recipes! Anyway, these were inspired by a red velvet cake I made for my friends 21st, I will post the details to this in my next post. I'll also give you a choice of icings because these cupcakes work with either chocolate or vanilla icing.

Ingredients:

125g Butter
300g Sugar
4 eggs (or three large)
2 tbs Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp Red Food Colouring Paste (Or 3 tbs of Red Food Colouring)
190g Self Raising Gluten-Free Flour (Or 190g of normal Plain Flour with 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda)
125ml Buttermilk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Salt

Plus if you're doing the Gluten-Free Version put in 1 tsp of Gluten-Free Baking Powder.

Method:

1. Preheat oven to Preheat oven to 180°c or Gas Mark 5.
2. Cream butter and sugar together.
3. Soft the Cocoa powder into the butter and sugar and mix well. Once combined at the food colouring and vanilla extract.
4. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well. I would use a whisk at this point to get in as much air as possible.
5. Weigh out the dry ingredients and mix together in a bowl.
6. Then alternate between adding the dry ingredients and the buttermilk, folding in the flour so your don't lose the air.
7. Once the mixture is fully combined, line the cupcake tray with cases and put the mixture into the cases. (I managed to make 20 cupcakes with this mixture but it really will depend on how full your cases are and how big they are)
8. Put in the over for about 18-20 minutes until they're slightly browning on top.
9. Remove the trays and leave to cool in the trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

10. Once they're fully cooled you can ice and decorate! Traditionally red velvet is made with a cream cheese frosting but because I'm not really a fan (and neither are my friends!) I make them with butter cream. I usually divide them in to chocolate and vanilla so I have contrasting colours.

Ingredients are 1 part butter and 2 parts icing sugar. Once the mixture is light and fluffy add either cocoa powder or vanilla extract.

- Emma xxx