Mmm... RED VELVET! (Two Recipes!)

Happy Tuesday lovelies!

I love RED VELVET!  Don't you?! Mmm..

 

 Red Velvet Cupcakes

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen at Food Network

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk, room temperature

2 large eggs, room temperature

2 tablespoons red food coloring

1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 pound cream cheese, softened

2 sticks of butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups sifted confectioners sugar

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line 2 (12-cup) muffin pans with cupcake liners.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla with a handheld electric mixer. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined.

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake tins about 2/3 filled. Bake in oven for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cupcakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting. 

For the Cream Cheese Frosting: 

In a large mixing bowl,  beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.

I LOVE THE ULTIMATE RED VELVET CHEESECAKE at The Cheesecake Factory!

I have researched recipes for Red Velvet Cheesecake but I don't think they will ever compare to The Cheesecake Factory's piece of heaven!  I did although find a recipe for Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies on Baking Bites.  If you like to bake and haven't checked out this website... you should! 

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

{Recipe via Baking Bites}

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
2-oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp red food coloring
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt

8-oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil and lightly grease.
In a small, heatproof bowl, melt butter and chocolate together. Stir with a fork until very smooth. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and red food coloring. Add in the chocolate mixture and stir until smooth. Batter should be red. If a brighter red is desired, add an additional 1/2 tsp food coloring. Add flour and salt into the bowl and stir until everything is just combined and no streaks of dry ingredients remain.
Pour into prepared pan and spread into an even layer.
Prepare cheesecake mixture. In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla extract until smooth. Drop in dollops onto prepared brownie batter. Gently swirl two batters with a butter knife.
Bake for 35-40 minutes, until brownies and cheesecake are set. A knife inserted into the cheesecake mixture should come out clean and the edges will be lightly browned.
Cool in the pan completely before slicing and serving, either at room temperature or chilled.

Don't they look AMAZING?!  I love baking red velvet cupcakes and can't wait to try this recipe too!

Between my love for country music and all things red velvet, I'm definitely a southern girl at heart ;)

Enjoy! xo