Red Velvet Cupcakes

I found this recipe on the food network from the cupcake wars show and it turned out really well actually!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
• Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line mini cupcake or muffin pans with 48 mini cupcake liners or line regular-size cupcake or muffin pans with 24 regular cupcake liners.
In mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt. In another mixing bowl, stir together the eggs and oil. In a mixing cup, mix together the buttermilk, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla extract and lightly whisk. Gradually add the dry ingredients and buttermilk mixture to the egg mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. We are trying to achieve a dark brown, red cupcake color, so add more cocoa powder, if the red is not deep enough.  Fill the regular-size cupcake liners and bake 20 minutes, or until done. Let the cupcakes cool completely.

 To make the Cream cheese frosting:

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup or 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Combine the sugar, cream cheese, butter, salt, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl and blend for 2 minutes.