Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Happy Valentine's Day! These red velvet cupcakes are perfect for Valentine's Day or any day for that matter. Who doesn't love red velvet right? When I was making my red velvet oreo truffles, I decided I would make cupcakes too. I'm a huge fan of from scratch baking but I'm also a huge fan of getting it done fast and will use cake mixes and extend them. These were way easy to make.
And then I decided to put a truffle on top! Get it? Like put an egg on it, put a truffle on it.
I bought these little party/nut cups a few weeks ago and this is my first time baking with them. I'm in love. They are lined so they are greaseproof. And you don't need a cupcake pan for them. I bought a bunch more when I went to Old Time Pottery the other day. I use both my small and medium cookie scoops to measure enough batter for these nut cups.
These cupcakes are super moist and I know there are some out there who will cry bloody murder because I used a cake mix. Feel free to use your favorite homemade red velvet cupcake recipe like this one. I have made it before and I love it. But you must make this cream cheese frosting, it's the best one I have ever had.
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
Yield: 12-14 cupcakes
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
Red Velvet Cupcakes
1/2 package of 19.25 red velvet cake mix
3.4 oz package of vanilla or chocolate instant pudding
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 Tablespoon of espresso powder dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water
Cream Cheese Frosting
3 cups (1 1/2 pounds) cream cheese, softened
1 cup plus 1/2 Tbsp (8.25 oz) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (8.25 oz) sifted powdered sugar
Directions:
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Turn oven on and set to 350 degrees F. Drop cake mix into medium-sized mixing bowl. Add package of instant pudding and the wet ingredients. Mix with rubber spatula until all ingredients are incorporated. Don't overmix.
If you're using regular cupcake liners, line your cupcake tin with the liners. If you're using the nut cups, cover a cookie sheet in foil and line up the nut cups. For regular cupcakes, use a large cookie scoop (3 Tablespoons) to scoop batter into the cupcake liners. If using nut cups, I used both my small and medium scoops (1 1/2 Tablespoons & 2 teaspoons).
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, time may vary depending on your oven and size baking cups you use. Remove from oven and allow to cool in cupcake tins (if using) for a couple of minutes. Remove and allow to cool on a cooling rack for 10 to 15 minutes.
Cream Cheese Frosting
In your stand mixer bowl, add butter and sugar. Attach the paddle attachment and cream together until smooth and shiny.
Add the cream cheese and mix thoroughly until completely smooth, about 2-3 minutes. If not using immediately, refrigerate until needed. Using an offset spatula, thoroughly mix the frosting after removing the refrigerator before frosting cupcakes. Cupcakes frosted with this icing should be refrigerated if not being served immediately. Makes 3 cups of frosting.
Slightly modified from these cupcakes, originally from My Baking Addiction. Cream Cheese Frosting from Miette, 2011 Chronicle Books
Have you tried this recipe?
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
This recipe looked so good, but I was a little wary because of the measurements… the box of cake mix I bought was 16.5oz and the pudding mix was 5.9oz… but I have a digital food scale and measured them out by using your numbers. I ended up with using 9.6oz of cake mix and 3.4oz of pudding mix. The batter was super thick, but they turned out amazing!!! So moist!! I just wanted to put this out there for anyone else who is concerned about the measurements – these were the best Red Velvet cupcakes I have ever had!!! The cream cheese frosting is the bomb too… totally makes them over the top! Thank you for sharing!!!
Hi Laurie,
So glad to hear that!! Glad you loved them. I only post recipes that I LOVE so it’s great to hear that you had a good experience too! Have a nice day!
Absolutely lovely! 😀
You had me at Red Velvet, then you added a chocolate truffle! I am in love!
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Consider yourself pinned! Can’t wait to make these.
This is the cutest Valentine’s Day cupcake recipe I’ve seen so far and the chocolate topping is a wonderful idea and it reminds me of this chocolate ball I had some days ago- it was filled with yummy chocolate on the inside and I wanted more of it.
Thoseare so beautiful! I love them!
Adorable cupcakes! I love all the pinky colors 🙂
These look yummy!
What an adorable looking cupcake! I love that you put a truffle on top for decoration!!
Cream cheese frosting is my favourite icing, the addition of a truffle is just pure indulgence!
I love the cupcakes in the party cups. Those cupcakes are certainly dressed for a party, and accessorized perfectly with a truffle. Nice touch!
These are so cute! Love the truffle on top!
So lovely! (Yeah, sometimes a box mix is a lifesaver.) You doctored it up beautifully.
Oh my goodness! The truffle really does top this cupcake off 😉 Sooo gorgeous Julie!!!
These look so pretty and perfect, like something out of Willy Wonka’s factory! I normally don’t do sweets for breakfast, but let’s be real: I’d eat one of these. It is Friday, after all.
You put a truffle on a cupcake. can we be besties?
These would be great, if only you didn’t use a cake mix. Just kidding! 🙂 I’ve had people say that when I use pie or pizza crusts too. Someone even ranted about it on Pinterest once–ha. The truffle on top is awesome!
These are not only adorable but looks delicious!!!! DROOLING!!!!
The truffle on top is killin me! Everything about them is so great! 🙂
Very very nice! Love the photos too.
My oh my – I love, LOVE red velvet. Your pictures make that cupcake look absolutely mouth-watering!
These look so good.
Happy Valentine’s Day Julie! I love the truffle on top of these cupcakes. 🙂
I think there should be truffles on top of just about everything. LOVE!
LOVE these!!! So pretty 🙂
I love the truffle on top – the only way to make a cupcake better!
Pretty sure there have been multiple instances where cute cupcake cups have caught my eye at the store and inspired a new batch of cupcakes. Why do the cups make such a difference?! I don’t know, but I’m a complete sucker for them. And okay, truffles on top of red velvet cupcakes?! Genius. What could be wrong with that?!
These are adorable, And, wow, Julie, the photography is stunning! Love these!
A red velvet cupcake topped with a red velvet oreo truffle??!?! My goodness Julie, that’s just mind boggling. Yum!!!!
YUM! I love red velvet and love the truffle on top! 🙂 I still have yet to try my little party cups. I think you’ve convinced me.
Swoon! So adorable! Love the truffle topping 🙂
BLOODY MURDER!?!? No way. I never look a gift-horse in the mouth… Especially when they come bearing delicious red velvet cupcakes PLUS chocolate truffles! These are almost too gorgeous to eat! ((ALMOST)) 🙂
Happy Valentines Day!
These are so pretty! Loooove this cupcake!
These are too cute, Julie. I love that you topped them with a truffle. So fun!