It took me fifteen+ years but I’ve finally perfected red velvet cupcakes. This is definitively the best red velvet cupcake recipe. These cupcakes are super soft, vibrantly red, and stay fresh for days and days.

This recipe is very easy to make and the cupcakes bake up beautifully. The secret ingredient? A bit of cornstarch for a tender crumb and the most delicious cream cheese frosting. Can you tell how mouth-watering-ly tender these cupcakes are?!

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add cupcakes liners to two muffins pans and spray with nonstick spray.
2. In a medium sized bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside.
3. In a stand mixer or large bowl, measure vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, white vinegar, and vanilla extract. Mix until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice. Add red food coloring and mix until uniform in color. 
4. Sift in dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Divide evenly amongst the cupcake liners and bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool ten minutes, then remove from tins and let cool completely on wire racks. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz cream cheese, softened (full fat!)
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Combine cream cheese and butter until smooth. Slowly sift in powdered sugar and beat one cup at a time. Mix in vanilla extract.

Happy baking,