Red Velvet Cake Mix Cupcakes

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There are many holidays where you will need your dessert to be red. Red Velvet Cupcakes are perfect for Valentine’s Day, February birthdays and Christmas. Frost them with a rich and creamy buttercream frosting and decorate with beautiful sprinkles. Red and hearts say love no matter the occasion. 

Think you do not have time to make a gorgeous homemade cupcake for your family? You do not think of yourself as a baker? You do not have anything to worry about. These gorgeous cupcakes are made from a box mix. 

An easy to make a box mix is nothing to be ashamed of. You have a family, kids, a job but want to have that homemade touch for the holidays or a birthday party. You can do this. The key is the frosting. The box cake mixes the result of professionals with food laboratories and experts working for you. 

All you need is butter, powdered sugar, milk, and a stand or hand mixer and your box cupcakes will look and taste as they came from the local bakery. In fact, when I served these to my friends for dinner on a night that is exactly what happened.

We were out to dinner at a local restaurant that does not have a dessert menu, so I take treats each week we go and eat out and play a fun trivia game the place puts on. We have a bakery in the very wealthy town next door and the minute I set them beautiful Red Velvet Cupcakes on the table my friend asked if I have gone to her favorite bakery. 

I smiled and said I made them myself. I was flattered and they were going before the dinner dishes were cleaned up. One was snagged even before my friend’s husband got his dinner. 

How to Improve Boxed Red Velvet Cake Mix
Tips for Making a Box Mix Taste like Homemade from Scratch

Let’s add a little to our red velvet box cake mix. Of course, you can make delicious red velvet cupcakes from scratch there are tons of great recipes online.  But we are busy working moms that want to have a fun dessert but still have time to relax and enjoy our family. Using a box mix is the answer. You can have beautiful cupcakes in minutes from opening the box. 

• You can substitute butter for the oil as listed on the box.
• You can add one additional egg for a denser cake. 
• Milk can be substituted for the water. 
• Under bake the cupcakes by 1 minute for a moister cake. 
• Adding a box of chocolate instant pudding will make a richer flavor however, my mix had the pudding already in the mix. (do not add more pudding mix if already in the mix)
• for a darker red color, you can add a little red food coloring. 

How to Make Cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
2. Line a cupcake baking pan with cupcake liners.
3. Spray the inside of the liner with a light mist of spray oil so the cupcakes can easily be removed from the liner after they are baked.
4. To the mixing bowl add water, eggs, butter (or vegetable oil), and vanilla.
5. You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer.
6. Mix on low for 30 seconds and then on medium speed for 2 minutes.
7. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full.
8. Bake the cupcakes for 16 minutes. Test with a toothpick, if the toothpick comes out clean the cupcakes are done. Do not over-bake.
9. Let sit for 5 minutes in the pan and then remove the cupcakes in their liners to a cooling rack.
10. While the cupcakes are cooling make the buttercream frosting.
11. Add two sticks of room temperature softened butter to a mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed to get the butter soft and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and food coloring if desired, mix until smooth.
12. Decorate the cupcakes using the frosting in a piping bag with a flower tip
13. Insert into the top any Cupcake topper that you like.

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