Sweet & Savory ~~ Red Velvet Candy Cane Cupcakes

If you're asked to bring the dessert to your Christmas family gathering, office party, or neighborhood caroling group, these super moist, ultra chocolaty cupcakes are sure to please!

STEP 1 INGREDIENTS & INSTRUCTIONS:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• Combine and mix until light and fully
• Add 4 large eggs to mixture, one at a time

Add the following and mix on low setting of your mixer:

• 2 Tbsp. & 2 tsp. red food coloring
• 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
• 1 Tbsp. & 1 tsp. distilled white vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

STEP 2 INGREDIENTS & INSTRUCTIONS:

While the above listed ingredients are being thoroughly blended on the low setting of your mixer, place the following dry ingredients inside a large bowl and gently whisk together before adding to the liquid mixture:

• 8 Tbsp. Dark Cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. salt, optional
• 2 2/3 cup cake flour
• 3/4 tsp. baking soda
• 2 tsp. baking powder

STEP 3 INSTRUCTIONS:

• When mixture is thoroughly blended, fill paper baking cups 2/3 full.
• Bake in 350 oven for approximately 18 minutes if using a dark non-stick pan.  
• You may have to bake for 2-3 minutes longer if using an aluminum pan.
• Test the centers of the cupcakes with a toothpick to make certain they are cooked completely through.

STEP 4 INSTRUCTIONS:

• Cool to room temperature on cooling racks and frost with your choice of frosting.
• I prefer the cream cheese variety with these cupcakes as I deem it really enhances the flavor.

FROSTING RECIPE:

• Mix the following ingredients in mixer bowl on medium speed until thoroughly blended:
• 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• Dash of salt, optional
• 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 - 3 to 4 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• Zest of one lemon
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• You may need to use a little hot water or additional lemon juice to achieve the desired spreading consistency of the frosting.
• Decorate with sprinkles, candy canes, or something else of your choice.
• Recipe yields approximately 2 1/2 dozen cupcakes.

The combination of the sweet & tangy in these luscious cupcakes and the frosting is scrumptious!  

Happy Baking & Desserting!

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Sweet & Savory Wednesday ~~ Cool Cake For A Crowd

Try this recipe the next time you need to bake a cake. It's a guaranteed winner since it's so flavorful, moist, and the frosting is a real surprise!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cake mix, any flavor ~~ I used white cake mix
• 1 small pkg. Jello, any flavor ~~ I used strawberry
• 2 small pkgs. instant Jello pudding, any flavor ~~ I used vanilla
• 1 - 8 oz. container Cool Whip
• 1 1/2 cups milk

DIRECTIONS:

• Bake cake according to package directions.
• 2 minutes before cake is finished baking, dissolve jello using 3/4 cup boiling water and 1/2 cup cold water.
• Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack.
• Using a large fork, poke holes all over the cake while it is hot.
• Pour jello over complete surface of cake.
• Put in refrigerator to cool.
• Mix two small packages pudding and Cool Whip with the milk until pudding mixture is serving consistency.
• Spread over cake.
• Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

This recipe is one of our family favorites.  We have also dubbed it "The Earthquake Cake."  When our son was five years old, we planned a surprise birthday party for our friend, Tom.  When it came time to sing Happy Birthday and serve the cake, Matty David offered to carry the cake from the refrigerator in the garage to the dining area.  When doing so, he became so excited and distracted that he ran smack dab into the wall causing the cake pan to flip with the contents landing on the floor!  Yes, it sort of looked like the cake had barely survived a very small earthquake.  :-)

Some of my fellow bakers have used chocolate pudding instead of the vanilla and other flavors of Jello.  This is a great recipe to experiment with different flavors to determine which ones you prefer.

I prepared this cake for our family reunion this past weekend.  It received its normal raving reviews! 

When baking a cake for a crowd, what is your go to recipe?  

Please let me know if you enjoy this one.  Try it.  You'll like it!

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