Red Velvet Cupcakes......

This week it was one of my very special friends Jennilee's birthday. I work with Jen at the market and she has the most amazing clothes which I have become quite the fan of ...for those that are interested here is her link to her website. So yesterday when I went to work at the market I took along a little box of cupcakes that I made as a little gift. Jennilee is a gorgeous woman who loves all things feminine and loves wearing various shades of pink! So with this in mind I made red velvet cupcakes topped with ivory, pale pink and dark pink flowers.

The Recipe for the Red Velvet Cupcakes.... courtesy of Iris at How to Cook is:
Now please keep in mind as I was making cupcakes I have halved the original quantities.
To make 3 x 20 or 2 x 23cm cake pans do double the quantities mentioned.

Ingredients:
125g Unsalted butter
1.5 cups of caster sugar
3 eggs
1.5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
15mLs red food colouring
1/2 cup of buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon bi carb soda
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar

Method:
1. Preheat over to 180oC
2. Line cupcake tray with desired cases.
3. Beat butter, vanilla extract and sugar in a bowl until white and creamy. (about 5 minutes)
4. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition
5. Slowly add food colouring with the eggs and beat till combined
6. Add sifted flour and cocoa alternately with butter milk
7. Combine vinegar and bicard in a separate small bowl and combine the until frothy (note: you will feel a bit like a mad scientist as this fizzes.. :) )
8. Add vinegar mixture to the cake batter
9. Pour into cupcake cases (or cake tins)

Cupcakes will bake in approximately 15-20 minutes.
Cakes will bake in approximately 28-30 minutes.

The icing I made for the buttercream that I list the recipe for in the post 'Cakes Cakes & More Cakes..'
but this time instead of just a teaspoon of vanilla essence I did
-1/2 teaspoon of  clear vanilla essence
-1/2 teaspoon of  clear lemon essence
-1/2 teaspoon of clear butter essence

All of the flowers were made on Thursday and kept in the freezer overnight.
The cupcakes I baked on Friday and once cooled I decorated Friday afternoon popped them into a cute little pink cupcake box and took to the market on Saturday.

(Oh and as for what happened with the other 8 cupcakes of the batch.....Huddo has 2 uniced ones and I gave the remaining ones to my neighbours who have 2 school-aged boys for their afternoon tea) ...

I got this box from 'How to Cook' but generally the cupcake boxes I use I get off eBay.