Put a little color into your season’s eatings. Why settle for drab brown and white Christmas cookies when you can serve up festive red ones instead? The following yummy desserts are not only packed with flavor, but they also feature colors that will get you into the Christmas spirit in no time:
EASY RED VELVET CUPCAKES
Cupcake Ingredients:
3 large eggs
3/4 cup unsalted butter
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Pinch of salt
6 cups powdered sugar
Cupcake Directions:
Let eggs and butter stand 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 large size muffins tins.
In medium bowl combine flour, cocoa powder, and salt; set aside.
In large electric mixing bowl beat butter on medium-high 30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until combined. Add eggs one at a time and beat on medium speed. Add food coloring and continue to beat.
Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to egg mixture, beat on medium speed after each addition just until combined. Stir together baking soda and vinegar. Add to batter; beat just until combined.
Divide mixture evenly into muffin tins.
Bake 20-22 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool.
Frosting Directions:
Beat cream cheese, butter lemon juice, vanilla and salt with electric mixer until smooth.
Gradually add in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, on low speed until smooth.
Frost cooled cupcakes and serve.
KICKED-UP STRAWBERRY CUPCAKES
Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix
1 1/4 cups strawberry soda
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 egg whites
1 container store-bought cream cheese frosting
3 drops red food color
Pink sprinkles
Fresh strawberries for garnish
Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Place paper baking cups in 24 regular size muffin cups.
In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat cake mix, soda, oil and egg whites on low speed 30 seconds. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally.
Fill each cup with 2/3 cup of batter.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
Stir frosting in container until smooth. Add food coloring and stir until frosting is light pink. Frost cupcakes. Decorate the top of cupcakes with sprinkles and strawberries.
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