(Insert Your Favorite Primary Color Here) Velvet Cupcakes

If your wondering what dessert to serve with your Shepherd's Pie in honor of St. Patrick's Day, look no further than these [Insert Your Favorite Primary Color Here] Velvet Cupcakes. Today I am sharing my recipe (adapted from Epicurious) for Blue Velvet cupcakes, which I made in honor of our school colors. Go Eagles!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 t salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 T cocoa powder
• 2 ounces water
• 1 ounce food coloring in your color of choice
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 t vanilla
• 1 t white vinegar
• 1 t baking soda

Directions

Preheat the over to 350 degrees and line cupcake tins. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and blend well.

Make a paste of cocoa and food coloring, like so:

Add to the butter mixture. 

One at a time, stir in the following ingredients: buttermilk, vanilla, and water. 

A third at a time, mix flour and salt into the butter mixture until just combined. Do not overmix! 

In a small bowl, combine vinegar and baking soda. Gently fold it into the cake batter. Make sure it's incorporated; don't beat it. 

Spoon batter into cupcake tins until they are 2/3 full. Bake for 15-20 mins, or until an inserted fork comes out clean of batter. 

While your cupcakes are baking, start on the Cream Cheese Frosting...

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 12 ounces cream cheese (I use Neufchatel cheese - a creamy cream cheese alternative with less fat)
• 1/2 cup (one stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 t vanilla 
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 t lemon juice or extract (optional - to cut some of the sweetness)

Cream, cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and lemon (if using). Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and beat until smooth. (Note: If doubling your cupcake recipe, this frosting should be enough for a double batch.)

Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.

** I would post pics of the frosting-making process and the finished product, but Blogger is refusing to upload the rest of my pics right now, and I am too tired to try to figure out what is wrong. Sorry. Now I guess you will really have to make these delicious treats to see what they look like!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! How are you celebrating this year? Is there a tradition that you honor each March 17th? Either way, I hope you get out there and have a green beer for me so I can celebrate vicariously through you! I will be curled up under our new duvet - it came in yesterday! - grading papers for the rest of my life...or until next Wednesday when 3rd quarter grades are due.