Prep time – 15 minutes
Cook time – 18 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups (125gs) sifted cake flour
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
• ¼ cup (57g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• ¾ cups (150g) White Sugar
• 1 large egg
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk
• 1 Tbsp liquid red food coloring
• ½ tsp white distilled vinegar
• ½ tsp baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8oz (227g) cream cheese, room temperature
• ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup (60g) Chelsea Icing Sugar, sifted
• ⅔ cup slightly whipped cream

Method

1. Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F) and line 12 muffin tins with paper cupcake liners. In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder.
2. In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add the White Sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.
3. In a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk with the red food coloring. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.
4. In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter.
5. Working quickly, divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 18-23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.
6. Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes and then remove from pan. Let cool completely before frosting. Either spread the frosting with a knife or offset spatula, or use a large 1M Wilton open star decorating tip to pipe the frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth.
2. Add the vanilla and Chelsea Icing Sugar and beat until smooth. Using the whisk attachment, gradually add the heavy cream and whip until the frosting is thick enough to pipe.
3. Add more sugar or cream as needed to get the right consistency.