Red Velvet Cupcake "Experiment"

Disclaimer: As the title goes, this is an experiment and by no means am I recommending this, but I must just also say that this isn't so bad after all. The cupcakes tastes good and fluffy. Yes, the photo did not do justice, but then again, this is just an experiment so I'm sure we can do better next time! :)

Tastes better than it looks, promise!

Isn't that neat, starting off this entry with a disclaimer? LOL! No, I'm not being defensive, but most of you know that I am not a baker. In fact, apart from the crinkles and chocolate chip cookies --- plus the pancakes, I can not remember any single successful baking I've made, in terms of cakes and cupcakes. I really don't know, but no matter how hard I stick to the recipe, somehow what I made turns out differently than that of the ones in in the pictures. Haay... But I'm not giving up. I know, someday... Someday, I'd be able to make at least 1 decent cake :)

Now, I'm not one with a sweet tooth, but somehow I really like the Magnolia Bakery's cupcakes. Among the flavors they have, my favorites are the Vanilla and Red Velvet. There's just somehow a distinct flavor in the Red Velvet that I like. Won't say love yet, I haven't fallen in love yet. But I guess when it comes to cupcakes, the Red Velvet would be my flavor of choice. The only problem is, they are so expensive! I mean for myself and the girls, it would cost me an arm and a leg. And the trouble is the two little ones just make a couple of small bites and won't finish them. So I end up with cupcakes one too many. 
And so I thought, the only solution for me to enjoy the cupcake from time to time is for me to be able to make one for myself. I save on the labor cost, plus the rest of the Fam can enjoy too --- well that is, if I do it right! LOL! And so my quest for the perfect recipe began. I browsed through the net, starting with my favorite bloggers to find the perfect recipe. Perfect meaning, something that's good but at the same time with simple steps that I can follow. I found some, no question. But they all look so complicated! Well all cakes and cupcakes recipe for me are complicated. And so weeks passed... One day, in the grocery store this box of Betty Crocker French Vanilla mix caught my eye. It was a lightbulb moment! LOL! 

This is it! :)

I think the French Vanilla flavor would be a perfect base for my red velvet cupcake. And it did! I prepared this mix as per package instructions, mixing in 4 tbs of cocoa powder in the mix before adding the liquid ingredients. Then once I finished mixing, I added 1 tsp of red food coloring. Then baked them. It was good! Really it was. I know it doesn't seem so from the picture but you can try them for yourself. LOL! Although, I think 4 tbs of cocoa powder had overpowered the color. Maybe next time I'll lessen it to just 2 tbs. The chocolate and vanilla flavor, plus the smell truly is red velvet. I really just try to make it less chocolaty and a bit redder next time. It's what makes Red Velvet truly Red Velvet right. AND, I must learn to make that frosting. I think the frosting is also essential to capture the flavor of Red Velvet. I'll do it, in the near future I promise I'll do it and let you know how it turns out. In the mean time, let me just enjoy this little Red Velvet experiment I just did. :)