Line Grain

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Orange Buttercream

Posted October 24, 2012 by Stone-Buhr
These darling magenta-hued cupcakes are brilliantly colored all the way through. No food coloring is used here; the color comes from pureeing freshly roasted beets.

Posted in :
  • Prep Time :
    20 min
  • Cook Time :
    25 min
  • Ready Time :
    45 min

Servings

12

Ingredients

    Cupcakes

    • 2 cups Sifted Stone-Buhr All-Purpose Flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
    • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1-1/2 pureed red roasted beets
    • 1 cup granulated sugar + 2 tablespoons
    • 3 large eggs, beaten
    • 2/3 cup canola oil
    • 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    Orange Buttercream

    • 1-1/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
    • 2 cups confectioner's/icing sugar
    • 1 tablespoon heavy whipping/double cream
    • 1/2 teaspoon pure orange oil (see cook's notes)
    • 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2-3 tablespoons fresh orange juice

    Directions

    I tested the recipe with canned beets and the color is drab and faded, but given how easy it is to roast beets this simple step can be done while you measure and prepare the ingredients for the cupcakes and buttercream. I finely chop the roasted beets and then puree them in a food processor. It is important to let the machine run for a couple of minutes, scraping down the sides of the workbowl once or twice, until the puree is completely smooth.

    Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F/180°C/gas 4. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

    Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.

    In a large bowl, combine the beets, sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla. Using a rubber spatula, stir in one-third of the flour mixture, and continue stirring just until the flour disappears. Do not beat or overmix. Repeat, adding the remaining flour mixture in 2 batches.

    Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, dividing the batter evenly and filling each cup almost to the top of the liner. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Let the cupcakes rest in the pan, set on a wire rack, for 10 minutes. Transfer the cupcakes to the wire rack to cool completely, about an hour.

    To make the buttercream, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a mixing bowl with a handheld electric mixer, cream the butter on low speed. Add the sugar, cream, orange oil, and vanilla, and beat until incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add the orange juice, a little at a time, until the buttercream is fluffy and smooth.

    When the cupcakes are completely cool, spread a thick layer of buttercream over the tops, swirling the frosting to decorate the tops. Alternatively, the frosting can be transferred to a pastry bag and piped around the tops of the cupcakes. The cupcakes can be made up to 2 days in advance. Store, covered, at room temperature.

    Cook’s Notes

    Pure orange oil is an essential oil cold pressed from the rind of oranges. It is different from pure orange extract. Look for pure orange oil in the baking section of natural foods stores, at baking supply stores, or Middle Eastern grocers. Two brands I see often is Boyajian or Frontier.

    The cupcakes freeze well and are handy to have on hand for a party. Freeze the cupcakes unwrapped on a baking sheet/tray. Once frozen, wrap them individually, first with plastic wrap/cling film and then with aluminum foil. The cupcakes can be frozen up to 1 month. Unwrap the cupcakes and thaw at room temperature.

    Comments are closed.