Velvet Cupcakes

As I mentioned yesterday I made these for my best friends birthday and they were a hit.  They are really easy to make but not that good for the waistline so save it for special occasions.  This is a Jamie Oliver recipe from his "Jamie's America" cookbook.

Velvet Cupcakes

50g Unsalted Butter                                150 g Castor Sugar
1 Egg                                                      1Tsp Vanilla Extract
3Tbs Natural Red Food colouring           2 Heaped Tbs Cocoa Powder
150 g Flour                                             125ml Buttermilk
1/2 tsp Baking Soda                               1 1/2 tsp Vinegar

For the Icing

150g Cream Cheese                              50g Unsalted Butter
100g Icing Sugar                                   1/ 2tsp Vanilla Extract
Zest and Juice of 1 Lemon

Preheat you oven to 180 degrees and line a 12 hole muffin pan with cupcake cases.
Cream your butter and sugar until light and fluffy then gently beat in the egg a pinch of salt, the vanilla extract and food colouring.
In a separate bowl sift together the flour and cocoa.  Fold half of the dry mix into the butter mix , followed by half the buttermilk.  Repeat with the remaining dry mix and buttermilk until you have a smooth mix.
In a small bowl mix the baking soda with the vinegar so that it fizzes up and then stir into the cake mix.
Divide the mix between the cupcake cases and bake for 20 - 25 mins.  Test with a skewer and when it come out clean they are ready.
Let them cool 5 mins in the tin then turn out on a wire rack to cool completely before icing.

To make the icing mix all the ingredients together till smooth and creamy, spoon onto cupcakes and serve.