Red Velvet Cupcakes

Mmmmmm. Cake. Red cake. Silver frosting. Perfection in cake form. These were made for a birthday gal last week and went down to tremendous applause <becka bows modestly>. Strictly speaking they are not red velvet as there's no cocoa powder in them. I loathe chocolate cupcakes. So I don't make them. They are, really, vibrant red victoria sponge fairy cakes. But delicious nonetheless.

For about 32 cakes you need:
Cake
8oz self raising flour
8oz vitalite
8oz vanilla caster sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla bean paste
2-3 tbsp milk
1 tsp red food paste (if using food colouring, reduce the amount of milk)

Icing
1 tub betty crocker ready made creamy frosting <becka blushes, look I am clearing out my cupboards ready for a house move OK>.

Beat the sugar and vitalite together in a free standing mixer for *at least* 10 mins, till very light and fluffy. You will probably need to scrape down the sides at least once during this period. Mix the eggs together and gradually add to the fat and sugar mixture. Add a spoonful of flour with each addition of eggs to stop it from curdling. Once all the eggs are added, incorporate the remainder of the flour along with the vanilla paste and food paste. Add some milk to slacken the mixture if it needs it.

Spoon into lined muffin/cupcake tins and bake at 170 degrees for about 15-20 mins till risen and lightly browned. Leave to cool.

Decorate with piped icing and top with a chocolate button and silver spray or whatever you fancy. Scoff and bask in the adulation of your friends.