R is for Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red velvet is one of my super favorite cupcake flavors (chocolate being on top lol), so one day, I decided to make my own batch. Gear up, ’cause this A-Z Blogging Challenge entry is about red velvet cupcakes!

I followed Aikko Aragon’s (of Bake Happy) recipe because it’s easy and very Pinoy. Haha. Check it out here: click!

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield: 36 cupcakes

Ingredients:

3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cups cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups Yakult
3 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 bottle red McCormick food color
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups butter
3 eggs

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup cream cheese
454 g / 1 pound confectioners sugar (sifted)
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 cup all purpose cream

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Mix Yakult, apple cider vinegar, whole bottle of red food color, vinegar and vanilla extract. Set aside.

3. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Dry whisk or sift (I like whisking dry ingredients so I used my trusty wire whisk). Set aside.

4. Cream together butter and sugar well.

5. Add eggs, one at a time.

6. Add the flour mixture and Yakult mixture in 3 lots. Mix well.

7. Pour in cupcake liners (2/3 full). Bake for 15 minutes.

For the frosting:

1. Cut butter into small chunks. Beat for 3 minutes, or until smooth.

2. Gradually add confectioners sugar. Mix well.

3. Add cream cheese (also cut in cubes). Mix well.

4. Add all-purpose cream. Again, mix well.

5. For the final touch, add vanilla extract.

Aaaaaand ta-daaah! My red velvet cupcakes!

My frosting’s a bit crunchy, but overall, it was good. 😉  My niece helped in the kitchen, and she’s also my first taste-tester. Thanks, Jaja!

(My niece, trying out “our” baked goodies lol)

Next time, I’ll try to add some red sugar crystals or choco powder on top. I’m still working on the whole baking thing. Hehe.

Happy blogging (and baking)!
Jane

Cupcakes by Sonja: Simply LOVE

Cupcakes by Sonja, located at 2/F Glorietta 2 Bridgeway, Ayala Center, Makati (with brances at Serendra Piazza, Rockwell, Shangri-La Plaza, Rustans Fresh Forbes Park, Greenhills Shopping Center, Robinsons Galleria, and TriNoma). Contact: 625 48 84

Date: February 1, 2014

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Wow! I can’t believe I finally had the chance to start my so-called “Cupcake Journey!” 🙂 It’s been long overdue since I don’t have enough riches to pay for the sumptuous but pricey cupcakes that bakeshops offer. But thanks to my finance provider (my sister hehe), I was able to taste some of Cupcakes by Sonja’s mouth-watering cupcakes.

I’ve always wanted to try Cupcakes by Sonja ever since I saw their branch in BGC. Back then, I didn’t have any money to splurge, and it was kinda far from my place. Fortunately, they opened a new spot in Glorietta 2, which is definitely nearer. Yay!

I absolutely love the decor and feel of the place. It’s simple and cute; not heavily decorated because the branch sits right in the middle of Glorietta 2 walkway. I like its 360-degree style and, best of all, the bulbs surrounded with wire whisks! How creatively crazy is that?

Okay, now the food. Last Saturday, my sister and I decided to satisfy our sweet cravings and ordered two cupcakes: red velvet and peppermint patty.

In fairness, both cupcakes were of right sweetness and fluffiness. Good job!

(Red velvet cupcake)

The red velvet is my personal favorite. I like the fact that there’s a slight tanginess in the frosting and it compliments very well with the sweetness of the cake. For P85.00, this cupcake sure is worth it!

(Peppermint patty cupcake)

Meanwhile, the peppermint patty’s good too. I ordered it because I like all things mint (from my usual Starbucks drink to my favorite ice cream flavor), and I was excited to taste a peppermint-flavored cupcake. Unfortunately though, I didn’t taste enough mint. The frosting’s too sweet for me— in fact, I didn’t finish the whole thing. The cake’s good, though; feels smokey chocolate in the mouth, but not my kind of choco. Peppermint patty’s not entirely disappointing, but I guess next time I shouldn’t expect too much. 😉

Overall, it was a splendid experience. My sister and I sitting on a high stool (just because the place’s packed and there were no low seats available), munching on cupcakes while watching people pass by… Cupcakes by Sonja is definitely a must-visit. I wanna try more of their offerings soon!

(The finance officer… LOL)

Happy eating!
♥ Jane

Vanilla Cupcake Bakery: All Things Sinfully Sweet and Cute

Vanilla Cupcake Bakery, located at 2/F Glorietta 4, East Dr. Ayala Center, Makati, and in Trinoma.

Date: January 18, 2013

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I think I finally found the perfect cupcake heaven for me.

For our first stop during our “food trip reunion,” Meeka introduced me to Vanilla Cupcake Bakery, a super cute and adorable cupcake shop situated at the newly-renovated Glorietta 4 (near the passage to SM Makati). At first, it kinda reminded me of Sonja’s Cupcakes (just the ambiance, ‘cause I haven’t tasted their cupcakes yet) and I found it really home-y and gentle to the eyes. You know, I think most girls like all things that are cutesy and oh-so-charming.

(Don’t you just find these little details super lovely? I wanna take them home!)

(Cute chairs! Just… cute chairs!)

The place itself is worth 5 stars already, but we really came for the food, so…

There is a wide array of delectable pastries to choose from. Aside from their delectable cupcakes, they also serve cookies, cup-cake (cake in a cup), and muffins. It’s a good thing that visitors can easily spot their offerings, because they’re displayed near the entrance.

But, of course, we weren’t able to try them all at once, so we just picked the bestsellers (of course we asked, LOL): Red Velvet (P85) and Vanilla Pink (P75) cupcakes.

(Yummy Red Velvet cupcake!)

(Soft Vanilla Pink cupcake!)

Honestly, what I’m going to say about them are pretty much the same: not too sweet (which is so good!), super chewy and not so crumbly (therefore so easy to eat), and most important of all, they don’t have that umay factor.   Both simply melted inside my mouth and, for the first time (I think?), I experienced cupcake heaven.

I’ll admit; cupcakes here are a bit overpriced for me (seriously, I can have a full meal at P75), but who cares? They’re simply irresistible… just the right amount of sugar and flavor. Plus the wooden fork is super cool!

Bottomline: We. Wanna. Go. BAAACCKK!

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This blog entry can also be seen on http://meekalexyproject.wordpress.com. Follow us there! 🙂