By Popular Demand: Red Velvet Cake recipe.

Today I put a poll on our instagram account asking followers which recipe they wanted me to blog next. The winner was clear : red velvet! One of our favourite cupcake / cake flavours at Crumbs Couture was our red velvet and cream cheese frosting. Something about the indulgence of the sponge coupled with the tangy smoothness of the frosting makes this a great combination. Our recipe can be used for cupcakes / sponge cakes. It has a fair few steps but once complete, you have a wonderful crowd-pleaser of a treat.

Ingredients for 12 cupcakes

60g softened unsalted butter 150g caster sugar 1egg 20g cocoa powder 1tsp red food colour paste 1/2tsp vanilla extract 120ml buttermilk 150g plain flour 1/2tspbicarbonate of soda 1tsp white vinegar 300g icing sugar 20g softened unsalted butter 125g cream cheese

Ingredients for a 2-sponge 8 inch cake

120g softened unsalted butter

300g caster sugar

2 eggs

40g cocoa powder

2tsp red food colour paste

1tsp vanilla extract

240ml buttermilk

300g plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tsp white vinegar

450g icing sugar

30g softened unsalted butter

190g cream cheese

Start by turning your oven on to 175 degrees c (165 fan)

Combine your butter and sugar and mix at high speed until fluffy.

Add your egg(s) and mix at a high speed until fully combined.

Add the food colouring.

Add the flour and cocoa powder, followed by buttermilk and vanilla.

Take a small bowl and measure out 2 tsp of vinegar.

At the same time, pour your bicarb and vinegar into your other ingredients so that they cause a fizzy reaction. Mix well and then divide between your cupcake cases / cake tins.

Bake your cupcakes for 18 minutes and your cake for 28 minutes (checking regularly after 25 mins depending on the depth of your sponge)

In the mean time, combine your butter and cream cheese, mix at high speed and then add your icing sugar. Try not to eat all of the frosting before your cakes have cooled down!

Once cool, trim the domed peaks off your cupcakes / cake sponges and blitz this in a chopper so that you have some red sponge crumbs. Once you have decorated your cupcakes / cake with the cream cheese frosting, sprinkle these crumbs on top to give your creation that signature red velvet look. Enjoy x