Red Velvet Rudolph Cupcakes
These adorable Red Velvet Rudolph Cupcakes are made with a red velvet sponge and decorated with a chocolate buttercream. Find out exactly how to make them below.
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Christmas cupcakes
At the end of October every year I start to get prepared for Christmas. I sit down and write a nice long list of all of the crafts I hope to make and all of the recipes I hope to bake and more often than not I don’t get anywhere close to finishing the list. BUT, this year I am pretty damn close! This recipe is one I’ve wanted to try for a while – Red Velvet Rudolph Cupcakes.
I liked the idea of having a “character” cupcake which looked like one of the key players in the Christmas story – Rudolph! Covered in chocolate and just darn cute to look at, they were so popular at my Grandad’s birthday/post-Carol Service Party that I’ve had requests to make more!
Fortunately for me they are quick and easy and, unlike many Christmas recipes, they don’t require any fancy ingredients – just store cupboard staples!
What is red velvet sponge?
Red velvet is a type of sponge cake which a reddish brown colour. Traditionally it get’s it’s signature shade not from food colouring but from a specific type of cocoa powder used.
But, non-Dutched, anthocyanin-rich cocoa isn’t always easy to come by so I use regular cocoa powder and add red food colouring. Other common ingredients include buttermilk, butter, cocoa, vinegar, and flour. The buttermilk and vinegar are needed to react with the cocoa powder and create the red colouring. They also make the cake super moist.
I’ve tried making the recipe more accessible so haven’t used anything other than store cupboard staples. It might not be authentic but it’s still delicious.
How to make chocolate buttercream
Because red velvet is made with cocoa it is actually a type of chocolate cake! And a good chocolate cake should be topped with a great chocolate buttercream to enhance it’s flavour!
My chocolate buttercream is made with a mix of good quality dark chocolate, cocoa and coffee. Yes, coffee. You don’t want to add so much coffee that you can taste it.You just want to bring out the rich, roasted notes of the coffee beans.
In terms of technique, the trick is to beat, beat and beat the buttercream some more.
With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment you need to beat the butter and icing sugar on medium speed until creamy, then up it to high and beat more! It should be completely smooth. If it’s at all grainy keep beating. You can then add in the melted chocolate cocoa powder, milk, salt, and coffee.
A good chocolate buttercream is creamy, silky smooth and glossy. Just like Rudolph’s coat! If you’ve achieved that consistency it’s ready to use and will taste delicious – go on, lick the beater just to check…
I like to use a star tip nozzle to pipe the buttercream. This creates a nice texture to bring Rudolph to life. A cherry is perfect for his nose. You can use Cadbury’s flakes, Curly Wurly bars or even pretzels to make his antlers. The choice is yours. Chocolate chips make great eyes.
The recipe
Red and Green Velvet Rudolph Cupcakes!
Ingredients
- 100 g butter
- 100 g caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 74 g self raising flour
- 25 g cocoa powder
- Red food colouring
- 300 grams Chocolate buttercream
- 12 Glace cherries
- 24 Chocolate balls
- 8 Chocolate flakes
Instructions
- Pre-heat your oven to Gas Mark 4 (180C)
- Cream together the butter and the sugar until creamy and soft.
- Whisk together the butter and cream mix adding the eggs one at a time and beating until fully combined.
- Fold in the self raising flour and cocoa powder.
- Add in the red food dye and stir until the mixture is even.
- Spoon into cupcake cases and cook for 15 minutes in the centre of the oven until springy to the touch and a skewer poked into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
- Set the cakes to one side and allow to cool compeltely.
- Once cool. Cover with the chocolate buttercream. Place the chocolate balls as two eyes towards te top of the cake and half a glace cherry in the centre for rudolph’s nose.
- Cut the flakes shorter to creae antlers and place at the top of the cake above the eyes.
Nutrition
More festive treats
If you thought these Re Velvet Rudolph Cupcakes were fun then why not check out some of these other festive treats:
For the full Christmas recipe archive simply click the image below.
Happy Christmas everyone!