Blood Red Velvet Cupcakes for your next Halloween Party or just for a good thrill!

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 egg
• 2 tablespoons red gel food color (I use Wilton no taste red)
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place liners in 2 cupcake tins.
2. In medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cocoa. Set aside.
3. In large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, combine oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar and vanilla.
4. Mix until combined.
5. With mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet and mix until combined.
6. Divide batter among liners (I got 20), each about 3/4 full.
7. Bake for about 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
8. Remove from tins to a cooling rack to cool completely.
9. Place each cupcake in decorative wrap, then frost with cream cheese frosting.
10. If using straws, cut each into 3 equal pieces and dip each end into red food coloring and then stick into frosting.
11. Use a toothpick to add more 'blood' if desired.

Notes: Instead of straws, you could use a chopstick or something of a similar size dipped in the food coloring to make 2 vampire bite marks in the cupcakes.

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4-5 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk or cream

Instructions

1. Cream together butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy.
2. Add vanilla and beat until thoroughly mixed.
3. Slowly add powdered sugar until desired consistency is reached, add a bit of milk or cream if needed.