Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes w/ Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Annie's Eats is my go-to website for delicious cupcake recipes, and her Red Velvet is one of the best.  I've made this recipe several times and it never fails to disappoint!  I do prefer to make them mini-sized, though.  Maybe it's the guilt factor?

Cupcakes:

2 1/2 cups cake flour *
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 TB unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
2 TB liquid red food coloring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I use vanilla bean paste for a richer flavor)
1 teaspoon white vinegar

Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese
5 TB unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or vanilla bean paste)
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.  In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa, and salt.  Whisk to blend.  Using a stand mixer fitted with a large bowl, combine eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla and vinegar.  Beat on medium speed until well blended.  Slowly add dry ingredients on low speed and beat until smooth, 2-3 minutes.

Pour batter into cupcake liners, filling 3/4.  Bake, rotating pan half way through until a toothpick comes out clean, about 15 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Meanwhile, make the frosting.  Using a stand mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, 3-4 minutes.  Add the vanilla extract, combine.  Gradually add in the confectioners sugar on low speed until incorporated, then increase speed and beat until smooth.

Frost cupcakes as desired (I used a bag and a large star tip).  Top with shaved chocolate flakes for extra oomph!

*I NEVER have cake flour on hand, but here's an easy substitute:

For every cup of flour needed for a recipe, substitute 2TB of flour with 2TB of cornflour.  To do this, I generally put the 2TB of cornflour into my cup first, then fill the rest with flour.  Then sift. Works like a charm!

Adapted from Annie's Eats