Ingredients for - Red velvet cupcakes

1. 150g plain flour
2. 1 tbsp cocoa powder
3. 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
4. 50g butter , softened
5. 150g caster sugar
6. 1 large egg , beaten
7. 1 tsp vanilla paste
8. 100ml buttermilk or kefir
9. 50ml vegetable oil
10. 1 tsp white wine vinegar
11. 1 tbsp red gel food colouring
12. 100g slightly salted butter , softened
13. 225g icing sugar
14. 100g full fat cream cheese , stirred to loosen

How to cook deliciously - Red velvet cupcakes

1 . Stage

Line a cupcake tin with 12 cupcake cases and set aside. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Sieve the flour, cocoa, bicarb and a pinch of fine salt into a medium bowl and mix to combine.

2 . Stage

Using a stand mixer or an electric hand whisk, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then beat in the egg, vanilla, buttermilk, oil and vinegar until combined. Gradually mix the wet ingredients into the dried. Once combined, mix in the red food colouring until you have a deep red mix – the colour may vary depending on what brand you use.

3 . Stage

Divide the batter between the cupcake cases and bake for 15 mins, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of a cake comes out clean.

4 . Stage

While the cakes are cooling, make the icing. Beat together the butter and icing sugar using an electric whisk or by hand until pale and fluffy, about 3 mins, then beat in the cream cheese for a further 1-2 mins until well combined.

5 . Stage

Once the cakes are cool, use a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle to cover the cakes with the cream cheese icing, or dollop the icing on top using a spoon.