It’s hard to believe that 2 years have gone by since the time I started this blog. Sometimes it feels like I’ve been blogging forever and other times I feel like a newbie. Irrespective, I’ve had an awesome time here; learning new things and meeting new people has been very enriching (at the risk of sounding overtly formal).
Just to track progress, some changes that I’ve noticed…
- Starting from a blue Thisaway theme (should have captured a screenshot, for keepsake) theme to this customised blog design, I love tweaking the blog layout.
- My cookbook collection that has grown from 2-3 books to 50 odd (and still counting).
- I find myself moving away from cooking and falling more and more in love with baking with each passing post.
- Better photographs!
- And pretty much everything from my 1st blog anniversary post still stands.
Whether you’ve read the blog since the time I started, or hopped on this delicious journey a few months ago, or have just been around for the last 30 seconds – thank you! Thank you for reading. Thank you for your comments. Thank you for your e-mails. Thank you for your tweets. It really means the world to me.
The cupcakes are just wonderful – red (of course!) and soft and moist. And the cream cheese icing is to die for! I couldn’t stop licking it as I waited for the cupcakes to cool. I was reminded of the first time I tried a very Ameircan red velvet cupcake at Magnolia bakery. I’m sure they originated in some fairytale. The recipe is from the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, so I think I can’t stop extolling the recipe right about now.
Adapted from: The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook
Yield: 12 cupcakes. Double the recipe for 2 9 inch layer cakes.
Reference: There is a really helpful red velvet cupcake comparison on The Way The Cookie Crumbles. Also, please make sure you either use the cup measurement or the metric measurement. Don’t swing in between! Like most red velvet cucpakes, this recipe calls for vinegar, but I didn’t use it. Instead, i doubled the amount of baking soda required.
4 Tablespoons / 60g. butter, at room temperature
¾ cup / 150g. sugar
1 egg
2 1/2 / 10g. Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp / 20ml. red food coloring
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup / 120ml. buttermilk or well beaten yoghurt
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt (if you’re using unsalted butter)
1 tsp teaspoon baking soda
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 170°C/350°F.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda.
- In another bowl, beat butter and the sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy and well mixed.
- Turn the mixer up to high speed, slowly add the egg and beat until everything is well incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, red food colouring and vanilla extract to make a very thick, dark paste. Add to the butter mixture and mix thoroughly until evenly combined and coloured (scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula).
- Turn the mixer up to slow speed, add a third of the flour mixture, then half the buttermilk, a third of the flour, half the buttermilk, and ending with the rest of the flour. You can fold in the last third of flour by hand.
- Spoon mixture into cupcake mould line with paper or into silicone moulds.
- Bake for about 20-25 mins or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
- Let cool completely before frosting the cakes.
Cream Cheese Frosting
( double recipe to frost a 2 layer 9-inch cake)
Method:
- Beat the powdered sugar and butter together in the bowl of a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment. Mix on medium-slow speed until it comes together and is well mixed. Mine kinda looked crumbly.
- Add the cream cheese all at once and beat on medium to medium-high until incorporated.
- Turn the mixer to medium-high and beat for 5 minutes, or until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. Be careful not to over beat or the icing might get runny.
{ 95 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy blog birthday! What a huge accomplishment! Those cupcakes look so deliciously sweet
Congratulations Shiny! Really. You've come a long, long way. Cheers! And way to celebrate it, huh?!
Much success!
So pretty – and – Congratulations Shaheen!! Wishing you all the best and continued success.
Are those silicone cupcake holders, or what? I've never seen them before. They are too cute
SeasLife on Twitter.
Thank you, Amy!
Aviraj: Yep, come a long way, indeed. Thank you for being my guinea pig!
Leesie, you've been so kind to me ever since I've known you on Twitter. THANK YOU! Esp for those encouraging tweets about the new kiddos taking on food network.
Yes, those are Silicone cupcake moulds from Wilton. I'm sure you will find it at your local Michael's or Target.
Congrats to you! Love your blog. The cupcakes are fabulous!
Congrats! I'll raise a toast to many more years of yummy blogging from you!
Thank you Maria! Thank you Manisha!
I am so proud of you! You deserve all the accolades you get. Congratulations on everything. This is a milestone event in itself. And what a post to celebrate it with!
Happy Birthday to you.. happy birthday to you.. happy 2nd birthday purplefoodie.com.. happy birthday to you!
Congrats Shaheen!
MAJOR congratulations on your 2-year blogiversary!!! Keep it going, please!!!
Happy blogiversary! I am a relatively new blogger and I enjoy your site.
Mimi
Hey Shaheen!! Congratulations! I entered the world of food blogs just a few months back..urs was one of the 1st i came across! Now i'm totally addicted to this world and ur blog and wait for my google reader to have a post here every single morning! Ur doin awesome! N the cupcakes look great! So red..
Enjoy ur day n have a cupcake from my side!!
Tk care, Disha.
I cant believe your accomplishment in the 2 years. I dont know if your interest is cooking,baking or photography. Congratulations.Trudy
Congratulations! So exciting. And those cupcakes are beautiful.
Happy 2nd anniversary!!!
Its always wonderful to look back and see how much you and the blog have grown. Then cupcakes are the perfect celebration! I love your presentation!
congrats shaheen! i absolutely love your blog and i have to say the cute hearts on the cupcakes are to die for! here's to many more years of blogging fun
Happy Blogversary…Yours is a blog where I come for food indulgence virtually.
These are beautiful and the colours are amazing. Happy 2 years. As a blogger, I understand and appreciate the comments of readers and their kind words. Good job babe
Well done on your huge milestone!
Congratulations!!! Wish you many more anniversaries. Yours and Deeba's blog were the first ones which i started following and i hope you continue your grt work as your blog truly ROCKS!
Those cupcakes look gorgeous especially with those cute small red hearts
Congratulations! These are on my to be done list. They look gorgeous. I'd better try them out soon.
Btw, I have a feeling the vinegar contributes to the red colour (vinegar + cocoa) somehow.
50 cookbooks!
2 years?!!
AWESOME!
congratulations! you work so hard on this blog you really need to celebrate!
bravo!
arjwiz: Thank you for being my spelling and grammar checker
Thanks so much Tanuja! I am forever jealour of your farmers' market and berry fields.
That's so sweet of you VeggieGirl, thank you!
Mimi: I'm so happy you do – thanks!
Trudy: Your are too nice! Love chatting with you on facebook.
Thanks Jennifer. The cupcakes are delicious!
Nags: You're always amongst the first few people to comment on my blog posts. Thank you! I really appreciate it.
Disha: I think I can safely call you my baking sister in Bombay.Love twitter chatter with you!
Rachel! You make me blush!
Thanks, Penny!
Kavey: Thank you so much.
Parita: Thank you for your kind words.
Aparna: Thanks birthday girl!
Oh I didn't think about that. Most places said that the vinegar + soda action is for the texture of the cake. Will only find out the next time I make these.
oneofagrind: Thank you so much Aalia!
Congrats on turning 2 Shaheen. Was waiting for this brilliant celebratory post, and it's been worth the wait! Beautiful red velvet, enticing in every frame. Your blog has gone from strength to strength, & am glad you are falling more and more in love with baking with each passing day! Hugs to you girl! Glad to have met you!!
Deeba! Thanks for such a thoughtful message. I'm so happy to have met you! Remember the first time we "met" through those pink flowers you were confident were photographed my a blogger for the subcontinent! Has been wonderful knowing you as well
Congrats on two wonderful years!! And I totally agree with you, I'd choose baking over cooking any day
Happy blogiversary
Katie xox
Happy Birthday ! I have been following your place for a while now, a good time this is to leave my comment:-) beautiful cakes to celebrate a wonderful blog & wishing you many more to come.
That's wonderful! Congratulations! I have to admit though, I'd choose cooking over baking. How about I cook you dinner and you bring the red velvet cupcakes for dessert?
Happy two year anniversary!
I've always wanted to make red velvet something-anything. Chocolate it may be, but I am worried the color might stop me from taking a bite. Maybe I'll give in and try your recipe.
Stepchow: I like how we think alike.
Thanks, Katie!
Thanks for the heartfelt wishes, Soma.
Susan: Thanks! And we've got a deal!
Barbara: Thanks for the wishes! I know, I was skeptical about the red colour as well. But what the heck, I don't celebrate a blog anniversary every other day, do I?
Happy 2 year blogiversary! Looking forward to more years of your wonderful blog! : )
Thank you, Mom2Be!
Congratulations! I love your blog
Oh, I love red velvet cake–never had it in cupcakes, these look really decadent and wonderful. Congrats on two years.
Red velvet cake is awesomely decadent. An appropriate celebration of 2 years.
Congratultions on the anniversary. I discovered your blog recently and I enjoy visiting.
Happy 2nd Blosoversary! I just celebrated mine too. It's a special age isn't it! And what a perfect way to celebrate it with these heart shaped red velvet cakes
Congrats on 2 years of blogging! The cupcakes look amazing!
Congrats on your blogoversary! I love the red velvet cupcakes. I am going to make an Elmo cake for my son with the red velvet cake recipe.
Thank you, Bulgariana, avantgourd, embellisher, Lorraine, Simply life and Southern grace gourmet.
Wow, 2 years!? Happy blogiversary! Here's hoping the next 2 are filled with even more yummy and decadent desserts!
~ingrid
Hey Congrats on your 2nd year of blogging!! Your site has always been amazing. You're definitely one of those Food bloggers/writers/photographers/chefs/hobbyist/etc/ who never fail to make me feel hungry after reading LOL. *Thumbs UP!!!*
~ @delphiz
Congrats on two years! I love red velvet cupcakes, they are always perfect for any celebration.
Happy 2 years! Red velvet is the perfect way to celebrate!
Happy 2 year blogaversary! I just celebrated my first, looking forward to #2
I am saving this cupcake recipe for Valentine's Day, it will be perfect!
Ita Suzana: Thank you! Very happy to read a comment from you
Lindsey, Peabody: They were perfect! Thank you.
Amanda: i was trying to save thee for valentine's day as well! But gave in.
Ooh I'm a little late on this, but congratulations on your 2-year milestone! It is no small deal that you've been at it for 24 months now and I hope you'll keep going! Your cupcakes would be perfect for Valentine's Day
Congratulations! I hope you'll have many many more fun years blogging! From 2-3 cookbooks to more than 50 is awesome. I'm still "stuck" around 25. Great looking cupcakes. They're so lovely.
These are just lovely cupcakes!
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