This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RedVelvetLove #CollectiveBias
Valentine’s Day is the Holiday of Love, with whom almost everyone has had a Love-Hate relationship. Featuring clumsy attempts at fully obligatory and often scripted romance, or worse, the fully expected ‘spontaneous amore,‘ which never quite goes as one envisioned, means this holiday comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors of dreaded awkwardness.
At Living the Gourmet, however, Valentine’s Day has always been about friends, family, and reflecting on the past year, while looking to the year ahead.
Wanting to start things off right, I decided to take a more carefree, lighthearted approach to Valentine’s Day this year, and picked up a bag of M&M's® Red Velvet and a bag of DOVE® Promises at my local Walmart in anticipation of the coming holiday. The decision to go carefree was later vindicated by the fact that I am in the process of being snowed in as I write this. Despite the weather, love is certainly still in the air this year, except this time it’s the simpler, stress-free kind.
However, I simply couldn’t content myself with simply picking on the delightful little morsels. No, I had to be true to my name, and put a decadently gourmet twist on them. In other words, my rebellion against fussing had already taken a step backwards. As I savored the deep chocolate flavor of my first DOVE® Promises, I began envisioning them as the base for a dark chocolate-on-chocolate tray of cupcakes, a perfect dessert for any Valentine’s Day occasion.
An hour or so later, with the wind howling, and the sun setting beneath a horizon greyed away by snow, I found myself standing at my mixing frosting and assembling cupcakes. All the while, I kept glancing from the kitchen window, making mental notes on the snow’s rapid accumulation. I must admit, it was a scene that could have been stripped from an old black and white film, smacking of home-and-hearth in veritably classical proportions. Nevertheless, it was ultimately the end-product that stole the show.
These rich, chocolate cupcakes are complimented by a chocolate frosting enhanced with M&M's® Red Velvet morsels, I can’t help but take a fair measure of pride. While these are going to be the centerpiece of a Valentine’s Day I’m spending with my son and daughter, it is a perfect dessert – and ornament – for any Valentine’s Day, whether with friends and family, or a significant other.
Well, I have my dessert for Valentine’s Day planned out and sampled, and now I would love to hear how you plan on spending your Valentine’s Day, and what traditions or recipes make your day special?
M&M's® Red Velvet Candy Cupcakes
by Living the Gourmet
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Makes: 24 Cupcakes
-Ingredients-
For Cupcakes:
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 2/3 cups dark brown sugar
1 cup ground M&M's® Red Velvet
1½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon espresso powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1½ cups sour milk (1½ cups milk + 1 tablespoon cider vinegar)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
For Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon shortening
2½ cups confectioner's sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk
M&M's® Red Velvet for garnish
Steps 1-6:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 cupcake tins and dust each lightly with flour. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, ground M&M's® Red Velvet, baking powder, baking soda, espresso powder and salt.
Whisk together and set aside.
Steps 7-12:
In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, vanilla, sour milk, and vegetable oil.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk until well combined.
Pour batter into prepared cupcake tins about 3/4 full. Bake for about 20 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
Let the cupcakes cool in the tins, before carefully transferring the cupcakes to a cooling rack.
-For the Buttercream Frosting-
Steps 1-6:
In the bowl of your stand mixer, whip butter and shortening together.
Add confectioner's sugar, cocoa powder, salt, vanilla and milk.
Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
Generously frost each cupcake and garnish with desired amount of M&M's® Red Velvet.
See more great M&M's® Red Velvet recipe and party ideas at myconfectioncorner.com/valentines-day where you can also download a coupon to save on your M&M's® purchase.
For more M&M's® Red Velvet inspiration, be sure to visit the Red Velvet Love Recipes page. Join the #RedVelvetLove Pinterest Party taking place at http://www.pinterest.com/SoFabChats/ on Saturday, January 31 at 12:00pm ET for your chance at winning a $1000 Walmart gift card!
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tanna says
These look so perfect for Valentine's Day. Ours will be simple. Not really a big deal now that the kids are all away... We usually go out to eat... but, perhaps I will be inspired to treat Evan to a special dinner for two. Who knows.
Catherine, you look beautiful in your pink scarf shopping for Valentine chocolate!! blessings ~ tanna
Pam says
They look fun and delicious - my kids would LOVE them!
Comedy Plus says
Oh yummy and I only ate two with my coffee this morning. They were delicious too. You make things so appealing.
Have a fabulous day Catherine. Big hugs. ♥♥♥
sandie says
Okay there is no one on earth that loves chocolate as much as I do - BUT what I loved most was seeing you! So good to see you - you look great.
Alida says
They look delicious! This is a perfect treat for children.. and adults of course, I really fancy them. I love your step by step instructions!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
These cupcakes look divine!
JanetGoingCrazy says
What a beautiful and delicious centerpiece perfect for Valentine's day. #client
Ginny Hartzler says
This is brilliant! They will be perfect for Valentine's Day. And you actually made this recipe up yourself, that is so cool! How wonderful that your children will be there! It all looks beautiful!
Solya says
Oh these cupcakes look amazing! I love the frosting, sounds delicious!
Wanda says
I just want to lick the paddle. Christine, I'm so excited. I have wanted a KitchenAid for years, but so many other needs seemed important with kids and a small preacher salary. But now retired..I was given a little money gift...and I used it to order a KitchenAid on line, and it should be delivered today.
I think I will be using you ideas for Valentines Day with my new mixer!!
Love and Hugs. BTW you are so cute in that picture.
Leslie Mayorga says
Ohhh I love Red Velvet Cake! These cupcakes look amazing Catherine. Hubby would love these!! I may just try my hand at making these for him! YUM!
XO
Leslie
Liz says
My family would love these! I'll need to buy two bags of red velvet M&M's--one to bake with and one to eat!!! Have a terrific weekend!!! xo
Dottie Sauchelli Balin says
Dear Catherine,
This recipe is simply awesome! These cupcakes look so beautiful all decked out with the chocolate Dove Promises. Makes a lovely center piece for your Valentines Day. Love the M&M's, didn't even know they make them in Red Velvet. I like you dear friend, celebrate the day with my family, especially my nieces and nephews. I make Linzer Tarts with them or for them in a heart shape. BTW: I love the picture of yourself in the store you are so sweet. I will have to try these for sure, especially the frosting, I could just take a spoon and eat that right off the top of that cupcake. Thanks for sharing...Have a wonderful and blessed weekend.
Dottie 🙂
Louise says
Hi everyone!!!
Looks like this post was a family affair, lol...Oh gosh Catherine, as much as I would love to devour those cupcakes, the joy of this post is that beautiful smile on your face! I just want to {{{hug}}} you:)
I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day anymore. I will probably buy Marion a chocolate heart because she just loves to nibble at all the different flavors. I would love to bake up your cupcakes they look so scrumptious. Hopefully I would be able to stop myself from eating every last one!!! I think I'd be better off saving this recipe for when company is coming. Who says we can't celebrate Valentine's Day every day!!!
Thank you so much for sharing, Catherine...I hope you didn't have too much trouble getting around. My sister told me she got 25 inches in Sayville!!!
Hootin' Anni says
So, so very perfect for our upcoming day of love!!
Barbara says
Such cute cupcakes and perfect for Valentine's Day! Had no idea M&M made red velvet. Will certainly be checking that out!
Chiara says
These look so perfect for Valentine’s Day, so cute ! Have a good weekend my dear, xoxo
amanda says
Yum yum yum these look so good!
Big Daddy Dave says
Catherine, Rich chocolate cupcakes topped with chocolate buttercream and those M&M Red Velvet chocolates and plated with Dove bites... This is a can't lose combination! Wow! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
Beauty Follower says
Delicious!
http://beautyfollower.blogspot.gr
claudia lamascolo says
great job another mouth watering cake I would love to try!
Betty says
Those cupcakes look so good! They'd be perfect for any Valentine's Day celebration. 🙂 We usually stay home on Valentine's Day, and just have a nice dinner. I do like to make cookies and send them to my grandkids. 🙂
Gloria says
I love these velvet cupcakes Catherine!!! and the pictures are beautiful Tammy xoxox
Have a nice and not so freeze Sunday dears!!
Susan says
I love the idea of the ground M&M's in the batter! Great idea and adorable cupcakes.
Melissa | Persnickety Plates says
So pretty! I have a red velvet M&M cookie recipe coming up soon =)
Living the Gourmet says
Thank you so much! Looking forward to your Red Velvet M&M post! xo
Brenley Davis says
What a great idea!! I have to try these! Thanks for sharing at Ducks N A Row!
Holly says
Those cupcakes look divine!!!
Dee says
These look awesome! Thanks for sharing at Snickerdoodle! 🙂
Laura@Baking in Pyjamas says
I'm so jealous you get all that holiday themed candy! These cupcakes look so good, great idea for grinding up the M&M's and using them in the batter. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!
Misty Overstreet says
I love, love, love this! That batter looks delicious! So easy, so simple! Thanks for linking this up this week at Merry Monday's!
Michelle says
Well, now, where have I been to not know that there is a such thing as red velvet M & Ms? I love red velvet anything! These cupcakes are perfect for Valentine's day. Wonderfully decadent!
swathi says
Looks delicious, thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop. pinning.
Miz Helen says
Your Cupcakes look awesome! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen