Red White & Blue Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cup oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 tbsp red food coloring
• 1 1/2 tsp white vinegar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 3 1/2 cup powered sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. 
3. In a separate bowl, mix together oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla
4. If you are making your own buttermilk, mix together 1 tbsp to 1 cup buttermilk.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well until combined.
6. Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full. Bake for 18-20 minutes
7. Meanwhile, in a large bowl mix together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla
8. Slowly mix in powdered sugar until ingredients are combined and frosting is formed. 
9. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting
10. Add the frosting to your cake decorator or piping bag with an icing tip, and frost the cupcakes.
11. Finish with patriotic red, white, and blue star sprinkles. Enjoy!