Festive Deep Red Velvet Christmas Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
• 5 large eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 (3/4 ounce) bottle decorating paste red food coloring
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 3 cups confectioner's powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon decorating paste green food coloring
• 6 tablespoons white sanding sugar
• 6 tablespoons red sanding sugar

Directions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. 2

   Line a 12 count muffin pan and a 6 count muffin pan with silver foil liners, for a total of 18 large cupcakes.

3. 3

   In a large mixing bowl, electrically beat cake mix, cocoa, eggs, oil, buttermilk and red decorating paste for about 4 minutes.

4. 4

   Pour batter evenly between the cupcakes until about two-thirds full.

5. 5

   Bake 19-24 minutes or until toothpick comes up clean from center.

6. 6

   Allow to cool for 15 minutes.

7. 7

   Transfer to wire rack and cool completely.

8. 8

   Microwave cream cheese and butter for around 15 seconds to bring to room temperature.

9. 9

   Beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla and the whipping cream for about 3 minutes until fluffy.

10. 10

    Add confectioner’s sugar and beat until desired consistency is reached.

11. 11

    Frost 9 of the 18 cupcakes with ½ of this white frosting.

12. 12

    Sprinkle white frosted cupcakes with red sanding sugar.

13. 13

    In the remaining ½ frosting, add green decorating paste and beat until blended.

14. 14

    Frost the remaining 9 cupcakes with this green frosting.

15. 15

    Sprinkle green frosted cupcakes with white sanding sugar.