Festive Red Velvet Cupcakes

Looking for a sweet treat to take to a holiday gathering this year? These red velvet cupcakes are simply delicious and easy to make.

A quick trip to the grocery store and a few basic ingredients from your pantry is all that is needed for this wonderful festive dessert. The items you need include:
-Cupcake Batter Mix
-Vegtable Oil
-Eggs
-Powdered Sugar
-Cream Cheese (The cream cheese must be room temperature, so make sure to set it out at least two hours prior to baking time.)
-Salted Butter (The butter must be room temperature, so make sure to sit it out at least two hours prior to baking time.) 
-Mini Candy Canes
- Festive Cupcake Liners
- Water
-Vinalla Extract

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix one package of the cupcake mix with half a cup of water, two large eggs, and one-fourth cup of vegetable oil.
With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the ingredients together for three minutes until well combined.

Fill the cupcake pan with your choice of festive cupcake liners.
Fill each cup about two-thirds full of cake batter. 

Place the cupcakes in the oven for approximately sixteen minutes. Remember oven temperatures may vary.

While the cupcakes are baking, you can prepare the icing.
In a mixing bowl, add half a cup of salted room temperature butter and eight ounces of room temperature cream cheese.
Mix until well combined.
Add one-half teaspoon of vinalla extract.
Slowly add three and a half cups of powdered sugar a little at a time until all has been added and combined.

When baking time is over, take the cupcakes out of the oven and let them cool completely on a cooling rack.

While the cupcakes continue to cool, this would be a good time to clean up the mess that was made in the kitchen. Obviously, this step is optional.

When your cupcakes are ready for icing, use a small spatula to spread the icing onto the cupcake. Make sure each cupcake is liberally coated with icing. If you would like to add a festive touch to your cupcake, simply add a small christmas candy cane to the top of each cupcake.

Enjoy your delicious cupcakes!