Green Velvet Cupcakes

These easy-to-make Green Velvet Cupcakes are the perfect St. Patrick's Day treat!

I have a confession: I have never had red velvet cake before. I've always wanted to try it, and today was the day! Since we are close to St. Patrick's Day, I decided to make green velvet instead! These St. Patrick's Day cupcakes are as fun to make as they are to eat - my daughter especially loved helping mix the batter and going wild with the sprinkles! Topped with a generous swirl of frosting and a pop of green, these cupcakes are the perfect addition to any St. Patrick's Day celebration or spring gathering.

These Green Velvet Cupcakes are are easy to make, and are a fun St. Patrick's Day dessert to share with your family or with friends or throwing a party. Here's what you'll need:

(Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are found below)

sugar: white granulated sugar helps the cupcakes to be as sweet as they can be!
all-purpose flour: gives cupcakes that cake-like consistency.
cocoa powder: use a good quality dutch cocoa. There's not enough to make it taste like chocolate, but it adds just enough to deepen the color of the batter. 
salt: this balances everything out to prevent an overly sweet cupcake.
eggs: egg helps the cupcakes to have a moist, soft crumb. 
buttermilk: adds a tangy flavor and tenderness to the cake. If you don't have buttermilk, you can substitute with cup of regular milk with a teaspoon of lemon juice added.
vegetable oil - gives the cupcakes extra moisture. You can substitute this for any kind of cooking oil (just be mindful of the flavor it can add to the cupcake).
white vinegar - the reason it's called velvet cake is because of the "velvet" texture, which is made by amount of acid in the batter. 
vanilla extract: using a good quality vanilla is always recommended for the best flavor.
green gel food coloring: gel food coloring is thicker and more concentrated to create bold green color. Liquid food coloring may not give you the same result.
homemade cream cheese frosting- this frosting recipe uses basic ingredients and is easy to "whip" up. You can substitute with a can of cream cheese frosting.
St. Patrick's Day sprinkles - add some festive flair to the top of the cupcakes!

You will also need a hand/stand mixer, mixing bowls, muffin tin, cupcake liners, piping bags, 1M star piping tip, and nonstick spray.

Mix up the cupcake batter until all of the ingredients are combined. Needless to day, it should be green in color! If you're feeling creative, you can add in additional surprises, like chocolate chips, nuts, or even mini marshmallows.

Line a cupcake pan with liners or spray with nonstick spray. Use a large scoop to fill cupcake liners about ¾ full and bake according to recipe directions.

Bake cupcakes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (or with a few crumbly crumbs). The tops should spring back when touched. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack.

While the cupcakes are cooling, whip up the frosting (literally and figuratively). Combine the cream cheese, vanilla, and butter until nice and smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar and mix until creamy.

Add the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a 1M star piping tip. Starting in the center of a cupcake, use a steady, even, and gentle pressure to squeeze frosting in a circular motion to cover the surface of the cupcakes. Immediately top with St. Patrick's Day sprinkles.

Green Velvet Cupcakes

Servings: 24 cupcakes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 18-20 minutes

Cupcake Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ teaspoons green gel food coloring

Cupcake Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F.
2. Line a cupcake pan with liners or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt.
4. In another bowl, combine eggs, oil, buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla, and green food coloring. Mix until smooth.
5. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Avoid over-mixing.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling approximately ⅔ - ¾ full.
7. Bake 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating.

Frosting Ingredients:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting Directions:

1. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
2. Add vanilla extract and stir until combined.
3. Gradually add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, and beat until fully combined.
4. Add a 1M star tip to a piping bag, and fill it with the frosting.
   
5. Starting in the center of a cupcake, use a steady, even, and gentle pressure to squeeze frosting in a circular motion to cover the surface of the cupcakes.
6. Immediately top with St. Patrick's Day sprinkles.

Tips:

• Storage: Refrigerate cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen for up to 3 months! Be sure that the cupcakes are completely cool, and unfrosted. Wrap the cupcakes in plastic wrap and then place in a freezer bag. Thaw cupcakes in the fridge overnight or for a couple of hours at room temperature before frosting and serving.

I'm so excited to whip up more Green Velvet Cupcakes for St. Patrick's Day to take to parties or to enjoy for a sweet dessert. I hope you try them for yourself! If you decide to give this recipe a try, I'd love to hear all about it! Please share your creations on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest!

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