How to make Sugar Free Red Velvet Cupcake- Recipe (2024)

Published: Jan 20, 2020 · Modified: Nov 17, 2020 by thesugarfreediva. · This post may contain affiliate or amazon links.

This Sugar Free Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe is especially perfect for Valentines' Day.

This is one of my favorite holiday season go-to cupcake recipes for the holidays as well.

Sugar Free Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

I developed this recipe because I know just how hard it is to find a Red Velvet Cupcake recipe that is sugar free.

Also, red velvet is a popular cupcake that so many of us can agree upon.

I have posted many cupcake recipes in the past that are sugar free.
Many of those recipes are the standard cupcakes that we commonly see for birthdays and similar occasions. While red velvet is a common variety of cupcakes, especially during certain times of the year, finding a great tasting sugar free version does not seem to be as common.

I have some great tasting sugar free frosting recipes that would work great with this recipe!
Check out my Stevia Cream Cheese Frosting , Sugar Free Greek Yogurt Frosting, and my Sugar Free Buttercream Frosting recipes as they would work great with these cupcakes!

Many people seem to wonder what do red velvet cupcakes taste like.

The first thing that I tell people is not to be surprised by the color. This is because the color of red velvet cupcakes has nothing to do with the taste of them.

The truth is that the taste of Red Velvet Cupcakes is influenced by a couple of the ingredients that you may not expect to see in them.

Obviously, because this is a cupcake, it will taste sweet (I've never heard of a cupcake that did not taste sweet, nor do I want to 🙂 ). It is the unsweetened cocoa powder and the sour cream that is added to this recipe that makes Red Velvet Cupcakes taste the way that they famously do.

You may also be wondering what it is that makes red velvet cakes and cupcakes red.

I mean, they have unsweetened cocoa so shouldn't they be brown?
The red color comes from an ingredient and perhaps a bit of a reaction that takes place between the unsweetened cocoa and the dairy that is added.

The red color in red velvet cupcakes comes mainly from the red food coloring that is added to the batter.

This should be no big surprise if you think about it.
However, many red velvet recipes also call for vinegar and buttermilk. There is a reaction that takes place between the two which helps to enhance this famous red color.

Here are some tips for making Sugar Free Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

I mentioned above that the taste of this cupcake is influenced by the unsweetened cocoa powder that is added to it. Also, the red color in these cupcakes mostly comes from the red food coloring that is added to the batter.

Here are some more helpful tips for you.

1. Like with most anything that is made in the kitchen and is also red, there is always a chance of staining. I know this from experience :). I suggest wearing an apron or clothes that you do not mind getting red food coloring on just in case there is a spill or a splatter.
2. I am using oil as an ingredient in this recipe. Some folks prefer the taste of butter. You are welcome to substitute butter for the oil if you would like to. However, the butter may cause this recipe to turn out more dry than expected. A good compromise may be to simply substitute in half of the oil for butter instead.
3. This is a great recipe to make mini cupcakes with by using a mini cupcake pan.
4. I suggest using cupcake pan liners for your cupcakes to make the clean up a bit smoother.

This recipe is especially nice when you top the cupcakes with a white frosting.

My Stevia Cream Cheese Frosting , Sugar Free Greek Yogurt Frosting, and my Sugar Free Buttercream Frosting Here are some similar recipes that you may also like.

• Sugar Free Vanilla Cupcakes
• Killer Sugar Free Brownies.
• Sugar Free Red Velvet Cookies.

Keep up to date with my recipes

You can check out my guide on baking with sugar alternatives on Amazon

I have some great tips on which alternatives may work in a recipe such as this one.

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The recipe for Sugar Free Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

As mentioned, the red color in red velvet cupcakes comes mainly from the red food coloring that is added to the batter. As a result of working with the red food coloring, I suggest wearing an apron or clothes that you do not mind getting red food coloring on just in case there is a spill or a splatter.

I also mentioned that this cupcake recipe calls for oil as the fat ingredient.

You are welcome to substitute butter for the oil if you would like to. However, the butter may cause this recipe to turn out more dry than expected. A good compromise may be to simply substitute in half of the oil for butter instead.

The ingredients that you will need to make this Sugar Free Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

• All Purpose Flour- 2 cups.
• Salt- 1 teaspoon.
• Baking Soda- 2 teaspoons.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder - ⅓ cup.
• Vegetable Oil- ½ cup. You can alternatively use Butter- (1 stick) softned to room temperature.
• Sugar Alternative- 1 ¼ cup. Please use a granular sugar alternative that measures 1:1 with sugar for best results.
• Eggs- 2
• Buttermilk- 1 cup. Please note that using an alternative (such as 1 cup of milk+1 tbsp of vinegar) could result in less vibrant in color cupcakes.
• Red Food Coloring- 1 ounce. You can add a bit more, up to two ounces total, if desired for color.
• Vanilla Extract - 1 teaspoon.
• Vinegar- 1 tablespoon.

How to make Sugar Free Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

• Preheat your oven to 325 and prep your cupcake pan for nonstick. I suggest using cupcake pan liners .
• In a mixing bowl, use a fork or whisk to mix together the flour, salt and baking soda. The mix in the unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Next, in a large mixing bowl, beat together the sugar alternative and the oil or butter. Depending on the alternative that you are using, your results may not be exactly like you would expect if you had been using sugar.
• For the next step, we will add the dry ingredients from the first bowl to the mixing bowl. Do this by adding half of the dry ingredients at a time, stirring between additions. Then add your eggs, one at a time, and then the buttermilk, food coloring, vanilla extract, and vinegar. Do not over mix. You want the infredients smooth (lumpfree) and combined.
• Bake your cupcakes for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow them to cool fully before frosting.

The Recipe Card for Sugar Free Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

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Happy baking, eating, and enjoying life!

Nutritional Information is only an estimate and can vary especially with ingredients that are used.

This delicious Sugar Free Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe is the perfect cupcake for both Valentine's Day and the holiday baking season!

Please see the recipe post for further details on this recipe.

You can see items that have been featured on my Sugar Free Sunday Spotlight here.

updated 1/20