Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes

This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

These Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes are perfectly moist and fluffy with a subtle note of chocolate flavor. They are easy to make and downright delicious!

Batch of frosted vegan red velvet cupcakes on a cake stand.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and these Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes are the perfect way to celebrate! It's a silly holiday, but it's certainly fun making sweet treats for the ones you love or for yourself.

They pair well with my Vegan Buttercream Frosting or Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting, but if you are a chocolate lover, you can make my Vegan Chocolate Frosting. They are all heavenly!

If you're looking for a dinner pairing for the big day, my Easy Vegan Alfredo Sauce over fettuccine is definitely a winner, or my Vegan Penne Alla Vodka recipe is top-notch too!

️🌟 This is a quick overview with step-by-step photos. For the complete ingredient amounts and instructions, scroll down to the recipe card below.

Ingredients, Notes, and, Substitutions

Ingredients to make red velvet cupcakes on a table top.

Soy Milk - it's very similar to dairy buttermilk when an acid is added. You can use any non-dairy milk, just note that it won't thicken much, but the recipe will work.
Apple Cider Vinegar - It curdles and thickens the soy milk. You can replace it with lemon juice.
Granulated + Powdered Sugar - choosing organic will ensure that it's vegan.
Canola Oil - any neutral-flavored oil will work such as avocado, vegetable, grapeseed, sunflower, or refined coconut oil (measure coconut oil in its liquid state).
Cake Flour - produces a light and fluffy crumb. However, all-purpose will still produce a lovely crumb.
Vanilla + Almond Extract - pure vanilla tastes the best, but you can use imitation. The almond extract enhances the vanilla and is very subtle, but you can omit it if you don't have it.
Apple Sauce - it yields a tender crumb, but plain non-dairy yogurt will work too.
Vegan Butter - I prefer Miyoko's butter for the frosting, but any brand will do. I don't recommend tub butter because it tends to contain more moisture and could alter the frosting results.

How to make Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes

This is a very easy recipe to put together, just preheat your oven and have all of your ingredients ready to go. Here's what you'll need to do.

Four process photos showing how to make the batter.

Mix the soy milk and vinegar together and let sit for 10 minutes to create vegan buttermilk.
Add the oil, applesauce, sugar, red coloring, and vanilla to the buttermilk and whisk to combine.
Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk to combine well.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk until just combined.

Two process photos showing wet batter in a cupcake pan and one fully baked.

Divide batter evenly into each slot about ⅔ the way full and bake for 20-24 minutes. Lightly press the surface to check for doneness - It should spring back.
Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing. Then let them cool on a rack completely before frosting.

Baking Success Tips

These vegan red velvet cupcakes will come out beautifully as long as you follow the recipe exactly. Any small change could alter the final result. Here are some helpful tips for a successful experience.

Avoid scooping flour directly from the container using a measuring cup. Instead, use a spoon to scoop flour into the measuring cup, then level excess off using a butter knife. Avoid packing or tapping flour into the cup.
Do not omit the apple cider vinegar. It helps to curdle soy milk to make vegan buttermilk and also reacts with baking soda to aid the rise of cupcakes. As mentioned above, lemon juice can be used in its place.
Be careful not to overmix the batter or too much gluten will develop, resulting in dense and chewy cupcakes.
Fill each cupcake liner no more than ⅔ of the way full for even baking and to avoid the batter from spilling over in the oven.
It's best to use room-temperature ingredients for this cupcake recipe. Warm ingredients will bond together much easier and yield a smooth batter. This will help maintain the proper structure while baking.
Don't overbake the cupcakes or they will likely turn out dry. Check for doneness around the 20-minute mark.

Cupcake Storing Tips

Cupcakes are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store them if you have leftovers. Here are some storing suggestions to keep them as fresh-tasting as possible

Room temperature – unfrosted cupcakes will stay good at room temperature for 2-3 days in an airtight container. Place a paper towel in the bottom of the container, and another one on top of the cupcakes. This will help with excess moisture.
Fridge – frosted and unfrosted cupcakes can be refrigerated for 3-5 days in an airtight container.
Freezer – these cupcakes can be frozen for up to 3 months. For unfrosted cupcakes, wrap them individually in wax paper and place them in an airtight container or Ziploc. To freeze frosted cupcakes, put them on a tray and place in the freezer for at least an hour, or until the frosting has frozen. Then wrap each one and transfer to a container/Ziploc.

FAQs

Can I make red velvet without the food coloring?

Yes, you can leave out the food coloring and it won't affect the taste at all. They won't be vibrant red, but you can dress them up with cute cupcake liners and crushed dried strawberries on top.

What does red velvet taste like?

It tastes very similar to chocolate cake/cupcakes but milder in flavor and has a slight tang from the homemade buttermilk.

Is red food coloring vegan?

Not all food coloring is vegan and may contain animal byproducts. Both Americolor and Wilton food coloring gels are vegan-friendly.

A batch of vegan red velvet cupcakes on a stand with one cupcake's liner pulled back.

More Vegan Cupcake Recipes to Enjoy

If you love these cupcakes, you may want to try a few more of my favorites.

Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and sharing your feedback in the comment section below. It would make my day!

⭐️ Subscribe to the Vegan Huggs Newsletter and receive weekly recipes straight to your inbox! You'll also receive my FREE eCookbook featuring my top 10 recipes.