Valentine's Day: A Sweet Treat

Do you want to make something special for your loved ones for Valentine's Day but don't want to spend a bundle on those lovely bakery creations?





I have the perfect treat that you can create right in your home kitchen. Gourmet, perfectly love-filled, and red in color are the characteristics that make this recipe unmistakably Valentine's-appropriate. A dear family friend and the best home cook that I know, Rhonda Dumas of Vacherie, Louisiana, invented this fabulous, sinfully delicious creation. Rhonda has shared her love of cooking and expertise with my family for as long as I can remember with her Cajun-Creole seafood dishes (my favorite being shrimp toast) and her desserts. I can't imagine that Rhonda has ever used store-bought cake mix in her life. She always makes her own creations all from scratch. Rhonda has the skills of a great chef; and I am so honored that she shared this particular recipe with me.


Rhonda's sweet treats of Red Velvet Cheesecake Muffins are a perfect offering to prepare for your significant other, family or friends. No matter who your Valentine is, they will know how much you love them if you take the time to make these. The vibrant red color, the creamy center and the delectable flavor make Red Velvet Cheesecake Muffins love on a plate!


Rhonda's Red Velvet Cheesecake Muffins

1-1/2 cup butter
1-1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 bottle red food color
2 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp salt
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp vinegar (white vinegar)
1 cup buttermilk

Filling

8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter
8 oz. cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
1 lb powdered sugar


Directions:

1. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer. Once the ingredients are creamed together, then add vanilla, eggs and food color. Mix together until all ingredients are incorporated.


2. Sift flour, cocoa and salt into a bowl. Then add into the butter and sugar mixture alternating between flour and buttermilk ending with flour. (Add small portions of each mixing the whole time.)


3. Mix the vinegar and baking soda in a separate bowl, then fold into the cake batter.


4. In a new bowl, mix the cream cheese and sugar until well blended.


5. Fill muffin cups 1/4 full with batter. Then drop 1 tsp cream cheese mixture into the center of each cup. Top with more batter and bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until cake is firm and cooked through. Will probably crack open at the top when done.


6. Make the icing while the muffins bake. Start by creaming the butter, cream cheese and vanilla in a large bowl until well blended.


7. Add the sugar in gradually as you mix. If the mixture is to thick, then add milk.


8. Frost your Red Velvet Cheesecake Muffins with the cream cheese frosting.


I hope that you and your loved ones will feel the love from Rhonda's fabulous sweet treats. Thank you Rhonda for being one of the sweetest and truest people that I know and of course a fabulous and inspiring cook as well!