Surprise your sweetheart with these sweet and delicious cupcakes for Valentine’s Day!

Surprise Red Velvet Cupcakes

Ingredients

2 cups sugar, divided
3 tablespoons plus 2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup shortening, divided
2 eggs
1 — 1 oz. bottle red food coloring
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
3 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Frosting:

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup plus 1 to 3 teaspoons evaporated milk, divided
1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Directions

~In a heavy saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons flour and milk until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; cool.

~In a large bowl, cream 1/2 cup shortening and remaining sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the food coloring, vinegar, and one teaspoon vanilla. Combine the cocoa, baking soda, and remaining flour; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.

~Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean). Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

~In a small bowl, beat butter and remaining shortening until smooth. Beat in the confectioners’ sugar, cooled sugar mixture and remaining vanilla until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Insert a large round tip into a pastry or plastic bag; fill with filling. Insert the tip halfway into the center of each cupcake and fill with a small amount of filling.

~For frosting, in a heavy saucepan, melt chips with 1/3 cup evaporated milk over low heat; stir until smooth. Remove from the heat. Beat in confectioners’ sugar. Add enough remaining milk to achieve spreading consistency. Frost cupcakes.