Hi folks.
Today is a very special day. We are celebrating Megan Pence's upcoming wedding by throwing her a virtual surprise bridal shower. A group of bloggers got together to show Megan just how much we love her. I am so honoured to be included as I adore Megan to bits. Most of you know her as the gal behind the fabulous blog Wanna Be A Country Cleaver. She is down to earth and super sweet. She's also witty, talented, adorable, sassy and smart. I mean any gal who loves red velvet as much as me has to be a keeper. I am so incredibly happy for Megan and Ben. Finding your soul mate and starting your life together is such an amazing adventure. As my hubs and I near our 20 year anniversary this month I'll offer a small bit of advice. Are you ready for it Megan? Here it is... the secret to a happy marriage... and a happy life... "Don't take advice from other people". Honestly, people mean well but my best advice is to live your life for you and Ben, and to hell with what anyone else thinks or says. It's you two in it together, so the only thing that matters is the two of you. I wish you both a happy and long life together, enjoy every single minute of it.
When I got the email asking what I'd like to bring I knew immediately it had to be red velvet in some form. I'd been toying with an ice cream recipe for a while. I wanted it to be red velvet and taste like cake without having the cake chopped up inside. I wanted to put the ice cream on top of cupcakes so I did not want a double hit of actual cake in this dessert. So I decided to use the batter from a cake mix to add that cake taste without baking a cake and chopping it all up to put inside. Were you starting to wonder how many times I could say cake in one sentence? Apparently a lot! I also wanted the ice cream to be a pure red without any other colour inside. So this was my solution. I've done cake batter ice cream before so I knew it was possible. Imagine my surprise when I happened upon an actual Red Velvet box cake mix. I went in to the store thinking along the lines of Devil's Food. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out Duncan Hines carries a red velvet cake mix. I also decided to try it out and make cupcakes with it. My original plan was to make the cupcakes from scratch. I've made red velvet ones a gazillion times. But anyone who reads my blog regularly knows we are swamped with some crazy "life stuff" right  now. So cutting a corner on the cupcake prep was the way to go. Hopefully Megan will forgive me for not going homemade on the cupcakes. Hopefully this gorgeous ice cream more than makes up for it. Hope you like it Megan. This one's for you!
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup vanilla or plain sugar
- Pinch of vanilla salt of plain salt
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cups dry red velvet cake mix
- 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 to 5 teaspoons Wilton Red No Taste Icing Colour the gel is the best for red velvet and use your own judgement on how much. Some people don't do well with a ton of food colouring so this is a personal decision.
Instructions
Make Red Velvet Cupcakes ahead of time. I used Duncan Hines Red Velvet.
For the Red Velvet Ice Cream:
- In a stand mixer, combine your whole milk, sugar, and salt. Mix until sugar is dissolved.
- Now add the heavy cream, cake mix, cocoa powder and vanilla. Mix until creamy.
- Add the food colouring. Start small and work towards the colour you want. You can always add more but you can't subtract once it's in there. Colour with caution folks.
- Mix well, being careful to start slow and not shoot red colouring everywhere. Not that this happened to anyone we know or anything.
- Cover bowl and place in fridge for at least 1 hour. I left mine in overnight to age the mixture well. Some ice creams do really well if you leave them in there longer. This is one of them.
- Remove from fridge, transfer mixture to a frozen ice cream machine bowl.
- Place the mixer inside, pop the top on and give it a whir. Let it churn for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Pop it in your freezer until solid. Again I find the overnight method works well here. Gives it enough time to really firm up.
- Once it's solid you can now place one scoop of ice cream on each cupcake.
- For those who are just chomping at the bit to pick it up and try to eat it like an actual cupcake, well, don't do that sillypants. You will make a red velvet mess and make your family think something horrid happened while they were gone. Not that it happened to anyone we know.
- Serve immediately...on a plate...for realz....sillypants.
- Enjoy with a big old red toothed smile!
Notes
Make your cupcakes ahead of time.
Once you are ready to serve them, simply unwrap the ice cream scoops and place on top of the cupcakes.
If you want to make sure the ice cream does not slide off, I suggest placing a dot of frosting between the cupcake and the ice cream. It will make it stay put.
Do not freak out after eating this much red dye. You are not dying. Trust me!
I used my Homemade Vanilla for this but use whatever kind you like. I also used my own Vanilla Sugar and Vanilla Salt in it. You can use just plain old sugar and salt if you like. No judgement here. I mean I did just cut corners and use boxed (gasps) cupcake mix for this.
If you don't like cupcakes you can just make the ice cream!
I mean who can resist a nice cold, dripping ice cream cone on a hot day!
I encourage you all to visit the other lovely bloggers celebrating Megan's shower. Here's the menu for today's festivities:
Appetizers:
Heather from Farmgirl Gourmet brought Deviled Eggs- 3 Ways
Gina from Running to the Kitchen brought Cheesy Edamame Crostini
Kirsten from Comfortably Domestic brought Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Puffs
Tina from My Life as a Mrs. brought Easy Bacon Cream Cheese Roll -Ups
Rachel from Baked by Rachel brought Sausage and Red Pepper Stuffed Mushrooms
Alison from Decadent Philistines Save the World brought Retro Cheese Cookies
Drinks:
Laurie from Simply Scratch brought Blueberry Lemon SpritzersÂ
Cassie from Bake Your Day brought Lemon-Berry Granita with Balsamic and Basil
Entrees:
Michelle from A Recipe Junkie brought Fresh Melon & Crispy Proscuitto Salad
Jeanne from Inside NanaBread's Head brought Greek Salmon Wraps
Desserts:
Kathryn from London Bakes brought Eton Mess Shooters
Julie from Table for Two brought Mini Cherry Pies
Lauren from Lauren's Latest brought Summer Strawberry Jello Pie
Kat from Tenaciously Yours brought Good For You Bars
Mads from La Petite Pancake brought Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
Megan I wish you and Ben a lifetime of happiness. It's a pleasure to celebrate this day with you and all the other wonderful bloggers who participated in today's surprise party. I had so much fun whipping this up for you, and well, eating it on your behalf. It was a huge sacrifice to have to eat 2 of these things, but that's how much I love you girl. I might even love you enough to eat one for each of us today. Now that's dedication and loyalty. Fist bump!
I also have another little surprise for Megan. I am going to Mixed this fall so we finally get to meet in person. I am so excited to finally get to meet the gal who brightens up my days and makes me smile with her sharp wit. Look forward to seeing you there.
Toodles and smoochies! xx
Cassie
Oh my goodness Kim, my jaw just dropped. These look so incredible, why are you not my neighbor? Can't wait to try some of this. Thanks for helping to give Megan a great shower!
Kim Bee
Lol, thanks Cassie. I need to pop up some better photos. I'm not crazy about these ones. I'm just struggling to stay awake today. We should be neighbours. I would love that. Thanks so much for inviting me to join you ladies. And thanks for all your hard work.
You must try the ice cream. It's freaking incredible.
Cucina49
What a fun idea to have a virtual bridal shower! These cupcakes are super-creative, and you managed to get the exact right shade of red for red velvet--always a challenge!
Kim Bee
It is such a cute idea. So glad the ladies invited me to join them.
Thanks so much. I was obsessed with getting this right. I love red velvet so it's always fun to goof around with recipes for it.
Ramona
Wow.. this looks fantastic. I was in such a rush to get over here when I saw red velvet that I missed the part about the ice cream. Wow... to that idea!! Well done ladies. 🙂
Kim Bee
Thanks Ramona. It was something I'd been wanting to do for eons. Red velvet is amazing. This was so much fun.
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet
Love the ice cream on a cupcake! Love the polka dot liners! Love the event!
Kim Bee
You are so sweet. I love you. xx
cakewhiz
what a sweet virtual bridal shower! the collection of recipes is spectacular! and your red velvet ice cream cupcakes look gorgeous!
Kim Bee
Thank you so much. It was a pleasure to be involved. I adore Megan so this was such a treat.
Elise Johnson
What a wonderful idea! Oh, and I'm so making these cupcakes! 🙂
Kim Bee
Thanks so much. This was a lot of fun to do.
RavieNomNoms
Whoa! That looks amazing...the color is just SO rich!
Kim Bee
Thanks so much. I really had to work hard for that red. I swear the gel colours work SO much better.
Hester @ Alchemy in the Kitchen
Great idea - not so much washing up to do after a virtual party 😉 I like your very sensible advice to the happy couple. Incredible colour on those imaginative cupcakes.
Kim Bee
I know right. It's a brilliant idea. Thanks, after 20 years with my hubby you sort of learn some stuff. One is never to listen to others. Lol. Thanks for that. I have been tweaking the perfect RV colour for months now. It's takes some trial and error to get the hang of red velvet I think. It's so fun though.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen
Virtual parties are fun, and you guys are so sweet to put this together! I just love the color of your cupcakes, never knew a thing like ice cream with a cake mix existed! Great and intriguing recipe.
Kim Bee
Thanks so much. I had seen an ad eons ago in a fashion mag that had ice cream cupcakes in it, and it sort of stuck in my brain. No recipes, just some flavour ideas. Like corn, which would be weird. I'm more a sweet, traditionalist when it comes to ice cream.
Emily @ Life on Food
Red velvet. Ice Cream. Yep, I would like these for sure.
Kim Bee
So good. Red velvet is just so yummy and pretty.
Michelle
WAIT DID YOU JUST!!! holy red velvet, yes you did. My weakness.
Kim Bee
Lol Michelle. It's so good. Totally my weakness too.
Kat
This red velvet on red velvet monster is innovation of the highest order!
You know what they say,..Necessity is the mother of invention. To that end...
The idea of mixing cake mix into the ice cream is nothing short of genius, lady! I majorly despise having bits of cake in ice creams because it never tastes fresh or even really like cake for that matter.
Kim Bee
Awe thanks so much. You are so sweet. I really had fun with this. I just wish the house had been cooler so I could get better shots.
Asiya @ Chocolate and Chillies
What a creative idea! I love the deep red colour..awesome!
Kim Bee
Thank you so much. I love the way it turned out.
Anita at Hungry Couple
Looks delicious and I love the color!
Kim Bee
Thanks so much Anita. It was a fun project.
Deborah
I'm pretty sure that is the best wedding advice that I've ever heard!! I am a total red velvet addict and am totally loving this. Awesome!
Kim Bee
Thanks so much Deborah. I swear I learned a long time ago not to listen to marriage or child rearing advice. People mean well but personally I think we all know the right thing deep down.
Thanks. I love red velvet too. It's just so yummy.
Sharon and Denise @BeBetsy
We missed the shower and so sorry we did not know about it sooner! We love Megan and consider her a good friend! Love all the recipes and of course wish Megan and Ben a lovely, lovely wedding day!
Hugs and kisses Megan! S and D
Kim Bee
Bummer, would have been fun to have you. Megan is such a sweetie. I love her wit. Thanks so much for visiting. xx
torviewtoronto
colourful dessert looks wonderful lovely pictures
Kim Bee
Thanks so much Ahkeela. xx
Lori Lynn
Congrats Megan.
Fabulous Bridal Shower Menu!
And the cupcakes are crazy good...cool pics too.
LL
Kim Bee
Thank you Lori Lynn. I loved being involved and any chance to make red velvet is a good day in my book.
Kathryn
Woah, these cupcakes are incredible! Love them!
Kim Bee
Thanks so much Kathryn. So happy you stopped by.
Kim @ Treats & Trinkets
I like that you just called me sillypants.
Also that is the most gorgeous ice cream I've ever seen. And I forgive you for using a mix. I mean, you already had it. But I think the drippy ice cream cone is my favorite.
Kim Bee
I am so happy you liked it sillypants. I love sillypants who appreciate being called sillypants.
I was so worried about the pics. It was so freaking hot here that day and I had the oven on so I could not get a shot without it looking all melty.