Red Velvet Cupcakes with Red Velvet Frosting

Today is my Dad's birthday.
Another reason to make cupcakes!

My dad is retired and has a group of friends that he meets at McDonald's every single morning.
He loves it. 
They talk, joke, tell stories and solve all of the world's problems over a cup of McDonald's coffee :)

They love cupcakes, so I surprised my dad this morning and delivered mini red velvet cupcakes
with red velvet frosting for his birthday.
I think he liked them.
Happy Birthday Dad!

I made mini's since I was delivering them at 7:30 in the morning.
I didn't want to give them too much of a sugar rush!

I also made regular size cupcakes for random acts of cupcakeness :)

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Red Velvet Frosting

1 box Red Velvet cake mix
1 cup buttermilk
4 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line pan with 24 cupcake liners.
Sift cake mix into a large mixing bowl.
Add eggs, buttermilk and oil. Using an electric mixer, mix until ingredients are all combined.
Using a large cookie scoop, fill liners 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until done.
Cool on a wire rack.

Red Velvet Frosting:

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature

3-4 cups confectioners sugar
1/2 cup Red Velvet Cake Mix
2-3 T heavy cream or milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract

In the bowl of your stand mixer add butter and mix for about 1 minute.
Add vanilla, red velvet cake mix and 2 T heavy cream. Beat for another minute.
Add confectioners sugar one cup at a time.
Beat until light and fluffy.
Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.

Garnish with white pearls if desired.