Brown Velvet Cupcakes

I generally don't make unhealthy baked goods.  Ever.  After porking up for a while in college, and then going into a crazy health/pilates phase, I can finally fit back into my skinny high school jeans.  So, I can only justify baking chocolatey items when it is a special event.  Granted, we celebrated Valentines day yesterday.  But, I felt like I needed to add something a little special special to make the official holiday-day a little more special.  And I wanted to make it up to Alex for making him watch Maid in Manhattan last night (I needed to appease my inner-preteen).  I used whole wheat pastry flour to make myself feel better.  Rating 8/10.

 Ingredients
Recipe adapted from My Baking Addiction

1 whole wheat pastry flour (or cake flour)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup turbinado sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a bowl.
In a stand mixer using the whisk combine the oil and sugar.  Add in an egg and combine.
On the slowest setting add in the vanilla (this would be a good time to add in red food coloring if you want to do so).
Mix in half of the flour mixture, mix in half of the buttermilk, repeat.  Don't overmix!
In a small bowl combine the baking soda and vinegar.  Add to the batter and mix for ten seconds.
Pour into lined cupcakes wells.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.
Produces 12 cupcakes.