Red Velvet with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting

I'm sure this recipe can be made from scratch but I'm not ready to go that far.  (Not with all of the projects I have going on at the moment.)  This recipe is a much simpler version...Cupcakes!!!  I included the original recipe but I use apple sauce instead of diet soda.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Peppermint Cream Cheese Frosting

by Emily Bites

Ingredients:
1 (18.25 oz) box of red velvet cake mix (I used Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe)
1 can of diet soda (I used Diet Pepsi)
2 egg whites
8 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1 c powdered sugar
1 t vanilla extract
¾ t peppermint extract
3 full sized candy canes, crushed

Directions:
1.    Preheat oven per directions on cake mix box.
2.    Line cupcake pan(s) with 24 cupcake liners or use cooking spray to lightly coat 24 spots.
3.    Combine the cake mix, soda and egg whites in a large bowl. Beat together with an electric mixer until thoroughly mixed. Pour mixture evenly into cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
4.    Bake according to directions on cake mix box. Let cool completely.
5.    In a large bowl combine the cream cheese, vanilla extract, peppermint extract and the sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and then use to frost the cupcakes. Sprinkle frosted cupcakes with crushed candy cane pieces.

Yields 24 servings.