Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes

I was so curious to know what does red velvet taste like. To be perfectly honest, I still dont know. It has cocoa powder, it has vanilla, but to me its a mix of both. The recipe is from Southern Belle Paula Dean and it yielded aprox 100 mini cupcakes, perhaps 36 regular cupcakes. Her cream cheese frosting and many other recipes, require, butter, confectioners and cream cheese. I leave out the butter, it really is not necesary and it just adds more unwanted calories. I also need to practive my pipping skills, which are non-existent.