Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Red Velvet Cake Success


So I love baking something for someone.  I love seeing them enjoy their sweet treat and I absolutely love getting requests.  So after the 3rd or 4th time my parents requested I pick up red velvet cupcakes from Make My Cake on my way to visit, I was determined to master the red velvet cake.  My first attempt was from Paula Deen.  The cake came out a spongy fail.

So this weekend, I decided to try the cake again.  Big Success!  I unfortunately don't know the origin - if you do, please tell me.  I wasn't crazy about the frosting.  When I make this again, I'll use the cream cheese frosting from the Southern Style Strawberry cake but this is a definitely keeper.



Red Velvet Cake
2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour*

1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (unsweetened)
2 oz. red food coloring
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.

2. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside. In a small bowl, mix food coloring and cocoa powder to form a thin paste without lumps; set aside.

3. In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla and the red cocoa paste, scraping down the bowl with a spatula as you go. Add one third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beat well, then beat in half of the buttermilk. Beat in another third of flour mixture, then second half of buttermilk. End with the last third of the flour mixture, beat until well combined, making sure to scrape down the bowl with a spatula.

4. Make sure you have cake pans buttered, floured, and nearby. In a small bowl, mix vinegar and baking soda. Add it to the cake batter and stir well to combine. Divide batter evenly between the cake pans and place them in a preheated 350 degree oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

5. Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. To remove the cakes from the pan, place a wire rack on top of the cake pan and invert, then gently lift the pan. Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting.
Recipe Notes: *Sift cake flour once before measuring, then sift again with the other dry ingredients per recipe instructions.

Cream Cheese Frosting - this frosting was a little too cream cheesy for me.  I recommend using this recipe.

16 oz. cream cheese (2 packages), softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter (one stick), softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
pinch of salt

With an electric mixer, blend together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Turn mixer to low speed and blend in powdered sugar, salt and vanilla extract. Turn mixer on high and beat until light and fluffy. Use immediately or refrigerate, covered, until ready to use. If refrigerated, the frosting will need to be brought to room temperature before using (after frosting softens up, beat with mixer until smooth).


3 comments:

  1. Hi Rach, If time permits, I am going to try this recipe for a holiday gathering I am going to. - kc

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  2. Hey favorite cousin =)
    I hope you like it. I thought the icing was a little too cream cheesy for my taste but everyone else loved it.

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  3. I love just how this looks! Lovely.

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