Red Velvet Cake Recipe

Family and friends will be pleasantly surprised when you cut this white-frosted layer cake to see it has bright red layers! Red velvet cake makes a striking presentation and, of course, it tastes good too!

Back in the 1920's red velvet cake was a signature dessert at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. And it's so popular today that many celebrities choose red velvet cake as their wedding cake.

If you are looking for a Valentine's day dessert, or any time you need a special dessert recipe, this red velvet cake recipe will fit the bill.

For this Southern dessert you will need:

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups cake flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 ounces red food coloring

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

For the Cream Cheese Frosting you will need:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup chopped pecans

To make the cake...

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease 3 round 8-inch layer cake pans and line bottoms with parchment.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, at medium speed, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla.

In a small bowl, combine cocoa and food coloring and mix together to make a smooth paste; add to creamed mixture.

Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk in batches, ending with flour mixture. Scrape down bowl and beat just long enough to combine.

In a small dish or measuring cup, add baking soda and stir in vinegar. (Mixture will fizz.) With machine still at low-speed, add this mixture to the batter. Beat for about 10 seconds.

Divide batter among pans, place in oven and bake until a toothpick or cake tester comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes.

Let cool in pans 20 minutes. Then remove from pans, flip layers over and peel off parchment. Cool completely before frosting.

Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top of cake. Garnish with chopped pecans, if desired.

To make the frosting...

Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy.

Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended.

Stir in pecans.

This recipe for red velvet cake serves 12 to 16.

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