Sunday, January 21, 2007

You Haven't Lived Until You've Had A Bite or Seven of Red Velvet Cake

Photo: Red Velvet Cake

Tonight Dave, Phil, and I christened our friends (Helen and Bill) table leaf for their first dinner party ever. Bill is graduating from law school in May and we thought it was good practice for when he's a big fancy environmental lawyer.

I've been craving red velvet cake for months now, which is a Southern tradition that I have only eaten three times in my life before tonight. I thought hanging with Bill and Helen was a perfectly good reason to satisfy this fantastic craving (that and they're awesome). I searched the Supernet high and low for a recipe I could modify and this is what I came up with. It's easy to make and quite rich and delicious. (Obviously I substituted the cake flour with oat flour and xanthan gum)

Red Velvet Cake
  • 1/2 c butter
  • 2 whole eggs
  • 2 TBSP (heaping) cocoa
  • 2 1/4 c of cake flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 TBSP white vinegar
  • 1 1/2 c sugar
  • 2 ounces (1/4 c) red food coloring
  • 1 c buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking soda
Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs. Make a paste of food coloring and cocoa and add to the creamed mixture. Add alternate buttermilk with flour and salt, then add the vanilla. Add soda to the vinegar. HOLD OVER THE BOWL, AS IT FOAMS! Then add the soda and vinegar to the mixture, blending instead of beating. Bake 25 to 30 mins. at 350 degrees in two 8-inch greased and floured round cake pans. Cool on racks. Using very sharp knife, or dental floss split each layer into 2 layers.

Icing

  • 1 stick butter (room temperature)
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1 lb box of powdered sugar
  • dash of salt
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
Mix icing ingredients together until light and fluffy. Frost and fill cake.

10 comments:

karin said...

That does look delicious, maybe you want to go to Disneyland soon and mybe I will have the ingredients for Red Velvet Cake.

Ann said...

I always thought red velvet cake had some kind of berry in it, to make it red. And I don't like chocolate and berries together, so I thought I wouldn't like red velvet cake. I see from your recipe, though, that I would *love* this. I'll have to try it soon!

Karen B said...

It was indeed a delcious cake. Both Saturday and again on Sunday.

Anonymous said...

You buying the plane ticket Karin? Emily devoured the last piece and tried to blame on Fetey, but only after she declared that she wanted to "live inside this cake". A true testament to the power of red velvet cake.

Unknown said...

It was amazing. I love Ali's red velvet cake. I would actually consider changing my favorite color from pink to red velvet if it meant I could eat more of that cake.

Elizabeth said...

your cake was indeed tasty. but more importantly, i watched the clip for the newest harry potter film. what have they done to harry's hair? that hair cut is terrible. i don't know if i can watch the film if his hair looks like that.

Elizabeth said...

seriously, what did they do to that kid's hair....i watched the clip again just to make sure....it is awful.

Anonymous said...

They did something weird to Hermione's hair too. Bellatrix LeStrange's hair is perfect though. I did see an error though, all the kids are riding brooms in London and they should be riding those invisible horses from Hogwarts.

chunkymonkey said...

Mmmm! I want Karin to make that cake.)

Anonymous said...

I hope she does Beebe.