Auntie’s Red Velvet Cake

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons, unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 tablespoon red food coloring
• 2 teaspoon McNess Champion Madagascar Vanilla Extract

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a large bowl sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.
3. Whisk the dry ingredients and set aside.
4. In a separate large bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth.
5. Add eggs one at the time, beating until combined after each addition.
6. Add oil, vinegar, vanilla extract, buttermilk and beat until combined.
7. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix after each addition.
8. Add food coloring and mix.
9. Pour the batter into baking pans greased with shortening and dust with flour.
10. Bake 35-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
11. Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Release from the pan,
12. Then let cool completely. Make the frosting while the cake layers are cooling.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• 2 blocks 8 oz. each, cream cheese, room temperature
• 4 oz. unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup milk

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FROSTING

1. Place your cream cheese, softened to room temperature in a large size bowl. Add your unsalted butter and mix for 3 minutes.
2. Slowly add the confectionary sugar alternately with the milk.
3. Lastly, add the vanilla and mix for one more minute or to desired consistency.

TO ASSEMBLE THE CAKE

1. Once the cake layers are completely cooled, place one layer top side down on a cake plate.
2. Take a generous scoop of frosting and spread across the top of the layer.
3. Repeat the previous 2 steps. Then take an offset spatula and apply the frosting to the sides of the cake layers as well.
4. Pipe a design along the outside edges of the cake at the top and bottom layers for beautiful presentation, if desired.