Red Velvet Cake The Shortcut Recipes

RED VELVET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spray two 9-inch cake pans well with nonstick cooking spray, line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper, and set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Then sift the dry ingredients to remove any lumps of cocoa powder. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugar on medium speed for 4-5 minutes. Add the eggs and mix until fully combined, then mix in the oil, red food color, vanilla extract, and vinegar stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Mix in the dry ingredients in three additions alternating with the buttermilk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Make sure to mix each addition until just combined and be careful not to over mix the batter.
• Evenly distribute the cake batter between the two prepared cake pans and spread the batter around into one even layer. Tap the pans on the counter 2-3 times to remove any air bubbles from the cakes.
• Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 28-32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Carefully remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool in the pans for 15-20 minutes. Then, carefully remove the cakes from the cake pans and place on the wire rack to cool completely.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the butter and mix for about 30 seconds-1 minute until well combined and smooth.
• Mix in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and continue mixing until fully combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Level the tops of each cake with a knife or cake leveler. Place one of the cake layers on a cake stand or plate, top with a layer of frosting, and smooth it out into one even layer. Place the second layer on top, then use the remaining frosting to frost the top and sides of the cake.

RED VELVET CAKE - THE SHORTCUT RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350. Grease bottom and sides of 13x9x2 pan* with shortening. I use baker's joy spray or pam for baking spray - you know the kind that has the oil and flour in the can?. Just don't use regular pam.
• Beat all ingredients in a large bowl with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan(s).
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool.
• Cooked Frosting.
• 1 cup milk.
• 1/3 cup Flour.
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened to room temperature.
• 1 cup powdered sugar 1 tsp vanilla.
• Stir milk and flour in sauce pan until blended. Heat over medium heat til thickened. Cover and refrigerate about 15 minutes or until cool. Beat butter, powdered sugar and vanilla in medium bowl on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in flour mixture til blended. Frost cake.
• PS - some people like cream cheese frosting with the Red Velvet, but the cooked frosting is traditional. Just use what you like.
• * I've used two 9 inch round cake pans with this recipe no problem.
• Oh. And one trick I've learned with box cake mixes is, to slightly decrease the water , and increase the oil, which makes for a moister cake - in this case I'd probably decrease the water by one tablespoon or so, and increase the oil.
• Also, I've omitted the food coloring - and just used this as an easy way to make german chocolate cake - just change the frosting to the traditional coconut pecan frosting used for german choc cakes.... No one has ever noticed it wasn't homemade.
• One last note: I've used this recipe with Duncan Hines, and Betty Crocker cake mixes.