Best Red Velvet Cake

Name: Best Red Velvet Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 14 servings.
Cuisine: North America, Southern
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1-1/2 cups sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 2 bottles (1 ounce each) red food coloring; 1 tablespoon white vinegar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2-1/4 cups cake flour; 2 tablespoons baking cocoa; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup buttermilk; FROSTING:; 1/2 cup cold water; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 2 cups butter, softened; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling YIELD: 14 servings.

It's just not Christmas at our house until this festive cake appears. This is different from other red velvet cake recipes I’ve had; the icing is as light as snow. —Kathryn Davison, Charlotte, North Carolina

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 bottles (1 ounce each) red food coloring
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/4 cups cake flour
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
FROSTING:
1/2 cup cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 cups butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in food coloring, vinegar and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
2. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool layers 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Trim 1/4 in. off top of each cake layer; crumble trimmings onto a baking sheet. Let crumbs stand at room temperature while making frosting.
3. For frosting, combine water and cornstarch in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until thickened and opaque, 2-3 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Beat butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in cornstarch mixture. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; beat until light and fluffy. Spread between layers and over top and side of cake. Press reserved cake crumbs into side of cake.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 595 calories, 34g fat (21g saturated fat), 115mg cholesterol, 564mg sodium, 71g carbohydrate (52g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.