Sammy and Granny’s Red Velvet Cake

By sugarbear

Ingredients

• Cake:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 ounces red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
• 1/2 cup prepared hot mocha coffee
• Cream-cheese frosting:
• 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 cups powdered sugar

Preparation

Step 1

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, combine the sugar and vegetable oil. Mix in the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and as much red food coloring as desired, until combined. Stir in the vinegar and coffee.

4. Gradually combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients.

5. Generously grease two round 9-inch cake pans or heart-shaped cake pans with shortening, then dust with flour. Pour the batter evenly among the two pans.

6. Bake in the middle rack of the oven 30 to 40 minutes, or just until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pans on a wire rack to room temperature.

7. For the frosting, put softened cream cheese in a large bowl. Pour in milk, softened butter and vanilla extract and mix until combined and smooth. (An electric mixer makes an easy job of this.) Pour in half of the powdered sugar and mix until combined. Add remaining sugar and mix until smooth and fluffy.

8. Once the cakes have cooled, remove from pans. Frost top of one layer, then stack the second layer on top and frost the top and sides.