Dead Velvet Cake Recipes

Steps:

• For the Red Velvet Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) round layer cake pans.
• Sift flour, baking soda and coco together. Beat sugar and eggs together in a large bowl.
• In a separate bowl mix together oil, vinegar, food coloring, and vanilla. Add to the bowl of eggs and sugar and beat until combined.
• Add the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the wet mixture by alternating the buttermilk and dry ingredients. Always start with the flour and end with the flour.
• Pour batter into pans. Tap them on the table to level out the batter and release air bubbles. Bake for 25 minutes or until a cake tester inserted near the middle comes out clean but be careful not to over bake or you'll end up with a dry cake.
• Let layers cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes before turning out of pan. Cool completely before frosting.
• For the cream cheese frosting: This is the "official" cream cheese frosting recipe but we always use about 1 1/2 recipes on each cake to cover it well.
• Let margarine and cream cheese soften to room temperature. Cream well. Add sugar and beat until mixed but not so much that the frosting becomes "loose". Add vanilla and nuts. Spread between layers and on top and sides of cake.

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the oil, granulated sugar, buttermilk, brown sugar, food coloring, vanilla, vinegar and eggs. Mix on low speed until combined. With the mixer running, add the dry ingredients, one cup at a time, to the wet ingredients until just combined. Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer the pans to a cooling rack to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans; if necessary, run a knife along the edges of the pan to help. Place the cakes on the rack and cool to room temperature.
• For the frosting: In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk, beat together the confectioners' sugar, butter and cream cheese. Add 1 tablespoon of the milk and the vanilla. Gradually beat in just enough of the remaining milk to make the frosting smooth and spreadable. Beat at high speed until light and fluffy.
• Place one of the cakes on a serving plate and top with a layer of the frosting. Place the second cake on top, and use the remaining frosting to cover the top and sides of the cake. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms and sides of 3 (8- or 9-inch) round pans with shortening; lightly flour.
• In large bowl, beat all cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pans.
• Bake 25 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In medium saucepan, mix 1/2 cup flour and 1 1/2 cups milk with whisk until smooth. Cook over medium heat until mixture is very thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes. In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups sugar and the butter with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour mixture by tablespoonfuls; beat on high speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Fill and frost cake, using 1 cup frosting between layers. Store covered in refrigerator.