Southern Red Velvet Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil and flour three 9 by 1 1/2-inch round cake pans.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In another large bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.
• Using a standing mixer, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined and a smooth batter is formed.
• Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Place the pans in the oven evenly spaced apart. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through the cooking, until the cake pulls away from the side of the pans, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the cakes from the oven and run a knife around the edges to loosen them from the sides of the pans. One at a time, invert the cakes onto a plate and then re-invert them onto a cooling rack, rounded-sides up. Let cool completely.
• Frost the cake. Place 1 layer, rounded-side down, in the middle of a rotating cake stand. Using a palette knife or offset spatula spread some of the Cream Cheese Frosting over the top of the cake. (Spread enough frosting to make a 1/4 to 1/2-inch layer.) Carefully set another layer on top, rounded-side down, and repeat. Top with the remaining layer and cover the entire cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle the top with the pecans.
• In a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand-held electric mixer in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar, and butter on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to high, and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. (Occasionally turn the mixer off, and scrape the down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.)
• Reduce the speed of the mixer to low. Add the vanilla, raise the speed to high and mix briefly until fluffy (scrape down the bowl occasionally). Store in the refrigerator until somewhat stiff, before using. May be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 330 degrees F. Grease a 13-by-9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper.
• Cream the granulated sugar and butter together in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until they're light and fluffy. Then add the molasses and mix. Add the eggs 1 at a time and mix until they're incorporated, then scrape down the bowl and paddle to make sure it is completely mixed.
• In a pitcher, combine the buttermilk, oil, apple cider vinegar, food coloring and vanilla.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl. Alternate adding the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture, finishing with the dry ingredients. Scrape the bowl and mix again, being careful not to over-beat.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Let cool until no longer warm to the touch, then flip the cake out onto a cardboard cake board. With a serrated knife, remove the top of the cake to make it level. Flip the cake over and remove the browned bottom or "bloom" with the serrated knife. Slice the cake into 2 layers. Layer some of the Classic Cream Cheese Frosting between the cake layers, and then top the cake with it.
• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together until they're soft and light. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Scrape the bowl and paddle down, then add the vanilla and salt and mix until incorporated.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Generously spray three 9 × 2-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray, and line with parchment paper. Spray the lining; dust with cocoa, tapping out any excess. Set aside. Whisk together the flour, salt, and cocoa in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Mix the sugar and oil at medium speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until combined. Add the eggs, one at a time; mixwell after each addition. Mix in the food coloring and vanilla. Add the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of bowl as needed.
• Stir together the baking soda and vinegar in a small non-reactive bowl. Add the baking-soda mixture to the batter, and mix at medium speed for 10 seconds. Divide the batter equally among the pans. Tap the pans on the counter to remove bubbles. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool the pans on a rack for 5 minutes. Invert the cakes onto wire racks to cool completely.
• To assemble, place one layer top-side down on a cake stand. Using an offset spatula, spread with a 1/4-inch-thick layer of frosting. Repeat with the remaining layers. To frost the top and sides of the cake, work from the center toward and over the edge, making sure to coat evenly. The cake can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Cream Cheese Frosting
• In a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or with a hand held electric mixer in a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and butter at low speed until incorporated. Add the sugar and vanilla. Increase the speed to high, and mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.
• Store in the refrigerator before using, until it is somewhat stiff, about 15 minutes. The frosting may be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days.

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 10 inch round pans.
• Cream 1/2 cup of shortening, 1 1/2 cups of white sugar, eggs, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of butter flavored extract in a large bowl. Make a paste of cocoa and food coloring in a small bowl and add to shortening mixture. Pour in 2 1/2 cups flour alternately with the buttermilk, mixing until just incorporated. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt, baking soda, and vinegar in a small bowl, and while fizzing fold into the batter; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Pour the batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
• To make frosting: Cook 3 tablespoons of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and milk in a skillet over low heat, stirring constantly, until thick. Let cool completely. Cream butter, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup shortening in a separate bowl. Stir in 2 teaspoons each of vanilla extract and butter flavored extract. Then add flour mixture to bowl and cream together. Frost cooled cake.