Red Velvet Cake

(Shared recipe submitted by Chef Bill Luker.)

Bill writes: "This was my Great-Great-Grandma's Red Velvet Cake."

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1-1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1-1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vinegar (some call for 1 tablespoon)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa (or 2 teaspoons)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 large eggs
• 1 small bottle red food coloring (Some recipes call for 2 bottles, but 2 ounces seems to be the average amount.)
• Frosting (choose one of the recipes below)

Preheat oven to 350° F. Sift dry ingredients. Add buttermilk, oil, vinegar, vanilla, eggs and food coloring in that order. Bake in two (or three) layer pans, which have been greased and floured, for 25-30 minutes. Cool thoroughly and remove from pans.

Frost with one of the following recipes.

Boiled Icing

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Cook flour and milk until thick; cool thoroughly. Cream butter and sugar; add vanilla. Combine two mixtures and beat until consistency is that of whipped cream. Spread between layers and on top of cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 stick butter, room temperature
• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 box (1 pound) confectioners' (powdered) sugar

Cream the butter and cream cheese well; add sugar and continue beating until creamy. Add vanilla and pecans. Spread between layers and on top of cake.

About Bill: Bill's e-mail address is webmaster@chefbillskitchen.net.