| I cannot tell you the
number of times I have been served a Red Velvet Cake which has no more
claim to the name than the red food coloring poured into it. The Real Thing
has a very disctinctive taste - even without the red. Plus it should be
illegal to serve it with any other frost other than cream cheese (crème
cheese?).
The recipe below is the Real Thing. It was my grandmother's, and
she is oooooold and claims to have had this recipe for a loooong time.
Cake:
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. butter flavoring
1 1/2 oz. bottle of red color
3 Tbl. (level) cocoa
2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbl. vinegar
1 tsp. baking soda
Cream shortening, sugar, eggs, and flavors. Make a paste of
cocoa and food coloring. Add to first mixture. Alternately add flour and
buttermilk. Mix baking soda and vinegar in small bowl; add to batter. Blend.
Bake in three 9" or 10" pans for 20 - 25 minutes at 350°. Let cool
completely. Cover with frosting.
Frosting:
2 packages cream cheese (3 oz. each), softened
6 Tbl. butter, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups sifted powered sugar
Blend all ingredients until smooth.
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