Red velvet cake

If ever a chocolate cake has taken on a cult status, it is the Red Velvet Cake. It has been the subject of urban legends and lots of misinformation.

It may have been served first at the Waldorf Astoria in New York or it may have its origins at Eton's Department store in Toronto. What is certain is that its roots are a chocolate cake that probably dates even before the Fannie Farmer Cookbook in the early 1800's. It has become a staple of southern cuisine even though it seems likely the roots are much more northern than southern. What has never changed is the fact that no matter where it originated, this is one heck of a gorgeous and delicious chocolate cake. 

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons cocoa
• 2 teaspoons red color
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 cup sifted cake flour
• 1 1 /2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon vinegar

Cream the butter and the sugar together, add the eggs and keep beating. Add the cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Mix the cocoa, the red food color, and the water and add to the eggs, sugar mixture. Sift the flour and the 1 teaspoons of baking powder. Add the flour and the buttermilk slowly into the other ingredients, alternating. Mix 1 teaspoon baking powder and 1 tablespoon vinegar. Blend very gently into batter.

Pour batter into two greased and floured 9-inch cake pans.

Bake in a 350-degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool on a rack for several minutes. Loosen the cake from the sides of the pan and flip onto the rack to cool.

Frost with cream cheese frosting.

• 1 stick of butter
• 8 ounces of cream cheese (don’t use low or no fat versions in this recipe)
• 2 cups confectionery sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place the butter and the cream cheese in a large bowl. Using your electric mixer, beat until smooth. Place one-half of the cake down and spread with 1/4 of the frosting. Place the other half of the cake on top of the first half, top up. Frost the cake top and sides with the remaining frosting. You can decorate the cake with crushed pecans, coconut or red jimmies.

This is one cake that you are going to want to serve on your best cake plate. Present it to your family and guests as the magnificent creation that it is. This cake is impressive enough to bring you praise even from your mother in law.