The Best Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Until last year, I had always thought that there was this big secret to red velvet cake.

I didn't think it was chocolate, I thought the flavor was just "red," so when I found out that it is just chocolate and red food coloring, it made red velvet cake a little less magical.  That's when I looked it up to see why anyone would ever just add red food coloring to cake.

Apparently, "the reddish-brown color of the cake originally was from a reaction of the cocoa powder with an acidic ingredient such as buttermilk."  Did you guys know that?  I had no idea.  Now, though, people just add food coloring to make the red tint.  Before food coloring, bakers boiled beets as homemade food coloring.  Cool, huh?

Well, there's my lesson for the day!  Let me just tell you how good this cake is.  SO good!  I love how thick it is and the pieces of chocolate chip are delicious.  The cake isn't super sweet, but the frosting is, so it goes perfectly with it.  The frosting is amaaazzinnng.  I was so proud of myself because I always seem to mess up cream cheese frosting, but this is the first fail-proof cream cheese frosting recipe that I've found.  So creamy, thick, and just plain yummy! I made this for my friend's birthday and she loved it!!!

Red Velvet Cake

From: Cheeky Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/2 c. olive oil
• 1 package instant chocolate pudding
• 1 tsp. salt
• 3/4 tsp. baking powder (double if baking at low altitude)
• 2/3 c. cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 c. flour
• 1 c. sour cream
• ½ c. water
• 1 c. mini chocolate chips
• 2 tsp. red gel food coloring

1.  In a large bowl, beat together eggs, brown sugar, and olive oil, and instant pudding mix, creaming until very well mixed. 

2.  Add salt, baking powder, cocoa powder, and flour. Beat just until incorporated. 

3.  Add sour cream and water, and beat again just until incorporated. 

4.  Fold in mini chocolate chips, then scoop batter into a bundt pan which has been generously greased and floured (use cocoa powder, instead of flour, for a nice chocolatey finish to the outside of your cake). 

5.  Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes, or just until the center part of the cake ring springs back to the touch. Watch your cake closely! You don’t want to overcook it! Once cooked, wait for the cake to cool to the touch before turning it out onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool, then cover tightly in plastic wrap and store in the fridge overnight before frosting.

The Best Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:

• 2 sticks butter
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 Tbsp. milk 

Directions:

1.  In a large bowl, beat together butter and cream cheese until very light and fluffy.

2.  Slowly add powdered sugar until well mixed. Add vanilla extract.
3. Tip in a Tablespoon or two of milk, if needed to make frosting piping consistency (soft but not drippy). 4.Spoon into a large plastic zip-top bag. Snip a 1-inch hole in the corner of the bag and pipe giant frosting petals onto cooled cake. Enjoy!

Red Velvet Cupcakes- Made with love for Mikey and Jenni

I just want to say, for the umpteenth time, how proud I am to be a part of the blog world.


I don't know if you've read Jennie's post yet, but it brought tears to my eyes.  Go to her page to read what she wrote, because there's no way I can recreate her heartfelt words.


TasteSpotting has dedicated a whole page to Jenni and Mikey. There are posts all over foodgawker dedicated to them.  Food blogs are posting peanut butter posts dedicated to them.  Last but not least, the words of love, encouragement, support, and prayers are overwhelming on her blog.  It's so reassuring to know how people come together to help someone in their time of need.


Jenni, I know these aren't peanut butter, but they're for you.  And for Mikey.

Red Velvet Cupcakes
Carrot Top Mom

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups flour (I use all-purpose)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 1/4 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk with 2 teaspoons lemon juice)
• 1 teaspoon red food coloring
• 4 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
• Frosting

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.
2. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in Greek yogurt, milk, food coloring and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until just blended. Do not overbeat. Spoon batter into 24 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full.
3. Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Gently remove from oven (these are super-moist, and will collapse if you aren’t careful). Cool in pans on wire rack at least 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely.
4. Frost the cupcakes generously, and serve at room temperature!