Red Velvet Cake Valentines Day goodies!

[retroeva]

Every year since I stole these heart shaped cake pans from my mom Ive made red velvet cake for Valentines day. Here is this years edition with cupcakes made from the extra batter. Both the cake and the cream cheese icing were made from scratch and I can post the recipe if anyone is interested:






Alrighty! Here is the recipie. I think its a little dry for my tastes. I wonder if I should add some oil... it may be because I used margarine, splenda, and soy milk though.

Red Velvet Cake:
1/2 c shortening
1 1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 Tbsp cocoa
1 1/2 oz red food coloring
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 c flour
1 tsp vanilla
1 c buttermilk
1 tsp soda
1 Tbsp vinegar

Cream shortening and beat in sugar gradually. Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each addition. Make a paste of cocoa and food coloring and stir that into the creamed mixture. Add salt, flour, and vanilla alternately with buttermilk beating well after each addition. Sprinkle soda over vinegar and pour over batter. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
*NOTE* The batter is very thick and not at all soupy like boxed cake mixes. I greased and floured my pans and it seemed to work very well so Id do the same.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 8oz package of cream cheese
1 box powdered sugar
1 stick butter
1/3 c milk
Cream together and try not to lick your spatula after each application!
*HELPFUL HINTS* Red velvet cakes look lovely garnished with pecans and coconut and both are traditional garnishes if you think the cake looks too dull. I also figured out over the years that the best way to frost a cake is to let it cool off completely then spread outward from the middle to the edges. DO NOT spread the frosting from side to side or you will get little cake flakes in your icing and thats not cool to have red flakes in your pristine white frosting!

[PinkMafia]

Yummy!! I want some!

[Conley]

I say "Yes!!" to a recipe if you are so wonderfully inclined. 

[craftydame]

they look fabulous!!

[RubyPurl]

Mmmm, you are making me want sweets! Beautifully done.  You are a very good baker.

[sweets4ever]

I just gained wait looking at the pix!  Recipe...yes, ma'am!

[Lothruin]

mmmm..... cream cheese frosting.... those look GOOD!

[supermedic]

please post the recipe.  would love to make for hubby for vd

[folara]

Those look wonderful! Love the deco job. I made myself a red velvet birthday cake a few weeks ago that was AMAZING--so maybe our recipes are similar? The cake was still moist after a week! (I am the only one who eats cake in our house...)

Anyway, the recipe I used was from the Joy of Baking site. The buttermilk really makes the difference.

[mi mantita]

please please post the recipe, the cake looks fabulous!