Red Velvet Cake by Cook's Illustrated

Name: Red Velvet Cake by Cook's Illustrated
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 1 Cake, 16 serving(s)
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda; 1 pinch salt; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 tablespoon white vinegar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 large eggs; 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, see NOTE in description; 2 tablespoons red food coloring (one 1-ounce bottle); 12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks); 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar; 16 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks, softened); 4 cups confectioners' sugar; 16 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces, softened; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 pinch salt

(2)

Reviews 2

Recipe By Bonnie G #2 See all of Bonnie G #2's recipes >

There's a lot of recipes for this cake on here - but from what I found this one is a little differant and while it has a lot of steps - the end results is so elegant and lovely I want to post. I got this out of the Cook's Illustrated Holiday Baking Magazine and it graced the cover. By definition, Red Velvet Cake contains buttermilk, vinegar or a combination for both flavor and color. They noted that the more acid added, the brighter the cake looked and the more tender it's texture so tey included both buttermilk and white viniger. It does make a special NOTE: This recipe must be prepared with natural cocoa powder. Dutch-processed cocoa will not rise or yield the proper color. Show more

Ready In: 1 hr

Serves: 16

Yields: 1 Cake

Ingredients

CAKE
2 ¹⁄₄ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons baking soda
1 pinch salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa powder, see NOTE in description
2 tablespoons red food coloring (one 1-ounce bottle)
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks)
1 ¹⁄₂ cups granulated sugar
FROSTING
16 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks, softened)
4 cups confectioners' sugar
16 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces, softened
1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 pinch salt

Directions

CAKE:
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour two 9-inch pans.
Whisk flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl.
Whisk buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla and eggs in large measuring cup.
Mix cocoa with food coloring in small bowl until smooth paste forms.
With stand mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down bowl as necessary.
Add one-third of flour mixture and beat on medium-low speed until just incorporated, about 30 seconds.
Add half of buttermilk mixture and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds.
Scrape down bowl as necessary and repeat with half of remaining flour mixture, remaining buttermilk mixture, and finally remaining flour mixture.
Scrape down bowl, add cocoa mixture and beat on medium speed until completely incorporated about 30 seconds.
Using rubber spatula give batter final stir.
Scrape into prepared pans and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
Cook cakes in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely, at least 30 minutes.
FROSTING:
With stand mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
Add cream cheese, 1 piece at a time, and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds.
Beat in vanilla and salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
When cakes are cooled, spread about 2 cups frosting on 1 cake layer.
Top with second cake layer and spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 3 days.

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Red Velvet Cake by Cook's Illustrated

Ingredients

CAKE

FROSTING

Directions

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