Red Velvet Love

I was watching this documentary on the Food Network this evening about the National Pie Championship, and I was reminded of the eternal question, which is better: Cake or Pie? What are your thoughts? 

Personally, my favorite is cake…and more specifically “Red Velvet Cake”. It is a traditional cake from Southern US, and when I eat it, it reminds me of my Van Redd – because he’s also from the South and super awesome! And, besides that – it’s totally delicious! If you’ve never tried it…give it a shot! Here is a recipe for some Red Velvet Cupcakes that I made a few months back:

RED VELVET CUPCAKES 

Ingredients:

Cake
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (sifted, then measured)
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs

Frosting
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups powdered sugarDirections:

For cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Put white muffin tin cups in muffin pans. Sift sifted flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into medium bowl. Whisk buttermilk, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla in small bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until well blended after each addition. Beat in dry ingredients in 4 additions alternately with buttermilk mixture in 3 additions. Divide batter between cupcake tings.

Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes, but it depends on humidity, individual ovens and altitude. Cool in pans on racks 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto racks; cool completely.

For frosting:
Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth, then frost cupcakes.

Makes 24 cupcakes.

~ by Nevis on September 16, 2007.