Thursday, December 27, 2007

Red Velvet cake

This became one of my favorite cake after coming to US. When i was in India i haven't heard about this. I once got a chance to taste a small piece of this cake. Wow what a tasty cake. Look at the color. Hmm who wont like this???.. First time i didn't have this red color and cocoa powder in my pantry, so i tried with orange color and just omited the cocoa powder. But didn't get the taste like the one that i sampled earlier. Next time got these ingredients and tried this for our First Wedding Anniversary. Wow!!! No words to express the unique taste of this cake. I simply applied vanilla frosting to make my work easier. Can try with homemade icing too. That will be delicious.


You will need:

For the cake:
  • 2½ cups sifted cake flour
  • 2 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 1½ cups powdered sugar
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2½ ounces red food colouring
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the frosting:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 pound confectioners sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chopped nuts(optional)
Preparation method:

For The Cake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350° F.

  2. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) cake pans.

In a medium bowl...

  1. sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt

  2. set aside.

In a large bowl...

  1. Cream together sugar and butter.

  2. Beat in eggs one at a time.

  3. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk.

  4. Beat in food coloring and vinegar, then add vanilla.

Spread the batter evenly in the pans.

  1. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

  2. Turn out onto a rack to cool.




For The Frosting:

  1. In a large bowl, cream the cream cheese and butter.

  2. Beat in confectioners' sugar until fluffy.

  3. Beat in vanilla. Stir in pecans.

  4. Use frosting to fill and ice cake.

  5. Slice and serve on individual plates.



16 comments:

Dahlia said...

hi vijitha,
looks very yummy... can't wait to try this. but i dont have cocoa powder and baking powder. i've got semi sweet chocolate and baking soda only. can i make it with that alone???
dahlia

Unknown said...

Hi Dhalia akka,
Looks yummy and taste yummy too because of the cocoa powder. I think we can substitute that with semi sweet chocolate. Just shave it and add it. But the colour varies for sure. Reg baking soda till now i don't know the diff b/w baking soda and baking powder. But i use baking powder for cakes and baking soda for bread. Ha ha.I think baking powder gives more softness to the cake. You can try with baking soda and let me know how it turned out.

Dahlia said...

ok. i will try it in 1 or 2 days... wat is cake flour?? its maida only na?

Unknown said...

Yes. but u can always substitute that with store bought white cake mix also. If u trying with that u can avoid baking soda & baking powder issues.

Unknown said...

Hi Dhalia akka,
You can try this without baking powder if u r using self rising flour.

2 1/2 cups Self Rising flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring (optional)
1 1/2 oz red food coloring
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 cup buttermilk, room temp
2 eggs, room temp

Dahlia said...

hey viji, tried this cake for valentines day and it turned out yummy..... it was a super hit valentines day.... i've added it in my site too... do take a look... http://simpleindianrecipes.com/redvelvetcake.aspx .... i would have never tried this cake if you had not put in your blog. i was scared of the cake looking at its colour.
dahlia

Unknown said...

Dhalia akka, Nice to hear that from you.Looked your web. Amazing.. Valentines day nah... You forgot to cut into heart shape?.. You cak looks yummy akka..

Dahlia said...

i dint forget viji, main reason i dint cut in heart shape is because i was not confident enough for such artistic work. Secondly the cake was so delicious that we dint have the patience for all that.

Unknown said...

OK Dahlia akka.. I can understand that..

Anonymous said...

Hi Viji, purely new to baking...I need ur help to make the velvet cake. Pls answer my silly doubts, Sorry to trouble you

1. How to make 2 tier cake ?
2. Have to cut it into 2 halves or have to make 2 cakes ?
3. Then icing apply pannitu bake pannanuma or final coverups kudukanuma ?
4. Heavy Whipped cream use pannina what are the things we need to add in that to enhance the flavour ?
5. Cake middle la icing spread pannitu again bake pannanuma ?
6. Cream cheese means the one we use for bagel or different one ?

Again sorry to trouble you, this is the 1st time going to bake my cake for family function, that's why...-shan

Unknown said...

Hi Shan,
Making 2 tier cake is very easy
1) You can make it in 2 same size baking pans at same time.
2)You can even cut the same cake into 2 halves, but you have to be very professional to cut it exactly 2.
3) After applying icing no need to bake.Just cover it nicely using icing.
4) You can add vanilla essence to enhance the flavor.
5) No need to bake at all after icing. You can bake it to get light brown color. But it is not necessary.
6) If you are using cream cheese use philadelphia cream cheese, it will taste good.

Hope your doubts are cleared and good to bake.

Anonymous said...

Thanx viji, going to make on friday morning...will let you know the result - shan

Anonymous said...

Viji, Powdered sugar will be available or do we need to powder the sugar ?

I bought hand mixer, flour um hand mixer la mix pannalama ?

Then for icing do i need to mix with spoon or should i use the H.M

Going to make this cake today and giving this on saturday morning only will it be good if we keep this in room temperature or to store in fridge -shan

Unknown said...

Hi Shan.. 1. Powdered sugar is available in stores. If you don't have that powder the sugar using mixie.

2. Yes you can mix flour using hand mixer.

3. Using Hand mixer will ease your work even for icing. I use hand mixer only.

4. Making today and giving it on saturday is not that good. But it will taste good. Remember to foil in a wrap or in nice air tight container as when it cools. Or else it will become when exposed to air. I prefer to make icing only the day i serve, refrigerating icing wont taste that good. Specially it will become very hard.

Anonymous said...

Viji, done. Success...Thanx for ur help and thanx a lot for ur receipe. Going to surprise my Bil tonite...Also frosting night spread panna poren before cutting the cake - shan

Unknown said...

Good Shan.. Kalakitinga.. So hope you are happy now. Surprise to BIL ah.. hmmm kalakuringa.. So now you have become expert in baking ah.. Good keep it up..