Red Velvet Cake

Cake recipe
*1 1/2 sticks butter, softened; plus more for pans
*2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
*1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
*Pinch salt
*1 cup buttermilk
*1 tablespoon white vinegar
*1 teaspoon vanilla extract
*2 large eggs
*2 tablespoons natural, unsweetened cocoa powder
*2-4 tablespoons (1-2 ounces) liquid red food coloring (depending on desired shade of red)
*1 1/2 cups sugar

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans. Whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together in a medium bowl. Whisk the buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla and eggs together in a medium bowl. Mix the cocoa and food coloring in a small bowl to make a paste.

With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add of the flour mixture and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds.

Add 1/2 the buttermilk mixture and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Repeat, ending with the buttermilk mixture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the cocoa powder-food coloring mixture, and mix on medium speed until completely incorporated, about 30 seconds. Using a rubber spatula, give the batter a final stir.

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Smooth the surface of the batter with a spatula. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes, rotating the cake pans halfway through baking. Remove the cakes from the oven. Cool the pans for 10 minutes, then invert them on a wire rack and cool completely, at least 1 hour, before decorating.

To assemble, place 1 cake layer on a cake plate or cardboard round. Spread 2 cups of the frosting evenly across the top of the cake with a spatula. Place the second cake layer on top, then spread the remaining frosting evenly over the top and sides of the cake.

Milk Frosting Recipe

Yield: Enough to fill and frost 1 cake

*3 tablespoons flour
*1 cup milk
*1 cup sugar
*1 teaspoon vanilla
*2 sticks butter

In a saucepan over medium heat, cook the flour and the milk until the mixture is very thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool completely.

With a electric stand or hand mixer, cream the sugar, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Combine this mixture with flour-milk mixture.

This is my favorite cake ever!! And if I can make it----ANYBODY can!!