Jan 20 2010
Red Velvet Cake.
Hey!
Lookin’ a little different ’round here! I am still working out some kinks and trying to get the blog more organized, but a HUGE thanks goes out to Seth from Boy Meets Food for jazzing my site up.
I know you must be thinking… ‘another boring red velvet cake recipe?’
Not quite.
I can assure you that is one of the best red velvet cakes I have ever had. In fact, it is the best. And it is pretty simple, too.
This recipe comes from a family friend who is famous for this red velvet cake. We have dubbed her ‘Pretty Patty,’ because . . . well, she is gorgeous and just the sweetest soul. She is also an incredible baker. She is probably one of the people who has influenced my love of baking.
She has made this cake for all of our birthdays, graduation parties, and other spectacular events. ‘Round these parts, our graduation parties were larger than my wedding. Which was large.
Does that make us trashy? Maybe. But we know how to party.
I love the color of the batter. It compliments my love of glitter and sparkles.
I guess it could also make me appear flaky and immature. Either way, pink batter makes me happy. And it stains my hands.
My first 3 attempts at this cake failed miserably. It was actually pretty humorous – one day I will share the photos. Luckly, I have learned to calm my drama-queen attitude down.
I now leave the drama queen behavior up to my husband. He has mastered that art.
I used 2 mini cake pans – about 4 inches around. This way, we had a cute, tiny cake to eat, and I was able to fit into my pants the next few days. Thank goodness for small pans.
5 layers of pure deliciousness. Amazing…
Cream cheese frosting is the only icing that I truly love. I don’t think a red velvet cake is complete without cream cheese frosting.
Neither is my life. That’s why I eat it so often.
My friend, Caitlin, has never had red velvet cake. Caitlin, this is a sin. Come over now so I can fatten you up.
Red Velvet Cake
3/4 cup shortening
2 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 tablespoon cocoa
3 tablespoon red food coloring
3 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/3 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 tablespoon vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Preheat oven to 350. Grease and flour cake pan/pans.
Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs. Slowly add cocoa and food coloring. Soft together cake flour and salt. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk beginning and ending with flour. Add in vanilla and beat for 2 minutes.
Mix baking soda and vinegar together. Add and stir until combined.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Cream Cheese Frosting
3-8oz blocks of cream cheese
1 stick of butter, softened
1/2 tablespoon vanilla
~ 16 oz powdered sugar (1 bag)
Cream butter and cream cheese. Add in vanilla. Gradually stir in powdered sugar until the frosting reaches desired consistency.
This cake is moist and full of light flavor. Sure, red velvet cake may just be good ‘old chocolate cake, but I love complicating things.
I guess I still have a little diva left in me.
I love how bright red the cake is. Perfect for Valentines Day!
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JESSICA this looks freaking AMAZING!
i love your new look!! the about me page is so awesome!!
you are absolutely beautiful!
and so sweet, with such a great heart, and it shines through!
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I love everything about red velvet cake! So pretty and tasty!
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The site looks great!!! That cake looks sinful! I love it!! I’m going to be 20 pounds heavier when my husband gets back from deployment if you keep posting things that make my mouth water!!
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REALLY????????????????????? DO YOU HATE ME???????????????????
Omg… I have to stop looking at your blog. By the way. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE the NEW LOOK! But I already text you that at 7:45 am… hehe… Miss you
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I WANT that recipe!!!
Great job on the design Jessica! Although I was first attracted to your blog because of its simple elegance (I love white) and am loving this just as much! It fits your amazing and hilarious personality!
God bless-
Amanda
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I can’t wait to try this!! The only red velvet cake that I tried from scratch required vinegar, and turned out to be a total disaster. Maybe the vinegar isn’t all that unusual, but this cake was not right.
I should bake something today..
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I have never had Red Velvet Cake either! Since I am allergic to cream cheese I can never eat it
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We need to throw Caitlin a red velvet party!! And, yes, my wedding cake was red velvet.
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love the new site!!! it looks awesome – just like that cake.
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Me too I never had red velvet cake. This is something I might try to do for Valentine’s Day. Great idea
And I love cream cheese icing mmmmm Great photos 
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I LOVE the new color scheme! The whole theme is very unique. And you look GORG in your sidebar picture, too.
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LOVE the new look, and that cake is so reminiscent of our wedding cake!! Hope you can use the header I made you
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Such a pretty color! I’ve only ever had box-mix red velvet cake, so I’ll have to try the real deal!
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Loving the new look!
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Love the site and love the cake!! Can’t wait to see the recipe. I have had red velvet cake but have never made it. My family will love me even more once I make it
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Wow, the site looks great!
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Love the new look of your site!
I’ll try to do this delicious cake!!!!
thank you
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Oh my god, that cake looks amazing!
Lucky boyfriend of mine may just get it on V-Day!
Love your blog!
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Love your new site design and I love red velvet cake, but have never made it! I’ll be looking forward to you posting the recipe!
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I love the new look of your site! At first I thought I typed in the address wrong! It fits your personality perfectly
And I don’t like red velvet cake at all, but your descriptions and pictures make me want to re-think that! And I do love pink batter
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Fantastic!! The red velvet cake looks beautiful. If it tastes half as good as it looks then I am sure it is a huge hit!
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Red velvet is my favorite cake. I bake it for my boyfriend every year on his birthday. I look forward to it more than he does!
Love the new layout!
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This is my all-time favorite cake EVER. So jealous right now.
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Love the new look!!!! So fun. The black background really makes everything pop right off the page. And I’m obviously drooling over the cake!
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Love the new look! I am dying for that recipe! Red velvet cake is hands down my favorite!
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I love the new look! It’s great!! And I adore red velvet cake. For the longest time that was the only cake I would eat at all. Now, I like all cake as long as its moist…and has gooey frosting, which of course cream cheese is the best!
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I love the new look of the site, it’s great!! I also love red velvet cake, quite possibly more than I will love my first born — no, I kid I kid of course! But seriously, my best friend makes these red velvet cupcakes that are too die for and she is not allowed to visit my house unless she brings them haha…. I keep a stash in the freezer and eat them for days bc I’m weird and love frozen cake?!
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red velvet is my favorite, hands down. i LOVE the new look too! so cute and, well, sweet
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SUCH a cute layout. i LOVE it!!! thanks for mentioning it because i don’t always click out of my reader when i read blogs. i am so into this! so cute!!
okay, red velvet can never get old. these photos made me want to lick my screen! i grew up eating red velvet, my mom has the best recipe that she got from HER mom, kind of a generational tradition. mmmm. so good, so bad
have a great wednesday, love!
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LOVE the look of your new site! Did you switch over to wordpress.org, or were you able to reformat your old blog without switching? I’m a little confused on how all that works…
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Oh, and the cake looks divine!! I’m a huge fan of red velvet cakes!
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Oh my goodness that looks INSANE! Red velvet is delicious…I agree, there’s nothing better than pink cake batter
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SHUT UP!!! This is my DREAM cake! Ok, other than carrot. I want this for my wedding, will you make it?! hehe. It looks fantastic. Speaking of fantastic, I LOVE the new look of your blog. I’m contacting this guy in March (Boy Meets Food) for my one year blogaversary. I’m excited to see what he can do! AND, I love the new picture, you look stunning!
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What a gorgeous looking cake! Any your new site…. I LOVE IT! So pretty
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I’m loving red velvet right now! I just saw a recipe for red velvet pancakes the other day. All these recipes are perfect for Valentine’s Day!
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Red Velvet and Carrot cake are m favorite cakes in the world. Thsi Red Velvet looks so good.
Oh, and i love the new layout.
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WOW…that cake looks to DIE for!! I just love red velvet!
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All that cream cheese frosting makes me VERY happy
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LOVE the new site! The brown and pink color combination is really cute!
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oh gawsh. My taste buds just exploded in a greedy desire to nosh on this cake. Let me at it!!
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Love the new site Jess!!! SO COOL!
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Oooooo….
I’ve been looking for a good red velvet cake recipe. I’ve tried a few and they weren’t as good as the box mix (I hate using box mixes – but if they’re really good, I’ll use them). I’ve had a lot of issues with previous recipes. I look forward to reading yours. 
Jackie
tritolose.wordpress.com
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Any cake with cream cheese frosting is wonderful in my book! You don’t even really need to post the cake recipe – maybe I’ll just make the frosting and eat it with a spoon. Love that you sliced the layers to better distribute the frosting throughout the cake – I hate layer cakes with just one big vein of frosting through the center. They require too much rationing work from me. And I think I’ve just revealed the extent of my laziness AND my anal retentiveness about food…
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YUMMO! My stomach growled when I read this post!
Julie
http://www.ridingaside.blogspot.com
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OMG your blog makeover is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The colors are beautiful, the text is readable and the perfect font AND size. I know you and I are detail oriented and i am sure you spent hours deciding on things…and you did an awesome job on it!!!! Wow. It’s beautiful, JEssica!
And the R.V. Cake is too good looking words!
Comment yesterday on my blog re you and I being able to chat for hours…TOTALLY!!!!!!!!!!! On everything from blogging honestly, how open to be to awesome desserts to working out…wish we lived closer!!!!!!
oxox
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That looks fantastic! I’m a little scared of all the layers but I think I have to get past that
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The new site design looks terrific, and what a wonderful looking cake to boot. Congratulations on the new look!
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I love, love, love the new site! Cupcakes make my heart happy
I will one day master the red velvet and kick those box mixes!
I’m so excited to explore the new site!
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Red velvet may be one of the prettiest cakes ever!
Love the new look!
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I am obsessed with red velvet cake. I was SO close to buying a red velvet cupcake the other night, but figured since I was already buying 2, I’d try it another day.
Cream cheese frosting is the absolute best!
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WHOA I LOVE YOUR SITE!! and your pics of yourself are beautiful! where have you been hiding?!?!
this cake looks almost as godo as your new blog LOL
just kidding it IS as good!! cream cheese frosting to me is pure foodgasm. I love it on anything and its so dangerous I could eat a whole tub of the stuff!
now come over and bring me a slice??
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Oh wow…your new site looks fantastic! Love it!
I have a confession – I have never tried red velvete cake either
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I love the new look! My friend’s b-day is in March and she loves Red Velvet–I’ll have to make this for her!!!
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I can’t be on the right site…I can be…*screams* I AM! Omgosh, it looks great! The cake and the new blog look.
Especially if you like pink. 
Pink’s okay for me as long as it’s not on me. Too girly for me. 
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K, obvi not the first to comment but I really LOVE the layout.. it looks so bright and totally professional!!
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LOOOOOVE the new look. I really need to do something about my blog…
That cake looks amazing. Red Velvet is one of my faves, and that sucker is a mile high!
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Your new look is so gorgeous!! Very sweet and girly!!
Love it!!
Your cake is so gorgeous!! I lurve red velvet.
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The site looks beautiful! And wow that cake looks incredible. I’ve never had red velvet before and it is so pretty! Did you ever see Steel Magnolias when they have that Armadillo cake with the red velvet inside? Hilarious!
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LOVE the site girl! So professional and cute! I’m wondering those words should be used together
The cake looks awesome too!
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Love the new site. The cake looks amazing.
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OMG red velvet cake is my FAVORITE! Yum! Thanks for sharing, and I think having multiple levels is genious, more of that delicious icing
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Love the new look! Looks great! (The cake looks amazing, too!! Can’t wait to try the recipe out!)
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I love the red velvet recipes. I’m planning on making the red velvet cookies for my kids cooking class next week – they were already excited when I mentioned it!
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Oh my goodness, your new layout looks AMAZING! Seriously! I absolutely loveeee me some cupcakes
And red velvet cake?! Girl, you are quickly becoming one of my favorite blogs =)
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The first time I had red velvet cake was about 8 years ago. Not a huge cake flavor in New England. I was in love at first bite!
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Jess – blog looks amazing! Great “face lift”!
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I love the new look!!! I wish I could get a new look for my blog – but I am so technology stupid, I don’t even know where to start.
I have never tried red velvet cake either
I guess that better go on my to-do list!
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Holy smokes! FIVE layers of red velvet! That is awesome
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You make the most beautiful desserts! I always wondered why red velvet cakes tasted so much better than regular.. I still don’t know to be honest! haha.
And I’d love more information on carb cycling! How long should you do it for the benefits? And what does a typical carb up day look like?
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i lovee red velvet cake- looks delicious! andd your new format is great
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Your site looks great… Love the red velvet cake, too. Gorgeous!
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Yum. I want some of that ASAP!
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I LOVE the new look!! Your glamour shot on the right is pretty gorgey too.
Red velvet cake looks AMAZING! I love all those layers!
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wooow-wooow-wooow
that’s awesome!!!
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I love that cake!!!We don’t make it in Greece, but I think it is a lovely birthday idea!!! And the site is super!!!!Thanks for sharing. Greetings from Greece!!!!Eva
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Seth did a TERRIFIC job!!! your new layout looks STUNNING! I love it, Jessica!
Your red velvet cake reminded me of the whoopie pie I had!
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Num, Num, Num!
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LOVE the new look…it’s wonderful! Congrats! The red velvet looks to die for, too!
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Oooh, ain’t nothin wrong with loving pink cake batter! red velvet is one of my faves…oh who am I kidding, CAKE in general is one of my faves, especially with lots of yummy frosting! I love the new look–it seems very “you.” I saw on April’s comments that you had tried carb cycling before. I am very curious to know how it worked for you and how you implemented it into your diet. I am not sure if I’m going to do it myself, but I think the concept is very interesting! Thanks lady! xoxo
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The new site looks great – as does that cake!!!
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yumm! this is my FAV kind of cake ever!! ..well besides ice cream cake or cookie cake
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Wow does that look good, and so very RED – gorgeous! Your site is looking super cute too!!
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Love the new layout! I’m also a sinner and have never tried red velvet cake before. Must make some asap!!
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The blog makeover looks great! So unique and eye-catching. And looking at cupcakes always makes me happy
I only “discovered” red velvet cake about a year ago, when I finally tried some at Christmas. It was love at first bite. I have heard they can be tricky to make at home, something about the vinegar being difficult to work with? Anyway, your photos are gorgeous. I probably won’t try this at home (red food die + my poor baking skills = asking for trouble), you can invite me over to be your sampler any day
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Jessica, thanks for this recipe. I’ve been long searching for a good red velvet recipe. I so can’t wait to try this. This would be perfect!
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My husband is a huge fan of red velvet cake, but I haven’t been able to eat it for years. It’s all the fault of one of my dad’s patients. She was the sweetest little old lady and she made him a Christmas Tree shaped cake one year when I was in elementary school. It looked so pretty, and then we all had some and it just REEKED of cigarette smoke. Yuck! We had to throw it out, and I’ve never had any since then! But perhaps I should try it again…
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Thank you, I went to the website and it’s great.
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