Red Velvet Cake - Valentine's Day Surprise

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Yesterday was the day to celebrate love, the day to take the time to appreciate and treat your loved ones with gifts, chocolates, flowers or a special dessert. I decided to bake a Red Velvet cake for my husband as a surprise. I got this recipe from Food Network. The moist, rich deliciousness  of the cake coupled with buttercream frosting was a definite treat. I decided to cut the cake in half and frost it with the buttercream icing but you can use fresh fruit or fruit preserves as a filling. Another alternative for the filling is nutella. Bon Appetite :)

Serves: 6-8 

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 

1 1/2 cups sugar 

1 tsp baking soda 

1 tsp salt 

1 tsp cocoa powder 

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)

2 large eggs (room temperature)

2 tbsps red food coloring 

1 tsp white distilled vinegar 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Lightly flour and oil 2 9-inch cake pans. 

3. In a large bowl sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. 

4. In another large bowl whisk together oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar and vanilla. 

5. Using a hand mixer, mix the dry ingredients little by little into the bowl with  the wet ingredients until a smooth batter is formed. 

6. Pour the batter evenly into the cake pans. 

7. Place the cake pans into the oven and cook for 30-35 mins until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pans.

8. Insert a toothpick in the center of the cakes and pull out to ensure that it comes out clean and that the cakes are baked. 

9. Remove the cakes from the oven and using a knife loosen the cake from the pan by running the knife around the edges. 

10. Invert the cakes one at a time and then re-invert them onto a cooling rack. Let them cool completely. 

11. If a dome is created on the top of the cakes, use a serrated knife and cut the dome off. 

12. Frost the cake with your favorite icing and decorate with fruits.