DESSERTS: CAKES
TESTER’S COMMENTS
This cake is almost too pretty to eat—but it didn’t stop tasters! The cake was moist with a subtle hint of chocolate, and the not-too-sweet icing was the perfect complement.
–S.L.P.
Cake:
1 |
tablespoon white vinegar |
1 |
teaspoon baking soda |
1½ |
cups sugar |
½ |
cup shortening |
2 |
eggs |
2 |
tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder |
1 |
ounce red food coloring |
2¼ |
cups cake flour (see below) |
1 |
cup buttermilk |
1 |
teaspoon salt |
1 |
teaspoon vanilla extract |
Icing:
1 |
cup milk |
3 |
tablespoons all-purpose flour |
1 |
cup (2 sticks) butter |
1 |
cup sugar |
1 |
teaspoon vanilla extract |
For cake: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
In a bowl, combine vinegar and baking soda and set aside.
In another bowl, cream sugar and shortening, then stir in eggs. Make a paste using cocoa and food coloring, then add to sugar mixture. Alternately add flour and buttermilk to sugar mixture, stirring well after each addition. Stir in salt and vanilla. Stir in vinegar mixture.
Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
For icing: Put milk and flour into a jar and shake to combine. Pour into a saucepan over medium-low heat and cook until thick. Cover, remove from heat, and cool.
In a bowl, cream butter and sugar, then add vanilla and stir until fluffy. Add cooled milk mixture, blending very lightly and briefly.
To assemble: Slice cooled layers in half horizontally. Place one layer on a cake plate. Spread icing on top. Repeat with other layers.
Makes 8 servings.
This recipe has been in my mother’s family for generations. Many call this red velvet cake, but the icing makes it very unique and different from typical red velvet cakes. I make this for most of our family and holiday dinners and as birthday gifts for my sisters.
Malea Jessen, Macomb, Illinois
For every 1 cup of cake flour needed, measure 1 cup of all-purpose flour and remove 3 tablespoons. Add 3 tablespoons of cornstarch to the all-purpose flour and sift several times.