Red Velvet Cake

Recipe Courtesy of Martha Stewart
Makes 1 cake or 24 cupcakes

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self- rising), sifted
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon red gel-paste food color
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar

Cream Cheese Frosting

DIRECTIONS
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour cake pans or Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together cake flour, cocoa, and salt.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whisk together sugar and oil until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Mix in food color and vanilla.

Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and whisking well after each. Stir together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl (it will foam); add mixture to the batter, and mix on medium speed 10 seconds.

For cake: Pour batter into prepares pan(s). Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Do not overbake!

For cupcakes: Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes.

Cake or Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

To finish, frost with cream cheese frosting. Refrigerate up to 3 days in airtight container; bring to room temperature before serving.