GRANDMA'S RED VELVET CAKE

         
        INGREDIENTS
        2-1/4 cups All-purpose flour, sifted
        1 teaspoon Salt
        2 tablespoons Cocoa
        2 1-ounce Bottles of red food coloring (equivalent measure is 1/4 cup or 4 tablespoons)
        1/2 cup Crisco or other vegetable shortening
        1-1/2 cups Sugar
        2 Large Eggs
        1 cup Buttermilk
        1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
        1 teaspoon White vinegar
        1 teaspoon Baking soda

         
        DIRECTIONS
        Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans.
        Combine the sifted flour and salt, and set aside.
        Put the cocoa in a small glass bowl, and add the food coloring gradually, stirring until mixture is smooth. Set aside.
        Cream together the shortening and sugar, beating for 4 or 5 minutes at medium speed in your electric mixer until fluffy.
        Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for at least 30 seconds after each addition.
        At low speed of your mixer, add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture alternately with the buttermilk and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
        Add the cocoa/food coloring mixture, mixing until color of batter is uniform. Do not overbeat or it will result in a tough cake.
        In a small bowl, mix the vinegar with the baking soda. It will foam up. Stir it briefly to mix, and then add it to the cake batter, folding it in to incorporate well, but do not beat.
        Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans, and bake in a 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Allow layers to cool on a rack for 10 minutes before turning out.
        Let cake cool completely before frosting.
         
        CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
        1 box confectioners' sugar
        1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
        1/2 c. margarine, softened
        1 tsp. vanilla
        1 c. nuts, chopped (optional)
         
        DIRECTIONS:
        Preheat oven to 350. Mix ingredients thoroughly. Pour in 2 (8 inch) round pans or 1 (9 x 13) pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until cake tests done. When cake is cool, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting. In a small mixing bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly, spread over cake. (Note: I like to double the frosting recipe and use twice as much)

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