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Red Velvet Cake

17/11/2023

The Red Velvet Cake is a classic American dessert known for its characteristic red color and velvety texture. Here is an Italian version of the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 240 g of type 00 flour
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 115 g of soft butter
  • 300 g of granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 240 ml of buttermilk (or milk with a tablespoon of lemon juice)
  • 1-2 tablespoons of red food coloring
  • 1 teaspoon of white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

For the cream cheese frosting:

  • 200 g of cream cheese (such as Philadelphia)
  • 100 g of soft butter
  • 350 g of powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 175 °C and prepare two greased and floured round cake pans.
  2. In a bowl, sift the flour with the baking soda, cocoa, and salt.
  3. In another large bowl, whip the butter with the sugar until the mixture is fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the teaspoon of vanilla.
  4. Mix the buttermilk with the red dye to get a uniform color.
  5. Add to the butter mixture alternating with the flour mixture and the colored buttermilk, starting and ending with the flour.
  6. Combine the vinegar and mix until fully incorporated.
  7. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to complete cooling.

For the frosting:

  1. Whip the cream cheese and butter until well blended.
  2. Gradually add the powdered sugar and the teaspoon of vanilla, continuing to beat until the frosting is smooth and spreadable.

Once the cakes are cool, spread a layer of cream cheese frosting on one cake, then overlay the other cake and cover the entire surface with the remaining cream cheese frosting.

Curiosity

The red color of the traditional Red Velvet Cake originally comes from the cocoa reacting with the acid of the buttermilk and vinegar, contributing to the red coloring. Over time, to enhance this effect, food coloring has been used. In Italy, the Red Velvet Cake is appreciated for its delicate flavor and combination with cream cheese frosting, which reminds a bit of our birthday cakes.

Red Velvet Cake