Emerald's Southern Red Velvet Cake

Homemade Sweet Red Velvet Cake. Photo credit: Envato.

Emerald’s Southern Red Velvet Cake

Start to finish: about 1 hour

Serves: approximately six

Ingredients for Cake

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cocoa powder

2 tablespoons red food coloring

1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Crushed pecans, for fun

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 pound soft cream cheese

4 cups confectioners’ sugar

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted soft butter*

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

*for a cannabis-infused frosting, use cannabutter

Homemade Southern Red Velvet Cake. Photo credit: Envato.

In a standard size mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, sugar and butter until creamy. Afterwards, add the vanilla extract and gradually mix it in until the frosting becomes fluffy. Then, place the bowl in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes so the frosting can harden. This should give you enough frosting for a three layer cake.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Next, oil and flour or spray your cake pans (9-inch by 1 1/2-inch round). In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In another bowl, combine the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until a smooth batter is formed. Then, divide the cake batter evenly amongst your cake pans.

Put the pans in the oven and after 30 minutes give it the ol’ tooth – pick test. Stick the tooth pick in the middle of the cake; make sure it comes out clean and free of dough. After removing the cakes from the oven, place them on a plate and allow to cool completely.

When the cake has completely cooled, it’ll be time to start the frosting.

Using a knife or spatula, spread the cream cheese frosting over the top of the cake. After frosting the first layer, place the second cake on top and continue frosting. Now, after all the layers have been frosted and stacked, use the remaining frosting to touch up any missed areas. Top with crushed pecans, or a favorite fruit like strawberries. Them, enjoy!