Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake:
2 1/2 cups (250 grams) sifted cake flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons (15 grams) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
2 tablespoons liquid red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 1/2 (360 ml) cups heavy whipping cream
1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) tub of Mascarpone cheese, room temperature (may substitute ricotta cheese)
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup (115 grams) confectioners' (icing or powdered) sugar, sifted

Red Velvet Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter two - 9 inch (23 cm) round cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl sift together the flour, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside.

In bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

In a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk with the red food coloring. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.

In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter.

Working quickly, divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 25 - 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean. Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Place a wire rack on top of the cake pan and invert, lifting off the pan. Once the cakes have completely cooled, wrap in plastic and place the cake layers in the freezer for at least an hour. (This is done to make filling and frosting the cakes easier.)

Cream Cheese Frosting: In your food processor, or with a hand mixer, process the cream cheese and mascarpone cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners sugar and process until smooth. Transfer this mixture to a large mixing bowl.

Then, in the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, whip the cream until stiff peaks form. With a large spatula, gently but quickly fold a little of the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to lighten it. Then fold in the remaining whipped cream, in two stages. If the frosting is not thick enough to spread, cover and place in the refrigerator for an hour, or until it is firm enough to spread.

Assemble: With a serrated knife, cut each cake layer in half, horizontally. You will now have four cake layers. Place one of the cake layers, top of the cake facing down, onto your serving platter. Spread the cake layer with a layer of frosting. Place another layer of cake on top of the frosting and continue to frost and stack the cake layers. Frost the top and sides of the cake.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

1 1/2 cups oil
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups shredded carrots
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
1 cup raisins

In large bowl, beat oil, flour, sugars, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, soda and salt. Stir in the carrots, pecans, and raisins, and mix well. Pour batter into two greased and floured 9" cake pans. Bake at 350° for 50 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes, then remove from pan and cool completely on cooling rack. Frost with Cream Cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 package cream cheese (8 oz)
1/4 c butter
splash of milk
about 4 c powdered sugar (I don't measure it)
1 t vanilla

Beat butter and cream cheese together until creamy. Add milk and gradually add powdered sugar until desired consistency. Add vanilla. Put layer of frosting in between both layers of cake. Frost top and sides of cake. For extra decoration, cover sides of cake with chopped pecans.

Oatmeal Cake

This is one of my most favorite cake recipes. It comes from the Lion House Recipe Book. I use whole wheat flour instead of white flour. I usually don't add the coconut and nuts to the topping, just the butter, sugar, milk, and vanilla.

1 1/2 c boiling water
1 c rolled oats
1/2 butter or shortening
1 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
2 egss, well beaten
1 1/2 c flour
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

Pour boiling water over oats and let stand until cool. Cream butter with sugars and eggs until fluffy. Adds oats and water mixture. Sift flour with other dry ingredients and blend into creamed mixture. Pour into greased and lightly floured 13x9x2 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 - 45 minutes. Spread topping on baked cake as soon as it comes out of the oven.

Topping
1/2 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1/3 c evaporated milk
1 c coconut
1 c chopped nuts
1 t vanilla

Melt butter and add sugar. Blend. Add remaining ingredients and spread on baked hot cake. Place under broiler for a minute or two, if desired.