auntie's red velvet cake

Name: Auntie's Red Velvet Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ## CAKE; 1 cup(s) shortening; 1 3/4 cup(s) granulated sugar; 2 1/2 cup(s) cake flour; 1 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt; 2 large eggs; 1 cup(s) buttermilk; 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla; 1 teaspoon(s) baking soda; 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) white vinegar; 1 ounce(s) red food coloring; 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) cocoa powder; ## ICING; 1/2 cup(s) shortening; 1/2 cup(s) margarine; 1 cup(s) granulated sugar; 3 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour; 2/3 cup(s) milk; 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla

(7 RATINGS)

1.87K Pinches 15 Photos

Krista Hanna

Davis Junction, IL

Updated on Jul 26, 2023

I was always afraid to make this cake because my aunt's was SOO good. Well, turns out, mine isn't so bad either!

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Slices of Auntie's Red Velvet Cake on a plate.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

You can tell that this red velvet cake is a recipe handed down through the family. It's an old-fashioned recipe slightly different than our modern-day red velvet cake. Bright red, the cake is tender and dense but does have a little fluff. The chocolate flavor is slight. The frosting is light and creamy but not nearly as rich as the cream cheese frosting you find used today. If you don't like super-rich desserts, this red velvet cake is for you.

— The Test Kitchen

prep time 30 Min

cook time 30 Min

method Bake

yield 8 serving(s)

Ingredients

CAKE
1 cup shortening
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 ounce red food coloring
1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder
ICING
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

How To Make auntie's red velvet cake

Test Kitchen Tips

We did double the frosting to make sure we had enough for decorating. To prevent crumbs in the icing, do a thin crumb coat and pop the cake into the fridge until firm.

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix sugar, shortening, salt, and baking soda in a stand mixer with whisk attachment.

Step 2

In a separate bowl, measure out flour.
Step 3

In another bowl, mix together eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and vinegar.
Step 4

Alternate pouring the flour and buttermilk mixture into the mixing bowl.
Step 5

Mix in the cocoa and the red food coloring. Do not over-mix.
Step 6

Bake in 2 8" round pans for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Step 7

Combine the frosting ingredients in a stand-up mixer with a wire whisk.
Step 8

Beat for 15 minutes until smooth and creamy. You MUST mix for the full 15 minutes or you WILL be disappointed!
Step 9

After the cake is completely cool, layer it up and ice it!
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