Red Velvet

Directions

1. 1
   Cut out circles of parchment paper to fit your cake pans.
2. 2
   Butter two 8-inch or 9-inch round cake pans with the 2 tablespoons butter.
3. 3
   Place parchment circles inside pans and butter them.
4. 4
   Crumb pans and knock out excess breadcrumbs leaving a thin layer of crumbs on bottom and sides of your pans.
5. 5
   Preheat oven to 350F.
6. 6
   Prepare ingredients: Combine red coloring and enough water to make 1/4 cup.
7. 7
   In a small bowl whisk together color and cocoa powder.
8. 8
   In another small bowl combine buttermilk and vanilla.
9. 9
   BATTER: In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer beat together 1 stick butter and sugar until fluffy.Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
10. 10
    Add salt and color mixture.
11. 11
    Add flour in batches alternating with buttermilk mixture beginning and ending with flour.
12. 12
    Stop and scrape sides when needed.
13. 13
    Remember, overbeating flour makes the cake tough rather than fluffy.
14. 14
    In another small bowl combine vinegar and baking soda and gently fold into batter.
15. 15
    Divide into pans and create a depression in the center of batter to reduce doming.
16. 16
    Bake layers in middle of oven 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of layers.
17. 17
    Cool the layers inside pans, on cooling racks for 10 minutes.
18. 18
    Remove paper and cool completely.
19. 19
    Cut cakes horizontally across tops to achieve flat surfaces.
20. 20
    This allows them to stack neatly.