Mom Feezor’s Red-Velvet Cake Recipe
When my friend Nichole at Little Brown Pen wrote about her discovery and new love for the very southern White Lily Flour, I popped her an email to tell her to keep some left over so she could make my mom's unbelievable Red-Velvet Cake recipe. And she did--see her version in cupcake form here (gorgeous!).
This cake is a beloved tradition in my family, particularly around the holidays. We CRAVE it; both my brothers even request it for their birthday cakes each year (that's what I get for not living near home...). I asked my mom about the recipe, which is more than 60 years old. Here's what she had to say:
"When I was growing up, this cake was always a special Christmas treat made by Edna Shuping, a friend of my mother and dad's. After I got married, I decided that I wanted to learn to make it myself (especially since I always loved to bake). I wanted to have it as a tradition in our family as well, so my mom got the recipe from Edna for me and the rest is history."
"I really like the flavor and the color--don’t be intimidated by the amount of red food coloring, as it simply helps create the very lush red. It’s also one of the few cakes you put vinegar in; it counteracts the cocoa and the buttermilk. They all work well together."
And here's the bonus: "I love sharing the recipe. That’s what cooking’s all about."
That said, here you go folks. Enjoy! (And thanks, Mom...)
RED VELVET CAKE RECIPMOM FEEZOR'S ASTONISHING RED-VELVET CAKE
1 cup Crisco 1 ½ cup sugar
2 eggs 2 oz red food coloring
1 tsp vanilla 1 tsp soda
2 tbsp cocoa 1 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk 2 ¼ cups cake flour
1 tsp vinegar
Cream shortening. Add sugar, eggs, food coloring and vanilla; cream again. Sift flour and add other dry ingredients. Sift again. Combine with sugar mixture along with buttermilk and vinegar. Bake in 3 greased and floured 9" pans for 20 minutes at 350˚.
When cake is cool, frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
1 lb package confectioners sugar 8 oz softened cream cheese
1 stick margarine (softened) 1 tsp almond flavoring
Combine butter, cream cheese and almond flavoring. Cream well. Add confectioners sugar gradually. If mixture is too thick, add a small amount of milk.