Waldorf Red Velvet Cake

I’ve been cooking for over 40 years, but this is the first time that I ever made a cake from scratch.

Before starting cake, mix 1 c. cold milk a little at a time 5 T. all-purpose flour, stirring constantly. Cook until thick, stirring constantly. Refrigerate to cool for half an hour.

3/4 c. shortening

2-1/4 c. sugar

1 .3 oz. small individual bottle of red food coloring from the 4 color pack

3 eggs

3 T. cocoa

1-1/2 t. salt

1-1/2 t. vanilla

1-1/2 c. buttermilk

3-1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1-1/2 T. white vinegar

1-1/2 t. baking soda

Baker’s Joy

1. Cut shortening into sugar in a large mixing bowl. Stir until smooth.

2. Sift the rest of the dry ingredients together into a separate mixing bowl. Stir to mix dry ingredients.

3. Add the dry ingredient mixture to the shortening and sugar mixture a little at a time, stirring well between batches.

4. Stir the cooled cooked mixture into the dry ingredients.

5. Mix all other wet ingredients except the eggs together, then add to the mixture. Stir for 200 strokes.

6. Blend the eggs in the blender for one minute. Add the eggs to the mixture. Stir another 200 strokes.

7. Spray 2-9 inch silicone round cake pans with Baker’s Secret.

8. Pour half of the mixture into each pan.

9. Bake on the middle rack of a 350 degree preheated oven for 33 minutes.

10. Test with a knife to see if it comes out clean. If it does, remove cakes from the oven. If not, continue baking, but check every 2 minutes, using the clean knife test.

11. Once cakes are removed from the oven, cool exactly ten minutes.

12. Invert each cake onto rack to continue cooling.

13. When totally cooled, ice cake.

Icing for Waldorf Red Velvet Cake:

1 c. butter

3 c. powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla

14. Mix well while cake is cooling.

15. When completely cooled, on cake plate, place an approximately 12x12 inch piece of wax paper that has been cut into fourths, then reassembled.

16. Place one of the cakes on it. Ice the bottom layer.

17. Add the second layer and ice. Ice sides.

18. When icing has been completed, pull the waxed paper to reveal a cake on a clean surrounding area.

Cut, serve and enjoy.