Simple Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients

CAKE

• shortening, for greasing the baking pans
• flour, for dusting the baking pans

• 1 (18 1/4 ounce) package German chocolate cake mix (with or without pudding)
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup oil

• 1 (1 ounce) bottle red food coloring
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

FROSTING

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

• 8 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
• 3 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, well sifted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. 1

   CAKE:.

2. 2

   Move oven rack to center of oven. Preheat to 350 degrees. Grease two 9-inch round cake pans with shortening, then sprinkle with flour. Remove excess flour. Set pans aside.

3. 3

   Place cake mix, sour cream, water, oil, food coloring, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl. Mix with electric mixer on low for 1-2 minutes. Stop. Scrape sides of bowl. Mix on medium speed for 2-3 additional minutes. Divide batter among the prepared cake pans. Place pans in oven.

4. 4

   Bake cakes about 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes. Run a dinner knife around the edge of each layer and turn each layer upside down onto a wire rack, then turn the cakes right side up on another rack. Cool completely, 30-45 minutes.

5. 5

   FROSTING:.

6. 6

   Place cream cheese and butter in a large bowl. Mix with an electric mixer on low, about 30-45 seconds. Stop mixer. Add confectioner's sugar a little bit at a time, mixing on low speed until the sugar is well mixed, 1-2 minutes. Add the vanilla. Mix on medium speed until fluffy, about 1-2 more minutes.

7. 7

   Place one cake layer, right side up, on a serving platter or cake plate. Spread top with the frosting. Put second layer, on top of first layer and frost the top and sides.