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.

Comments

[nichole]

Love getting the back story.

I have two happy little boys chillin on the patio with red faces.

Thanks Feezors!

[lisas]

Okay, now I really want some red velvet cake! Have had a hankering for it since reading this just the other day on Jennifer Perkin's blog:

http://ilovetocreateblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/red-velvet-cake-lollipops-custom-cake.html

Wonder if Mom Feezor's recipe makes good cake pops? Would be a yummy experiment! :)

[mdashing]

Oooooo--try it and let me know! (-:

P.S. I'm starving after all this talk of my mom's cake...

[Kendall]

Love this one Amy. Keep the baking posts coming!

[Bella]

Looks yummy! But I have to ask - what is Crisco? (I'm from Australia and haven't heard of it)

[mdashing]

Hi Bella! Crisco is just a brand-name for all-vegetable shortening. Start here to find an Aussie equivalent: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-621762-.html

Hope that helps!

[susan]

This is a favorite recipe for the entire Feezor clan. I was glad to share it.
Mom

[Gayle]

ohhhh wonderful!
Popped over here from Nichole's space
Thanks for sharing Amy :)

[mdashing]

Thanks for stopping by, Gayle! Hope you enjoy.

[Lindsey]

Dying to make some of this but I fear that without access to Crisco or White Lily flour in Paris, this might be a challenge. Although a friend did just tell me that all white flour in France IS cake flour. So maybe it will work?

Looks outstanding, adding it right away to my recipe repertoire.

[mdashing]

Lindsey, hope you find a way to make it. It's my favorite thing on the entire planet...thanks for stopping by!

[Watching Midtown Prep for Chri]

[...] the honey-baked ham, my grandma’s dressing, my sister-in-law’s squash casserole. My mom’s red-velvet cake. And also her coconut cake. And her carrot cake. And her pecan pie. And I’m not saving any [...]

[Georgia & Susan’s Ch]

[...] all a piece of this heaven. It’s my mom’s coconut cake (you remember the mom and her red-velvet concoction? This is on the same level). The recipe originated with my great-grandmother Georgia, and since her [...]