The original red velvet cake that was served at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel used what is called an Ermine frosting, which uses a roux and boiled milk. I promise you that when you try this Ermine frosting, you will never go back to cream cheese frosting for a red velvet cake!
While my picture and recipe are for a 2-layer 9-inch round cake, you can easily transform this for a 9 x 13" cake!
Bake Time: about 30 minutes
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 1 9-inch round cake
Cake Ingredients:
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa
- 1 ounce red food coloring
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
Frosting Ingredients:
- 5 Tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2 sticks butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar (not powdered like most frostings use!)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and line 2 9-inch round cake pans with waxed or parchment paper.
- For the cake, mix cocoa and food coloring in a small bowl; set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Add the cocoa/food coloring mixture and mix to combine.
- Combine salt, vanilla and buttermilk. Add liquid mixture alternatively with flour to the butter mixture. Beat until combined.
- Mix the baking soda and vinegar. Fold into the cake mixture. Divide batter between the prepared cake pans.
- Bake for 28-30 minutes or until a toothpick that is inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow cake to cool completely before frosting.
- (Is using a 9x13 pan, grease and flour the pan and bake for 32 minutes.)
- For the frosting, gradually whisk milk into flour in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring until thickened. Place a sheet of plastic wrap directly over the surface of the mixture and cool to room temperature.
- In a medium bowl, beat together butter, sugar, and vanilla well with an electric mixer. Add cooled milk mixture. Beat well so sugar dissolves.
- Keep beating on high until mixture resembles thick whipped cream. (This will take 5 minutes or more)
- Spread on cooled cake and store in the refrigerator. For a more patriotic look, place blueberries or blue sprinkles on top!
Source: Lynnie Homemade!