Hands Down the Best Red Velvet Cake

Super moist and delicious!!! Courtesy of Vanessa West. Thank you!!!

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 8-12

Ingredients

• 2 1⁄2 cups cake flour
• 2  cups sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1  tablespoon vanilla
• 1  cup buttermilk
• 1 1⁄2 cups  oil
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon white vinegar
• 1 (1 ounce) bottle  red food coloring
• 2  teaspoons  cocoa

• Icing

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temp
• 1⁄2 cup butter, room temp
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1 (1 lb) box confectioners' sugar
• 1  cup pecans, chopped
•  pecans, for decorating

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Cream together the sugar and oil.
3. Beat in the eggs.
4. Sift dry ingredients together.
5. Mix cocoa, food coloring, and vinegar in a small bowl.
6. Add to sugar mixture and mix well.
7. Beat a small amount of the flour mixture and mix well.
8. Add a small amount of buttermilk and mix well.
9. Alternate each flour and buttermilk, ending with flour.
10. Add vanilla and mix well.
11. Pour into 3 (8-inch) cake pans that have been greased and floured.
12. Bake 22 - 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
13. Cream the cream cheese and butter together.
14. Add vanilla and mix well.
15. Add the confectioner's sugar and mix until creamy.
16. Fold in pecans.
17. Spread over cooled cakes.