Velvet Cake - ANY COLOR

This is based on the Waldorf-Astoria Red Velvet Cake and just changes the food color. The original recipe called for 2 oz of food coloring. That could be an awful lot, depending on the type you are using. Use a good quality and add to make the color you desire.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• Cake

• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 1 1⁄2 cups sugar
• 2  eggs
• 2  tablespoons  cocoa (heaping)
• 1  cup buttermilk
• 2 1⁄4 cups cake flour
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon vinegar
•  food coloring, to preference

• Frosting

• 3  tablespoons flour
• 1  cup milk
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  cup butter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Cream shortening, sugar and eggs.
3. Make a paste of food coloring and cocoa and add to cream mixture.
4. Add buttermilk alternating with flour and salt.
5. Add vanilla.
6. Add soda to vinegar and blend into the batter.
7. Adjust color.
8. Pour into 2 8" round cake pans. If not silicone, grease and flour first.
9. Bake for 24-30 minutes.
10. Cool on a rack.
11. For the frosting, add milk to flour slowly and mix til smooth.
12. Cook milk and flour until very thick, stirring constantly.
13. Cool completely.
14. Cream sugar, butter and vanilla until flutty.
15. Add cooked mixture and beat on high until VERY fluffy.
16. It will look and taste like whipped cream.
17. Color frosting, if desired. Leaving it white is nice. Contrasting color is good. Same color if you are looking for an effect.
18. Split layers, fill and frost.