Red Velvet Cake

My neighbor is six months pregnant and one day she had a really strong craving for red velvet cake. She told me that we either needed to make the cake, or she was going to go buy one and make herself sick. Needless to say, we made the cake. It turned out beautiful. The picture doesn't quite do it justice. The color was a deep red, and the cake itself tasted amazing. Happy Cooking!

Red Velvet Cake

1/2 c shortening
1 1/2 c white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp butter flavored extract
3 Tbsp cocoa powder
1/2 ounce red food coloring
2 1/2 c EGF all-purpose flour
1 c sour cream
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp xanthan gum
1 Tbsp rice vinegar

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Grease round pans or cupcake pans.

Cream together shortening, white sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and butter flavored extract in a large bowl.

Mix cocoa powder and food coloring into a paste in a small bowl and then add to shortening mixture. Pour in flour alternately with the sour cream, mixing until just incorporated.

Mix salt, baking soda, and vinegar in a small bowl, and while it is fizzing fold into the batter; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Pour the batter into prepared pan.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.