Grandmother Paula's Red Velvet Cake

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Show: Paula's Home CookingEpisode: My Grandmother's Table

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (332)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(332)

Cook Time:
25 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
16 to 20 servings

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: 2 hr 0 min
Cook: 25 min
Total:: 2 hr 55 min

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Ingredients

Cake:

2 cups sugar
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 ounces red food coloring
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon vinegar

Icing:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup melted marshmallows
1 (1-pound) box confectioners' sugar
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter, beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition. Mix cocoa and food coloring together and then add to sugar mixture; mix well. Sift together flour and salt. Add flour mixture to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Blend in vanilla. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and add to mixture. Pour batter into 3 (8-inch) round greased and floured pans. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from heat and cool completely before frosting.

Icing:

Blend cream cheese and butter together in a mixing bowl. Add marshmallows and sugar and blend. Fold in coconut and nuts. Spread between layers and on top and sides of cooled cake.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Grandmother Paula's Red Velvet Cake
Amy Lake Orion, MI 11-11-2009
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The frosting makes this cake!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I feel in love with this cake for the holidays and make it every year. The best part is the coconut and pecan frosting, such... a nice addition. The only thing is the cake seems to crumble when cut, it may be from the cake flour. I really have only used cake flour in this recipe, so I am assuming this is why it is crumbly. I am a huge fan of this great cake.Read more
recipe Grandmother Paula's Red Velvet Cake
Richard Hoboken, NJ 11-10-2009
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For Cupcakes
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Candice, I noticed you asked about making this recipe as cupcakes. Paula has a recipe similar to this for cupcakes and almost... everything is the same except that instead of using butter she uses vegetable oil. Read more
recipe Grandmother Paula's Red Velvet Cake
alitia virginia bech, VA 10-29-2009
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yummy
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have one word DELICIOUS
recipe Grandmother Paula's Red Velvet Cake
Jennifer Durant, OK 10-21-2009
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THE BEST!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is the best red velvet cake I've ever had in my LIFE!! I made it for a Christmas party and I colored the frosting green... and got a TON of compliments. The frosting recipe is also now my go-to frosting recipe. THANKS PAULA!!Read more
recipe Grandmother Paula's Red Velvet Cake
null null, null 10-20-2009
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The Best Icing
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

There IS NO icing this good. I put this icing on ALL cake mixes. This is the VERY BEST.
recipe Grandmother Paula's Red Velvet Cake
Shannon Lumberton, NC 10-18-2009
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Best ever Red Velvet cake
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this cake for my friends and family just to see how it would turn out. It was the moistest cake I've ever eaten, the... top layer broke in half and I had to glue it back with frosting. Thanks a lot Paula.Read more