Mary Baginski’s Red Velvet Cake

2014 Baking Court of Honor Recipe.

The 2014 Court of Honor recipient is Len Baginski, Durham Fair Treasurer. Len has devoted over 40 years in volunteer service to the Fair, serving as Treasurer a number of times and President from 1979 – 1999. Len shares his favorite dessert, his mother’s recipe for Red Velvet Cake.

Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients

½ cup shortening
1½ cup sugar
2   eggs
2 oz. Durkee red food coloring
1 tsp. cocoa
2½ cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vinegar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together:
    • shortening
    • sugar
    • eggs, beat just until incorporated.
  3. In a small bowl, make a paste from:
    • Durkee red food coloring
    • cocoa
  4. Add cocoa paste to wet ingredients, mix until combined.
  5. Sift together:
    • flour
    • salt
    • baking soda
  6. In a separate measuring cup, combine:
    • buttermilk
    • vinegar
  7. Alternately add dry ingredients and buttermilk mixture to wet ingredients.
  8. Mix slowly until incorporated.
  9. Pour into 29” round pans and bake 30 minutes.

Frosting

Ingredients

1 stick butter
¼ cup Crisco
1 cup milk
1 cup powdered (confectons) sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
5 Tbsp. flour

Directions

  1. Cook flour with milk on low heat until milk is thickened. Allow to cool.
  2. Cream butter and shortening in bowl of stand mixer. Add vanilla and confectioner's sugar.
  3. Mix 10 minutes until light and fluffy.
  4. Slowly add flour and milk mixture. Beat until incorporated.