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Thursday, February 18, 2010

Cookin’ the Book: Pioneer Woman’s Red Velvet Cake

While chocolate-chocolate-chocolate often receives very well-deserved top billing as a go-to Valentine’s Day treat, I’d argue that red velvet cake should fight for that spot.  Well, if fighting was a) in the spirit of a day about love and b) cake could or would even want to fight.  I think cake is generally a lover, not a fighter.   Maybe that’s the problem!  Cake needs to learn to stand up for itself!  C’mon cake, you’re worth it!
Why yes, I have been cooped up for 6 days straight with 3 kids, none of whom were simultaneously sick, so as to stretch out the fun for as long as possible!  Why do you ask?
Anyway, back to the cake, man.  I’ve been working my way through Ree Drummond’s The Pioneer Woman Cooks, one recipe at a time, in my own chosen order, and long ago earmarked red velvet cake for Valentine’s Day.  I love-love-love chocolate, truly, I do.  But I get my cake and I get to eat it, as every year, 3 days before Valentine’s Day I have a chocolate birthday cake.  Everyone’s a winner!
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I decided to make cupcakes, following the recipe exactly, but reducing the bake time a little for the ‘baby’ cakes, and used only a little frosting on some of them, piping little hearts and Xs.  I didn’t have a whole bottle of red food color--a BOTTLE, not a vial in those 4 packs… think the size of a bottle of vanilla extract, that is what it calls for—so I used what I had, a little more than 1/4 ounce.  As a result, I suppose I made pink velvet cake.  :)
The cake itself was very tender and light.  Paired with cream cheese frosting, it’s delightful.  Thumbs up!
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6 comments:

Christie said...

I have been following your blog since our now-4-year-olds were babies...before the due-date forum fizzled out.

I had to comment on your post today...I had the same problem when I made this cake, with the red food coloring. We used every single drop and it was still only pink. But even more importantly - we have those exact same plates! Love Target :)

Kristianna said...

Yes, Target is the happiest place on earth. :)

Hope you're doing well!

Heidi-Marie said...

I was just talking about red velvet cake with my neighbor!

I have always loved the way red velvet cake looks in pictures in magazines or cookbooks (especially with all that cream cheese frosting!), but I won't make it again...

I tried my hand at it a few years ago (we were living in Campbell, so... sometime between 2003 and 2008) and it was a crazy amount of red food coloring that was needed to actually make it red. Not sure if it would be considered an allergy, but I had an unexpected reaction to the red dye # whatever. I got really, really aggressive and was totally lookin' for a fight with Rob. I think the kids were train wrecks, too, after eating some. I've since heard that the red dye can do that to some people.

My neighbor then told me about the time she ended up taking her 3 yo to the emergency room because, despite knowing she'd had a red velvet cupcake earlier in the day, what came out later made her (and the ER staff) suspect internal bleeding. After a test for blood, it was determined it was only the red food coloring in the red velvet cupcake.

Ah, good times!

JZNJ said...

What fun. Just discovered your PW project.
Will be following along, to see how it goes,and what are "wow" recipes.
I have made many, many PW recipes. Most from her blog, some from her book!

Kristianna said...

Thanks for following along, JZNJ. I will certainly review every recipe with adult and kid reactions... it's a fun project, and a nice diversion. :)

JZNJ said...

Hello,
Just checking in to see how things are progressing.
Have you made the Texas Sheet Cake yet!
And, probably the dessert I have made the most, and everyone loves- are those Apple Dumplings. I hope they are in the book, which I don't have because I gifted it to son's girlfriend for Christmas.
I did make the meatloaf, and meatballs from the cookbook.
Made those cinnamon rolls-yeeks, really goofed first time. Had to do it again.
The Asian salad, otherwise known as PW Fav Salad, is uber wonderful. Big hit at Womans Club function.
Well, that's all for now, I have made many more PW recipes....and love reading your blog about it .

Oh, that PW grilled cheese sandwich- my husband's favorite!

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