With Valentine’s Day around the corner there a lot of amazing recipes springing up. I have had this red velvet cake waiting in the wings for a while now. Unsure when it would be appropriate to share it and all its quirkiness.
Now I see it’s a perfect contrast to the other more typical Valentine Day recipes around.
And of course, what you bake for your loved one will say a lot about you, and your relationship. Actually, in this bloggers opinion, that’s a load of bollocks. If pizza, a bottle of bubbles and a DVD is your thing – then you rock that. If you love fancy restaurants, degustation menus and shiny jewellery – then own that (and book ahead!).
In this case if you like clowning around. May I suggest red velvet MONSTER cake!
If your partner is not the type to potentially embrace eating something heart shaped. May I suggest red velvet MONSTER cake!
If you’re single, and want to make an awesome cake to eat (after you finish the aforementioned pizza, bubbles and DVD, which is also awesome), then may I suggest red velvet MONSTER cake!
Or, if you’re looking for a cake for a three year old… I’d probably also suggest MONSTER cake.
If you’re interested (oh I know you are) I’m going to eat leftovers and download a rom-com on Valentine’s this year. My dear Pete will be at Spanish lessons that night. Don’t think I’m upset about that! – deep down all us girls know that’s a great way to spend a night.
And maybe we’ll have pancakes for breakfast instead. Or, maybe we’ll go to the movies the night before.
But I have googled and memorised the Spanish phrase “gracias por las flores,” and I’m betting I’ll get to use it :). Especially because he proofs my blog posts.
(Subtle as a sledge hammer I am.)
Ingredients
I originally blogged this recipe in cupcake form here, but have re-written with directions for cake below.
Cake
60 grams (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (best quality you can afford)
2 tablespoons red food colouring
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
Red monster cream cheese frosting
280 grams (10 ounces) cream cheese brought to room temperature
113 grams (1 stick) butter, softened
A few drop of red food colouring (I used half a bottle, that did effect the stiffness of the frosting)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups sifted icing (confectioners) sugar (you can add more if needed)
Method
Cake
- Preheat your oven to 180C (325F) degrees. Spray your bundt cake tin with oil. Beat together the butter and sugar until creamy and fluffy…about 1-2 minutes. Add the egg and beat on high another minute.
- In a small bowl, make a paste with the cocoa powder, red food dye and vanilla. Add it to the butter mixture and cream together on medium speed until well incorporated.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together the salt and flour. Alternate adding in 1/2 the batter and 1/2 the buttermilk, mixing in between and scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl until well combined and the colour is the same red throughout the batter. With your beaters on low speed, add the baking soda (sprinkle over entire batter to disperse) and vinegar and mix just until combined.
- Fill bundt tin. Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until lightly firm to the touch and a toothpick comes out clean. For mini sized cupcakes, bake for about 12-14 minutes. Cool on rack. Wait until entirely cool to frost cupcakes.
Red monster cream cheese frosting
- Beat together cream cheese and butter until creamy and smooth.
- Add a few drops of food colouring and beat until all one colour. Add more if your desire and beat again.
- Add vanilla and SIFTED icing sugar. Beat on medium and then high until smooth. You want your frosting a bit stiff if you are going to pipe it. So keep adding 1/4 cup of powdered sugar until it is creamy but a little firm.
- Refrigerate your frosting for a good 1/2 hour or so before piping.
- Snip about 1/2 inch off of a pastry bag (I use the plastic disposable ones) to begin and place a medium round tip in the bag until it’s good and tight.
- Take your pastry bag and place it in a tall glass/tumbler point side down. Open up the bag and pull about an inch or so of the bag up and over the top outside of the glass to open up the pastry bag.
- Carefully scoop your frosting into the bag and fill it within two inches of the top. Fold the top corners of the bag in and roll/fold up the bag to contain the frosting. Pinch/grip tightly at the top of the bag as you hold down the folded edge and pipe.
- With the cake on a rack, go crazy. Stand on a chair. Throw the icing at it. Let the kids loose on that thing. I just went back and forth a lot. Garnish with anything you can find that takes your fancy.
- Put it back in the fridge to set, then place on serving plate leaving behind all the mess on the rack.
Source: Original recipe in a very different form from Geni at Sweet and Crumby.
Storage: You can freeze the cake and icing, together or separately. Best eaten with a couple of days.
Very sweet! I’ve had my red velvet cake waiting in th wings as well. I think it’s time…you’ve inspired me!
I think it’s the perfect time of year for us to crack them all out!
This is such a cute cake and I’m sure delicious as well. Will definitely be saving this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Kay, they are awesome as cup cakes too.
monster cake! how fun 🙂
Consider this baby pinned! 🙂 I love your presentation of it. I don’t think it is quirky at all, except perhaps the little clown thingies. I love your blog Aimee, always enjoy your refreshing comedic slant on your posts and the photos are stellar of this cake! Triple win my friend!
I’m very glad you don’t mind how crazy I ended up going on your original recipe 🙂 It’s such a good one though, and I do consider you the person who ‘taught’ me to pipe with your initial tips 🙂
This cake looks fun and will try it one day! Oh you can always ask me if you need Spanish words and phrases 😉
Very good point! Just in case, how do i say “Where are the flowers I thought you would buy me because I made you cookies?” :p
Hahaha! You can say “Donde estan las flores que pensé que me comprarías porque yo te hize galletas?” 🙂
I had a HILARIOUS time with this phrase tonight!! Thank you. And now I know the Spanish word for cookies. Very handy.
Holy cow, check out that cake! Sounds like it solves all life’s problems…except maybe losing those pesky 10 lbs 😉 haha, I love your subtle hints to your guy for Valentine’s day. I’d so much rather watch a rom com than go out to a fancy dinner with my hubby…is that bad?!
Ah yes, useful for everything except lowering sugar levels 🙂 And no, I think their is something very sacred about watching a rom com at home cuddled up on the couch, it’s so indulgent and needed sometimes!
Great post! I’ve never had a red velvet cake, but I think that I should! Looks great!
Aimee, this cake is awesome! I love the colours and design 🙂