Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Vegan Red Velvet Cake


I've been really wanting to make some vegan desserts lately. I'm not really sure why, they just seem so interesting! I really think people are wrong when they say vegan food isn't good. It's delicious! My dad used to think that, until he tried this cake. The whole layer cake was gone within 3 days(: And only 3 people were eating it! I see that as a good sign.

This cake is really easy to make. I added a lot more food coloring than the recipe called for, but I liked that it had a nice red color. I used a vegan buttercream frosting, but next time I'll use a vegan cream cheese one. I think Red Velvet Cake is almost not complete without cream cheese frosting.


Vegan Red Velvet Cake
recipe from The Daily Green

Ingredients
for the cake:
3 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
2 cups non dairy milk (I used soy milk)
2/3 cup canola oil
6 tablespoons red food coloring
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

For the Buttercream Frosting:
1/2 cup nondairy nondydroginated butter (I used Earth Balance), at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons nondairy milk (I used soy milk)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil 2 8-inch round cake pans.

To make the batter, in a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Create a well in the center, and add milk, oil, food coloring, vinegar and vanilla, and mix until thoroughly combined.

Divide cake batter evenly between prepared cake pans. Place pans in the oven spaced evenly apart. Bake for about 35 minutes, rotating 45 degrees halfway through. When the cakes pull away from the sides of the pans and a toothpick inserted into the center of each comes out clean, they are ready.

Let cakes cool 10 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the edges to loosen them from the sides. One at a time, invert cakes onto a plate and then re invert onto a cooling rack, rounded-sides up. Let cool completely.

To make the frosting, with an electric hand or stand mixer, cream butter until it is smooth and begins to fluff. With the mixer on low speed, add powdered sugar and fluff for another few minutes. Add vanilla, milk, and food coloring. Add additional milk if the frosting is hard to work with.

Once all ingredients are well-combined, beat on high until frosting is light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons more milk to achieve the right consistency. Cover the frosting with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out until ready to use. Rewhip before using.

To frost cake, place one layer, rounded-side down, on a plate or cake stand. Using a palette knife or offset spatula, spread some frosting over top of cake. Carefully set other layer on top, rounded-side down, and repeat. Cover entire cake with remaining frosting.



8 comments:

  1. Danielle waht lovely Cake! Is yummy! gloria

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  2. I agree - if 3 people in 3 days can finish it, it was a good cake. It certainly looks delicious.

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  3. I've been kinda obssessed with red velvet cake lately and this looks great! I've had vegan cake before and thought it was really good. I've never made one though, so I might have to try!<3

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  4. I've actually never made a vegan dessert--this would be a delicious recipe to start with! :-)

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  5. I love cooking Vegan food! I love the taste of soy in food. YUM. This cake looks beautiful :) It's always nice to try something new like vegan or gluten free cooking. Great post!

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  6. I love it!! I'll certainly have to try this one, thanks for sharing!

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  7. I never made a red velvet cake before. I don't think I ever tried vegan desserts before either!

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  8. I've never baked anything vegan before, but with the results sounding so good I'm definitely tempted :)

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