red velvet cake

[andrea]

i finally made the red velvet cake ("take the cake" issue, early '98) for my husband's birthday/chief's game party... ARGH!!! the buttercream frosting had me seeing red!

i started making it the night before. there are 2 steps with chilling after each so it takes a while even before you can frost the cake. well, at 11pm the frosting was a lumpy-runny disaster. in the morning, i started again... same results. so one hour before my party, i ran to the grocery store... luckily, the bakery had buttercream frosting and they were nice enough to sell me some by itself!

i haven't ever had so much trouble with a CL recipe... usually they are great. what gives, CL?

[MitchellsMom]

Sorry you had such trouble! I made that cake myself, Christmas 1998 for our family Christmas dinner, and everybody raved over it (I thought it was sort of dry, but I think I beat it too long!)
(okay, it has been two years since I made it, but I remember it!) I don't remember having any trouble with the frosting, but I do remember thinking that a "scratch cake" was A LOT of work. I was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time, and since I simply don't have time to make it.

Good luck if you try again!

[Wienie]

I agree, I made this cake and frosting and had the same problem with the frosting running down the sides. I froze it, hoping it would solidify, but it just continued to run when room temp. I ended up adding so much powdered sugar to thicken it, that it was almost inedible (way too sweet).
The cake part wasn't bad, but it ended up being too much work for the taste.
Definately, not a repeat.
W.

[ML]

I have a really awesome red velvet cake recipe- now it is not from CL but it is wonderful- if anybody is interested I will post the recipe. I imagine that with a few alterations it could be made a little lighter. Although, it is sooo good I figure I will leave the recipe alone and just limit my portion http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif (like that will really happen!)

[misstapioca]

I made this cake a while back and the icing was plain crappy. i was to runny and it ruined such a good cake. I am glad to see this post because now i know it wasn't me but the darn recipe.

[andrea]

ok... so it wasn't just me! i guess you all tried the buttercream version of the frosting. mine was like cloudy water with lumps of butter, both times. i may try again with the cream cheese frosting but somehow that doesn't sound as good. i think i'll move on to other cakes... the italian cream is on the top of my list.

thanks, everyone!

[Danielle]

I have a recipe for red velvet cake that I got from my grandmother. Her frosting (which is by no means light) calls for milk, Crisco, margarine, sugar, and vanilla. When blended together, it is the consistency of a heavy whipped cream. If anyone is interested I can post as an alternative to the runny frosting.

I've had red velvet cake before with cream cheese frosting, but I prefer my grandmother's.

[This message has been edited by Danielle (edited 10-18-2000).]