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Prep time
30 minutes
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Cook time
25 minutes
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Serves
1 9" layer cake
Author Notes
This started with a 50th birthday, and a request for red velvet cake. My friend wanted red velvet and she specifically wanted it RED. I made it (the first time) with a natural food dye, and the cake came out more sort of auburn than red - it was pretty but not RED. Then the recipe I was working from didn't make enough icing so the auburn was peeking through, and I didn't pay close enough attention to the layers and the whole thing was slightly tilted. My husband laughed and said "That's not red velvet, that's crushed velvet!" - which got me to thinking ...
For my crushed velvet cake I decided to swap the vegetable oil for olive oil, use dark cocoa powder, no dye at all, a hint of orange, and a whiff of honey. I consulted with Hardlikearmour (I always do - she gives the best ideas!) and she suggested marmalade. It is delicious. And that is how a cake is born.
** NOTE - I am proud of this cake because I did adjusting and planning and BAKING which is kind of scary and it came out great! **
** I re-made the red velvet with real red dye and extra icing and it was very red and delicious ** —aargersi
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Ingredients
- The Cake
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2 1/2 cups
AP flour
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1 teaspoon
baking soda
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2 tablespoons
dark cocoa powder (dutch processed)
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1 1/2 cups
sugar
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2
eggs
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1 teaspoon
white vinegar
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2 teaspoons
vanilla
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zest from 1 orange
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1 cup
buttermilk
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1 1/2 cups
olive oil (I used a fairly light extra virgin one)
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1/2 teaspoon
Salt
- Icing and Assembly
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8 ounces
cream cheese
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4 tablespoons
unsalted butter
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1/2 cup
creme fraiche
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1 cup
powdered sugar
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3 tablespoons
honey
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2
generous spoonfuls orange marmalade
Directions
- The Cake
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Butter and flour or spray (I spray, it's easier) 3 9" cake pans. Heat the oven to 350.
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Sift the flour, cocoa, salt and baking soda together. Beat the sugar and eggs in a large bowl until they are light and fluffy. Add in the zest, vinegar, vanilla and olive oil and beat until smooth. Now add 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat it just in, then 1/2 the buttermilk, 1/3 flour, other half buttermilk and finally the rest of the flour. Mix until just smooth.
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Put 1/3 of the batter into each pan and tap to flatten and remove bubbles. Bake them for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick test comes out clean. Remove and allow them to cool.
- Icing and Assembly
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Beat the cream cheese, crème fraiche and butter together. Beat in the honey and then, starting slowly so it doesn't poof all over the kitchen, beat in the sugar. Keep beating until the icing is smooth and fluffy.
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Put one cake layer on your cake plate. Smooth a heaping spoonful of marmalade on it, then spread a layer of icing. Repeat with the next layer, then ice the rest of the cake. I am not the best at this but I used a flat spatula and it looked OK. Too bad my photo sucks. That's it - you're done! Store it in the fridge is you aren't serving right away, but let it come to room temp again to serve.
Country living, garden to table cooking, recent beek, rescue all of the dogs, #adoptdontshop
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