My mother used to bake the most delicious red velvet cakes. Even the icing was from scratch.  She’d stack the confections high and sprinkle them with flaky coconut.  It was heaven on a plate. Mostly, she made them for special occasions like birthdays and Christmas, but every once in a while she’d surprise us and made one just because.

I’ve drawn on this memory to inspire my Celebrations, Inc. series (a six-book series set around a catering company ). In one of the books, a red velvet cake changes the course of my heroine’s life and sets her career on the road to culinary success. For me, red velvet cake symbolizes comfort, happiness and love.

Here’s my favorite red velvet recipe:
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
14 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons cool unsalted butter, cut into
2 large eggs, at room, separated
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 ounce red food coloring,
1 cup nonfat buttermilk
12 ounces soft light cream cheese
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 ounce chocolate, grated, for garnish)

Directions
1. To prepare cake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray.
2. Whisk all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
3. Beat sugar and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg yolks one at a time, then vanilla and food coloring (if using) until smooth.
4. Beat in half the buttermilk on low speed until smooth, then half the flour mixture. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat in the remaining buttermilk. Beat in the remaining flour mixture just until combined.
5. Clean and dry beaters. Beat egg whites in a clean medium bowl at high speed until soft peaks form. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the whites into the batter until just incorporated, using long, even strokes. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, spreading to the edges. Gently rap the pans against the counter once or twice to settle the batter.
6. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then invert the layers onto the rack, remove the pans and let cool to room temperature, about 45 minutes more.
7. To prepare frosting & assemble cake: Beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Place one cake layer top-side down on a serving plate; cover with half the frosting, spreading just to the edges. Set the second layer on top, top-side down. Spread the remaining frosting on the top only. Sprinkle with grated chocolate, if desired.

 

Sharing the recipe has made me a little nostalgic. I was wondering, do you associate certain foods you with good memories? If so, what are they?