Ingredients
– 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
– 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
– 1 teaspoon baking soda
– 1 teaspoon salt
– 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
– 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
– 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
– 2 large eggs, room temperature
– 2 tablespoons red food coloring
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1 cup cream cheese, softened
– 1 ½ cups heavy cream
– 1 cup powdered sugar
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Equipment Needed
– 2 9-inch round cake pans
– Mixing bowls
– Electric mixer or stand mixer
– Rubber spatula
– Parchment paper
– Cooling rack
– Cake stand or serving platter
Step-by-Step Instructions
To begin, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line the bottoms of your cake pans with parchment paper. This will save you from any sticky situations later on. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In another bowl, mix the vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, and vanilla until well combined. Slowly combine the wet and dry mixtures until just blended. It’s important not to over-mix; a few lumps here and there are perfectly fine! (See the next page below to continue steps…)