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, at room temperature
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons red food coloring
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Equipment Needed
- 2 round 9-inch cake pans
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer (hand or stand)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber spatula
- Cooling rack
- Parchment paper
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s get started! First, I preheat my oven to 350°F (175°C). While that’s warming up, I prepare my cake pans by greasing them and lining the bottoms with parchment paper. This ensures that my cakes come out smoothly without sticking. In a large mixing bowl, I whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder until well combined. The smell is absolutely divine! (See the next page below to continue steps…)