Red Velvet Cake + Cream Cheese Icing

June is a big month for birthdays. My roommate, Emily, celebrated her 30th birthday yesterday, my boyfriend Adam's 30th birthday is Saturday, my best friend Angel's birthday is next week, and my sister Jennifer's birthday is next weekend. What does all of this mean? Cake. And lots of it! I have to give a shout out to my cousin's wife, Elizabeth for this amazing cake and icing recipe. This cake has been a big hit to everyone that has encountered it for years, so I decided to recreate this recipe for a couple of upcoming birthdays! 

This is a from-scratch homemade cake recipe, so it takes a little while but is seriously rewarding at the end! 

Red Velvet Cake

What you need:
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 cup sour cream
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 oz. bottle of red food coloring

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. 

Cream together butter and sugar.

 Next, add eggs 1 at a time.

Add sour cream, milk, vanilla and food coloring.

In a separate bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda.

 Add these dry ingredients to your wet ingredients in batches until mixed in and batter is smooth.

Separate your batter into two 9-inch round non-stick (if you don't have non-stick, make sure to spray some Pam in your cake pans) baking pans and bake for appx. 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

While your cakes are cooling, whip up some cream cheese icing!

Cream Cheese Icing

What you need:
1 8oz. package of softened cream cheese
1/2 stick of butter, softened
2 tblsp. sour cream
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 16oz. box of powdered confectioners sugar

Cream together the cream cheese and butter until whipped.

Add sour cream and vanilla.

Next, add powdered sugar in batches until smooth.

Once your cakes have cooled, stack them and slap on some icing. Happy birthday everyone, & enjoy!

Emily's birthday cake!