Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients:

    * 1/2 cup shortening

    * 1 teaspoon butter flavored extract

    * 1 1/2 cups white sugar

    * 2 eggs

    * 4 tablespoons red food coloring

    * 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

    * 1 cup buttermilk

    * 1 teaspoon salt

    * 2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

    * 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

    * 1 teaspoon baking soda

    * 1/2 cup butter

    * 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

    * 4 cups confectioners' sugar

    * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

   1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 - 9 inch round pans.

   2. Cream shortening, butter flavoring, sugar, and eggs until light and fluffy. Make a paste with food coloring and cocoa and add to the shortening mixture.

   3. Mix buttermilk, salt, baking soda and vinegar; add to mixture. Slowly add flour to mixture.

   4. Put batter into 2 greased 9 inch round pans. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool completely, then frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

   5. To Make Cream Cheese Frosting: Combine 1/2 cup butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix until well blended.