Ingredients
½ cup (one stick) butter
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vinegar
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup buttermilk (Usually it’s okay to “make” buttermilk with lemon juice or vinegar – but for this the real stuff is important.)
3 Tbsp red food coloring
2 2/3 cups flour
3 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp or just a pinch of salt
Icing
½ cup (one stick) butter
16 oz cream cheese (1 ½ blocks)
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Directions (for cake)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray cake pans with cooking spray and if desired dust with a little cocoa powder for extra flavor.
Combine butter and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth.
Add eggs one at a time.
Add oil, vinegar, vanilla, buttermilk, and food coloring and beat until well combined.
Add dry ingredients, flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt and mix until just combined.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until center is done.
Allow to cool completely before frosting.
Icing
Combine butter, cream cheese, and vanilla in an electric mixer until smooth.
Add powdered sugar in 2 batches and beat until light and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar if icing isn’t stiff enough. (Not all cream cheese is the same, some may not be as thick.)
Ice, decorate, and celebrate!