Red Velvet Cake with Cinnamon Buttercream | ExpatWomanFood.com

Ingredients

• For the cake:
• 1/4 cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons red gel food coloring
• 1/4 cup boiling water
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• softened
• cut into small pieces
• 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• at room temperature
• 1 2/3 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups cake flour *see note below
• 1 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• For the cinnamon butter cream:
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) unsalted butter
• soft but cool
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• Red Hots (cinnamon imperials) candies for decoration
• or any red-ish Valentine's candy.