Damask Red Velvet Cake – 2 Recipes



I set out to make a red velvet cake this weekend. The plan was to try Buddy Valastro’s (Cake Boss on TLC) red velvet cake recipe and a new decorating technique.  But why just do 1 recipe when I can do 2?  So, I also made a red velvet cake by Alton Brown (Good Eats).  The final cake was composed of a Buddy bottom and Alton top.  Which layer will people prefer?

Red Velvet Cake 1 – Buddy Valastro

Recipe from here.

Red Velvet Cake 2 – Alton Brown

Recipe from here.

Left: Alton Brown's recipe; Right: Buddy Valastro's recipe

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

1 block of cream cheese

½ cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups icing sugar

Directions

1. Cream the cream cheese and butter.

2. Add the vanilla and sugar and whip until fluffy.



Cream cheese frosting on the first layer.

Buddy's cake on the bottom, Alton's cake on top.

Crumb coat.

  

Decorating – Damask

I melted candy melts and used a piping bag to trace the damask pattern on parchment paper over the print.  After putting the candy pattern in the refrigerator to firm up, I carefully peeled back the pattern and placed it on the cake.

Verdict: Hands down, everyone at the potluck I bought the cake to, preferred...Alton Brown’s recipe!  Better texture and flavour.