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
Recipe from here.
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| Left: Alton Brown's recipe; Right: Buddy Valastro's recipe |
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.
Decorating – Damask
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| Cream cheese frosting on the first layer. |
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| Buddy's cake on the bottom, Alton's cake on top. |
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| Crumb coat. |
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.
