Quick Red Velvet Cake

No one will ever guess you made this quick and easy version of the classic Red Velvet Cake with a cake mix—unless you tell them.

Recipe Ingredients:

1 (18.25-ounce) package German chocolate cake mix with pudding
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 (1-ounce) bottle red food coloring
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cake mix, sour cream, water, oil, food coloring, eggs, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes. Divide the batter between the prepared pans.
3. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes or until cakes test done when a wooden pick inserted in the center of each comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes on wire racks. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks before frosting.
4. Fill and frost sides and tops of cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.
5. For Cream Cheese Frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat all ingredients together with an electric mixer on medium speed until mixture is smooth, adding more powdered sugar (or a little milk) to obtain a spreading consistency, if needed. Makes 3 cups frosting.

Makes 12 servings.