Lyons Family Cookbook

Red Velvet Cake

---CAKE ---

1 1/4

cups

unbleached all-purpose flour

1

Tbsp

unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2

tsp

salt

1/2

tsp

baking powder

1/2

tsp

baking soda

1/2

cup

granulated sugar

1/4

cup

unsweetened applesauce

1

large egg

1

large egg white

3/4

cup

1% buttermilk

2

Tbsp

canola oil

1

tsp

pure vanilla extract

1/2

tsp

apple cider vinegar

2

tsp

red food coloring

--- FROSTING ---

6

oz

low-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened

1/3

cup

confectioners' sugar, sifted

1/2

tsp

pure vanilla extract

1

TO MAKE THE CAKE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8 or 9" round cake pan with cooking spray.

2

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, applesauce, egg, and egg white. Whisk in the buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and vinegar. Whist the flour mixture into the batter, then whisk in the food coloring.

3

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 25 - 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool completely on a wire rack, then invert it onto a serving plate.

4

TO MAKE THE FROSTING: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a handheld mixer, beat together the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Spread the frosting over the cake, cut the cake into slices, and serve. Serves 8 - 10.

I know what you're thinking, "Red velvet cake, Bobby? Really? No, how did you make that lighter and healthier?" Well, first and foremost, I cut the serving size. Usually, you see red velvet cake all layered up in what I like to call too-big-to-eat slices. By making this a single-layer cake, I've cut calories and fat fast without losing any of the luscious flavor. Then I subbed in applesauce for the butter and trimmed down the eggs. It's about as skinny as red velvet cake gets and just as gorgeous looking, too. A typical Red Velvet cake (serving) has 16g fat and 311 calories. This recipe (serving) has 7g fat and 199 calories.

Source

Source: Bobby Deen - From Mama's Table to Mine - 2013