Original Red Velvet Cake and Frosting (1928)

Contributor: Maudean (Jackson) Arbuckle

Cake:
1/2 c. butter
1-1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp. cocoa
2 oz. bottle of red food coloring
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
1 c. buttermilk
2 c. flour
1 tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. baking soda

Frosting:
1 c. milk
5 tbsp. flour
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream together butter, sugar and eggs. Make a paste of cocoa and food coloring. Add the paste to the creamed mixture. Mix salt and vanilla in buttermilk and add alternately with the flour. Mix soda and vinegar separately, add last, folding in. DO NOT BEAT after adding soda mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Frosting: Boil together milk and flour until thickened. Let stand until cool. Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla. Add milk and flour mix and beat very well (the longer you beat it, the better it gets).