Red Devil's Food Cake

Red Devil’s Food Cake

2 cups flour
½ tsp salt
1/3 cup cocoa
1 Tbsp instant coffee
1½ cups sugar
½ cup shortening
2 eggs, unbeaten
1 tsp vanilla
1½ tsp red food coloring
½ cup buttermilk
1½ tsp soda
¾ cup boiling water

Mix flour, salt, cocoa and instant coffee together. Gradually add sugar to shortening. Cream well. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add vanilla and food coloring. Add in dry ingredients and buttermilk, beating until smooth. Stir soda into boiling water. Add and mix to other ingredients. Pour thin batter into prepared pans and bake 350° for 30 to 35 minute. I bake it in a 13x9 pan also use ¾ cup coffee instead of water and instant coffee. When cool, frost with 7-Minute Frosting or Chocolate Frosting.

7-Minute Frosting

1 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 Tbsp light corn syrup
⅛ tsp salt
2 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla

Combine first four ingredients in a saucepan. Stir until well blended. Boil slowly without stirring til mixture spins a long thread when a little is dropped from spoon—hold spoon high above pan (238° to 242°).

Meanwhile put into bowl 2 egg whites. Beat on number 10 speed til stiff, but still moist—about 2½ minutes. Scrape bowl while beating. Pour hot syrup slowly over egg whites while beating on number 10 speed. Continue beating til mixture is fluffy and holds its shape. Add vanilla, beat til blended. Spread on cake. If icing does not seem stiff enough add 2 or 3 Tbsp powdered sugar.

Variations: Icing may be sprinkled with chopped nuts, coconut or chopped maraschino cherries, well drained.

Chocolate Frosting

4 Tbsp butter or oleo
1 box powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
8 Tbsp cocoa (use 2 Tbsp cocoa to each cup of powdered sugar)
about 8 Tbsp milk

Melt oleo or butter over low heat, stir in cocoa, mix. Add sugar and milk. Mix til smooth and frost cake.

This in one of my favorites with the gooey icing with coconut. This is the one I always wanted for my birthday.—Randy

This has always been my very favorite of all cakes and the one Mom baked for my birthday. I’m just not sure which way I like it best—with that really yummy sticky frosting with the tinted coconut or covered with chocolate frosting.—Keith

One of my dad’s favorites.—Amy