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

Cream butter and sugar; add eggs, one at a time, blending well after each addition. Add food coloring and set aside.

Sift together flour, salt and cocoa. Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk; beginning and ending with flour mixture. Add vanilla and mix. Mix vinegar and soda together and gently stir into cake batter. Bake in three 9-inch cake pans greased and lined with wax paper for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Remove and cool on a cake rack. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/4 c. butter
1 box confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream cheese and butter; add sugar and vanilla. Mix until smooth; spread between layers and on top of cake. When used on Red Velvet Cake, it is prettier if you also add enough red food coloring to the frosting mixture to turn frosting red.