Red Velvet Cake with White Truffle Frosting

Makes 12 servings

Cake:
1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist German chocolate cake mix
1 1/4 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 bottle (1 ounce) red food color
1 tablespoon baking cocoa

Frosting:
1 1/2 cups white vanilla baking chips
2 1/4 cups Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting (from two 1-pound containers)

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease or spray bottoms only of two 8-inch round cake pans. In large bowl, beat cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Pour into pans.

2. Bake and cool as directed on box for 8-inch rounds. Slice each cake layer in half horizontally to make a total of 4 layers.

3. In medium microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips uncovered on Medium (50%) 4 to 5 minutes, stirring halfway through microwave time. Stir until smooth; cool 5 minutes. Stir in frosting until well blended. Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on serving plate; spread with 1 cup of the frosting. Repeat with second and third cake layers. Top with remaining cake layer, cut side down; frost with remaining frosting.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Follow High Altitude directions on cake mix box.

Nutrition Information: 1 Serving: Calories 640 (Calories from Fat 280); Total Fat 32g (Saturated Fat 12g, Trans Fat 4 1/2g); Cholesterol 55mg; Sodium 520mg; Total Carbohydrate 84g (Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 67g); Protein 6g

Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 8%; Iron 6%

Exchanges: 1/2 Starch; 5 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Medium-Fat Meat; 6 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 5 1/2

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

How To:
Splitting cake layers is easy. Insert toothpicks around side of cake layer to mark middle point. Using toothpicks as a guide, cut through the layer with a long, thin, sharp knife, or pull a piece of heavy sewing thread horizontally, back and forth, through the layer.

Variation:
For a double-chocolate cake, use semisweet chocolate chips instead of the white chips and Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy chocolate frosting instead of the vanilla frosting.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Betty Crocker 2007/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved