1 bottle (1 oz.) red food color
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on high speed 5 to 7 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in sour cream, milk, food color, and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed just until blended. Do not over beat.
Pour batter into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
Bake in preheated 350 oven 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack. Fill and frost cake layers with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting.
Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
Beat 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, 4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) butter, and 2 tbsp. sour cream in large bowl until smooth. Mix in 2 tsp. vanilla extract. Gradually beat in 1 pkg. (1 lb.) confectioners' sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy.
