becca's red velvet cake

one of my favorites, but not for the faint of heart...

2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
3 semi sweet chocolate squares OR 1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter at room temp
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 ounce red food coloring
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon butter flavoring
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup sour cream
optional: pinch of nutmeg (no more than a pinch though)

Frosting:
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. powdered sugar
Optional: 1/2 c. flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350. Grease three 9 inch round pans. Sift flour, salt and baking soda together and set aside. If using cocoa powder mix that with the dy ingredients too.

Melt semi-sweet chocolate with 1 tablespoon of milk. Set aside but do not let harden. Or if you are using coca powder just sift it in with the flour mixture.

Beat butter and sugar in a bowl together for approximately 5 minutes at medium speed. Add eggs one at a time and beat until smooth. Add the food coloring and sour cream, milk vanilla and butter flavoring and chocolate squares. At low speed add flour mixture a little at a time but do not over mix.

Bake in 350 oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick comes out clean.

For Frosting: Add all but the sugar and beat. Then gradually add the sugar.