A couple drops of red food coloring turn a regular white cake into red velvet.
1 box yellow cake mix (without pudding) Milk (substitute for water in cake mix) 2 Tbs. cocoa 1 tsp. vinegar 2 eggs (or amount cake recipe requires) 1 oz. red food coloring 1/2 C. vegetable oil Cream Cheese Frosting: box confectioners' sugar 8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened 1/2 C. margarine, softened 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 C. nuts, chopped (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix ingredients thoroughly. Pour into two 8" round pans or one 9"x13" pan. Bake 30-35 minutes, until cake tests done. When cake is cool, frost with Cream Cheese frosting (see below). Frosting: In small mixing bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly. Spread over cake.