Red Velvet Cheesecake

Last week sometime as my dad and I were planning the meal we would make for my mum on mother's day, I had a chat with my mum and asked her what kind of fabulous dessert she would like to have. She was just in California and though she didn't go to The Cheesecake Factory, she heard about this red velvet cheesecake they have there, so that's what she asked for. Ask and you shall receive. I got to it looking for recipes online for a red velvet cheesecake and basically all of the recipes I came across used the same method - make a red velvet cake, make a cheesecake, cut them in half and layer them. Sounds simple enough. The recipe I decided on was one I found at changeabletable.com (here's the link: http://changeabletable.com/Changeable_Table/Full_House%3A_Cooking_for_large_families/Entries/2009/12/6_Red_Velvet_Cheesecake.html). I followed the directions pretty much exactly. The one thing I would do differently though is once I have the cake layers on top of each other, I would do a crumb coat with the icing, let that sit in the fridge for a while so it sets and then do another thick layer of icing. That way the crumbs won't get mixed up in the outer layer of icing and the icing would actually stay on the cake. My kitchen was warm so as a result so was my icing which made the icing slide off the cake in some places. Anyway, here are some pictures of the process:

That color just blows my mind.

Finished red velvet cake. I didn't get a picture of my finished cheesecake (it didn't look quite as pretty). Another thing I would do differently is after I make the cheesecake, stick it in the freezer and then warm up a knife under warm water and cut through the middle. I used a serrated knife and it ended up kind of tearing up the top layer of my cheesecake. So, that layer went in the middle!

Action shot of icing being made. I made the two cakes the day before and the next day I assembled it and made the icing. Also, have I mentioned I love parchment paper? Because I really love parchment paper.

Layered cake, before the icing.

Finished product. Not quite as pretty as I imagined it would be, but pretty solid for a first effort! I added white chocolate shavings to the top and sides  as well once it was done.

I just love the way that looks.

Minus the crumbs in the icing, I think it looks pretty good. The consensus was that it tasted pretty good as well. There is definitely some room for improvement so someone else requesting this cake would only give me the chance to perfect it!

Well, there are more pictures of food I'd love to post from this weekend but this girl needs to make her husband a lunch and head to bed! Nighty Night.