This cake is so picturesque that Southern Living made it their December Cover shot. What a grand dessert to serve your family and friends. Taken from SL, this combines red velvet cake with cheesecake. Theirs is a homemade version. To simplify and quicken the procedure, I am going to make my Duncan Hines Red Velvet cake, (substituting cream for water) and layer it with the cheesecake recipe that they give in their magazine.
1 Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake mix, baked according to directions on box, using 3 8″ cake pans.
Cheesecake layers:
5 (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 (12 oz) package white chocolate morsels
2 (8″) round disposable aluminum foil cake pans
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla
Bake your red velvet cake according to directions on back of box, dividing the batter between 3 (8″) round cake pans, Set aside.
To prepare the cheesecake layers:
Line bottom and sides of the 2 disposable pans with foil, allowing 2-3″ to extend over sides; lightly grease foil.
Microwave white chocolate morsels in a microwave safe bowl according to directions on package; cool 10 minutes.
Beat cream cheese and melted white chocolate at medium speed with mixer until creamy.
Gradually add the sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating just until yellow disappears after each addition.
Stir in the vanilla. Pour into prepared pans.
Bake in preheated 300 oven for 30-35 min or until almost set. Turn oven off. Let cheesecakes stay in oven, with door closed for 30 minutes. Remove from oven to wire racks; cool completely about 2 hours. Cover and chill 8 hours. Layer the cheesecakes and red velvet layers like you see in the picture.
Frost with the following:
2 (4 oz) white chocolate baking bars, chopped
1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup butter, softened
1 (32 oz) package of powdered sugar
Wisk together the chocolate and boiling water until chocolate melts. Cool 20 minutes.
Chill 30 minutes.
Beat 1 cup butter and chilled chocolate mixture at low speed 1 minute.
Increase mixer to high and mix 2-3 minutes.
Gradually add powdered sugar. Beat until frosting is fluffy. Frost tops of red velvet and cheesecakes as you assemble the cake. Frost sides and top last. Decorate with Christmas sprinkles, white chocolate leaves.
Chocolate Castles as wel 