Preheat the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly spray your pan to insure a smooth release of the cake.
For the batter, mix the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2 ½ cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
In a mixer, combine butter and sugar, and then blend in oil, cocoa, vanilla, food coloring, and eggs.
6 tbs unsalted butter, 1 ¾ cup granulated sugar, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, 2 large eggs, 3 tablespoon cocoa powder, 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon red food dye
Gradually add in half of the dry ingredients, followed by buttermilk and vinegar. For a deeper red, add more food coloring as needed.
¾ cup buttermilk, 1 teaspoon white vinegar
Next, add the remaining dry ingredients to the mix until well combined.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Upon taking the cake out of the oven, let the cake rest for 15 minutes, then promptly remove the cake from the pan. Carefully loosen the cake by gently using a flexible spatula. Place a wire rack or cake plate on top of the cake, and with oven mitts, carefully flip the cake upside-down to release it from the pan. Let the cake cool completely before finishing with frosting.
Using a mixer, whip the butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar on medium speed until a velvety consistency forms. If it appears too thick, adjust its consistency by incorporating a dash of milk, as necessary, until the desired level of creaminess is achieved.
6 tablespoon butter, 8 tablespoon cream cheese, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon whole milk