From my mothers own recipe

this is great for the 4th of July or a family reunion...

Cream cheese Icing
3 oz pack cream cheese soft
2 tbsp butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
beat with electric mixer until smooth

red velvet cake
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
4 cups flour
4 tbsp coco
12 tbsp salted butter
2 1/2 cup sugar regular
3/4 vegetable oil or lard
1 1/2 vanilla
3 big eggs
1 1/2 red food coloring
1 1/2 buttermilk
Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil and flour 3 (9 by 1 1/2-inch round) cake pans.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and cocoa powder. In another large bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.

Using a standing mixer, mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined and a smooth batter is formed.

Divide the cake batter evenly among the prepared cake pans. Place the pans in the oven evenly spaced apart. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through the cooking, until the cake pulls away from the side of the pans, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

Remove the cakes from the oven and run a knife around the edges to loosen them from the sides of the pans. One at a time, invert the cakes onto a plate and then re-invert them onto a cooling rack, rounded-sides up. Let cool completely.