This homemade red velvet cake recipe is what my family begs me to make for every special occasion. The kids’ birthdays. My husband’s birthday. Easter. Any holiday or event, you name it! And I know it might sound intimidating but I’ll walk you through this step by step and you’ll see why it’s worth chucking out that box mix and making it yourself.
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What is Red Velvet Cake?
No, there’s no velvet here. If you’re from the South, then you likely know this treasured cake. It’s actually a vanilla cake that has cocoa powder and then red food coloring which is what gives it that luscious red color. It’s vinegar and buttermilk that gives it a signature tang and on top, a sweet cream cheese frosting that brings it all together in the most delicious of ways.
What is red velvet cake made of? (Red Velvet Cake ingredients)
- Cake flour – This is the base of our cake.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Make sure it’s unsweetened (we’ll be adding plenty of sugar, trust me!).
- Baking soda – Helps our cake rise up.
- Unsalted butter – You’ll want to have this softened to room temperature first.
- Sugar – See? I told you so!
- Salt – For balance.
- Vegetable oil – This helps our cake stay nice and moist
- Vanilla extract – Adds that alluring warmth and sweetness.
- Eggs – Binds our cake batter together.
- Vinegar – Creates a tangy taste.
- Buttermilk – Helps make the batter consistency just right and also adds more tang.
- Red food coloring – A little of this liquid is what gives us that red color.
- Cream cheese frosting – No cans here! You’ll make this from softened cream cheese, salted butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.
Best Red Velvet Cake Recipe
This is the best red velvet cake recipe you’ll find because we’re using simple and wholesome ingredients to make it. No boxes, no canned frosting. Just pure and delicious things to bake up a truly wow-worthy cake that everyone is going to love.
Easy Red Velvet Cake Recipe
Yes, this red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting is easy, I promise. Don’t let the ingredient list scare you, or the amount of prep time. True that this is not a cake to bake on a busy weeknight, you will see that it’s a snap to put together when you’ve got free time.
You’re only humane. You live once and life is wonderful, so eat the d**n red velvet cupcake.
Emma Stone
How do you Make Red Velvet Cake from Scratch?
- You’ll start by getting your oven preheated to 350F and prepping two 9-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and parchment paper.
- Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large mixing bowl, sifting first to get rid of lumps.
- In another bowl, cream your butter and sugar on medium for 5 minutes.
- Add in the eggs gradually, then add the oil, food coloring, vanilla, and vinegar, scraping down as needed.
- Mix the dry ingredients and the buttermilk 1/3 at a time and alternate between adding 1/3 of dry ingredients and 1/3 of buttermilk until it is all combined.
- Distribute this batter between the 2 pans, then bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Let them cool for 20 minutes in the pans before removing and cooling on a wire rack. As the cakes cool, make the frosting using your electric mixer to beat the cream cheese smooth, then add butter until well combined.
- Next, add the powdered sugar and vanilla. Once cakes are cool, assemble them and frost.
Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Red Velvet Cake Every Time
- Let your eggs get to room temperature. Doing so will give you better volume.
- Fluffier frosting hack…make sure both the cream cheese and the butter (the salted one you’re using for the frosting) come to room temperature first.
- Use a cake leveler. This will help you evenly cut the tops of the cakes for a beautiful presentation, though a serrated knife can work too.
- Take those crumbs from the leveling of the layers and use them to decorate the top if you like!
What flavor is red velvet cake?
Red velvet cake tastes like chocolate in a way due to the cocoa powder but with the vinegar and buttermilk, it has a contrasting tartness that makes it unique compared to chocolate.
Is a red velvet cake just a chocolate cake?
Red velvet cake has cocoa powder in it, but it contains much less of that than a chocolate cake so, it isn’t just a chocolate cake with red food coloring.
How to Make Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake is easiest when you have a mixer to bring everything together. Once that batter is prepared, you bake it in your oven.
What is red velvet cake batter made of?
In red velvet cake batter, you have cake flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, unsalted butter, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, white vinegar, liquid red food coloring, and buttermilk.
What is the secret of red velvet cake?
Red velvet holds a few secrets. It has cocoa powder to give it a chocolatey taste. It has vinegar to give it a tang. And it also has buttermilk to give it tanginess and more richness in flavor.
How do you moisten dry red velvet cake?
If you follow this recipe, that shouldn’t happen to you because vinegar is used in the batter. This gives it a better crumb. But if something went awry, time in the fridge could moisten it up.
Does red velvet cake need buttermilk?
Yes, but if you don’t have it and don’t want to run to the store, you can take your regular cup of milk and add one tablespoon of either white vinegar or lemon juice. Stir that together a minute and then add it to the recipe.
What can I add to a red velvet cake mix to make it better?
If you want to use a red velvet cake mix you have in your pantry, you can make it better by doing a few different things. You can add another egg beyond what is called for on the box, swap the water with buttermilk, or add some vanilla extract to jazz it up.
How Long do you bake Red Velvet Cake?
At 350F, it will be between 25 and 30 minutes. Set it for 25 and check with a toothpick. You don’t want them to be overdone.
How do you make the perfect red velvet cake?
If you follow this recipe, you will make the perfect red velvet cake. The steps are clearly laid out for you to walk you through it so even if you’ve never made a cake yourself, you’ll have the perfect outcome.
What goes well with Red Velvet Cake?
Red velvet cake is a showstopper in and of itself, but you can round out your dessert table with brownies, banana pudding, or even a tray of Oreos. Serve quality coffee and tea options, and for the kids, milk is always a great pairing with this cake.
How to Store Red Velvet Cake?
You should take any leftover red velvet cake you have and put it in an airtight container. Do not leave it on the counter! Put it in the fridge!
How Long Does Red Velvet Cake Last?
In the fridge, you have 3 days to finish up that red velvet cake. With each day, it will lose it’s sparkle, so if you think you can’t polish it off by then, put it in the freezer.
Can You Freeze Red Velvet Cake?
Oh yes, this is one cake that freezes quite well. Be sure you store it properly and it will last in your freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Red Velvet Cake?
No reheating required here…simply thaw your red velvet cake out overnight in the fridge. If it’s the day after first serving it and it’s in the fridge, put it out on the counter for about 30 minutes prior to serving.
