Description
Classic red velvet cake delivers pure Southern charm right to your dessert table, bringing together rich cocoa, velvety texture, and that signature crimson color that makes hearts flutter with pure delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons red food coloring
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350°F and coat two 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray.
- Sift 2 ½ cups flour, 1 ½ cups sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, and 2 tbsp cocoa powder into a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk 2 eggs, 1 ½ cups vegetable oil, 1 cup buttermilk, 2 tbsp red food coloring, 1 tsp vinegar, and 1 tsp vanilla in a separate bowl until completely blended.
- Pour liquid ingredients into dry mixture and stir until ingredients are just incorporated.
- Evenly distribute cake batter between prepared cake pans, smoothing tops with a spatula.
- Slide pans into preheated oven and bake precisely 25-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Remove cakes from oven and let them rest in pans for 10 minutes.
- Carefully transfer cake layers to wire cooling racks.
- Using an electric mixer, cream 8 oz cream cheese and ½ cup butter until silky smooth.
- Gradually fold 4 cups powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla into cream cheese mixture.
- Whip frosting until light and fluffy peaks form.
- Position first cake layer on serving plate and spread a generous layer of frosting.
- Carefully place second cake layer on top and frost entire cake evenly.
- Chill cake for 30 minutes to help frosting set and firm up.
Notes
- Ensure buttermilk is at room temperature for better ingredient incorporation and smoother batter texture.
- Avoid overmixing the batter, which can make the cake dense and tough instead of light and tender.
- Use gel food coloring for a more vibrant red color without changing the cake’s liquid ratio.
- Cool the cake completely before frosting to prevent the cream cheese frosting from melting and sliding off.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 409 kcal
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 233 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 42 mg