Dive into the world of decadence with this classic Red Velvet Cake recipe. The striking red color paired with a lusciously thick cream cheese frosting makes this cake a beloved dessert for any occasion. Not only is it visually pleasing, but the balance between the rich cocoa flavor and the tanginess of the cream cheese frosting creates an unforgettable taste experience.
Photos of Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Recipe
While most ingredients are standard pantry items, there are a few that you might need to pick up from the supermarket. The first is cake flour, which gives the cake its delicate, tender crumb. It's different from all-purpose flour, so make sure to check the labels carefully. The second is red food coloring, which gives the cake its iconic hue. Lastly, buttermilk is essential for adding a slight tanginess and enhancing the moistness of the cake.
Ingredients for Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Unsalted butter: Used in both the cake and frosting for richness and flavor. Caster sugar: A fine sugar that blends more easily into the batter. Eggs: Acts as a binder and provides structure. Cooking oil: Keeps the cake moist. Cocoa powder: Gives the cake a mild chocolate flavor. Red food coloring: Gives the cake its classic red color. Vanilla extract: Adds sweetness and depth of flavor. White vinegar: Helps the red color stand out. Cake flour: Makes the cake light and tender. Baking soda: Acts as a leavening agent. Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavors. Buttermilk: Adds tanginess and makes the cake moist. Cream cheese: The main ingredient for the frosting, providing a tangy and creamy contrast to the sweet cake. Confectioners sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting. Lemon juice: Adds brightness and cuts through the richness of the frosting.
One reader, Jany Tennant says:
The red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting recipe is a true delight! The cake turned out moist and flavorful, and the cream cheese frosting was the perfect balance of sweetness. It was a hit at my party and everyone asked for the recipe. I'll definitely be making this again!
Mastering the Techniques for Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
How to prepare the red velvet cake batter: Mixing the wet and dry ingredients separately before combining them ensures a smooth and well-incorporated batter, resulting in a moist and flavorful cake.
How to make cream cheese frosting: Beating the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla for several minutes until smooth and lighter in color will create a fluffy and creamy frosting. Gradually adding the confectioners sugar and adjusting the consistency with additional sugar as needed will result in a perfectly sweet and tangy frosting.
How to assemble the cake: Placing the first cake layer flat-side down and trimming the top dome before spreading the frosting ensures a stable base for the second layer. Using a generous amount of frosting between the layers and on the top and sides of the cake will create a beautifully finished and delicious dessert.
How To Make Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese
Tantalize your tastebuds with this moist and fluffy red velvet cake that’s made with buttermilk and cocoa powder for a decadent cream cheese frosted treat.
Serves:
Ingredients
For Red Velvet Cake:
- ½cupunsalted butter,at room temperature
- 1½cupscaster sugar,or fine white granulated sugar
- 2largeeggs
- ¼cupcooking oil
- 1tbspunsweetened cocoa powder,plus 1 tbsp extra for dusting
- 2½tbspred food coloring,liquid, not gel
- 2tsppure vanilla extract
- 1tbspwhite vinegar,20ml
- 2½cupsplain cake flour,sifted, or all purpose/plain flour
- 1tspbaking soda,bi-carb soda
- 1tspsalt
- 1cupbuttermilk
For Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 14ozcream cheese,not spreadable, at room temperature
- ½cupunsalted butter,at room temperature
- 2tsppure vanilla extract
- 4cupsconfectioners sugar,or icing
- 1tbsplemon juice,optional
Instructions
Red Velvet Cake:
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Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 8-inch cake pans with butter or nonstick oil spray and lightly dust with 1 tablespoon of the sifted cocoa powder.
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Cream butter and sugar together until light in color. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition to combine well.
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In a smaller bowl, mix together oil, remaining cocoa powder, red food coloring, and vanilla until smooth. Stir color mixture and vinegar through the creamed sugar mixture to combine.
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Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Add ½ of the dry ingredients and ½ of the buttermilk to the wet ingredients; mix well. Repeat with remaining dry ingredients and buttermilk.
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Divide batter among the 2 prepared pans and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
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Beat together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla for about 3 to 4 minutes until smooth lighter in color.
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Beat in icing sugar until frosting is light and fluffy. If frosting is too thin, add more icing sugar and beat again until reaching the desired consistency. Mix in the lemon juice, if using.
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Transfer 1 cake onto a serving dish or plate, flat-side down. Trim the top dome off of the cake to create a flat bottom later. Scoop about 1½ to 2 cups of frosting onto the cake and spread evenly over the top.
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Place the second cake layer on top and use the remaining frosting to cover the top and sides of the cake.
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Crumble trimmed pieces of cake to decorate.
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Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
- Calories: 666.34kcal
- Fat: 32.49g
- Saturated Fat: 16.88g
- Trans Fat: 0.64g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 10.10g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.61g
- Carbohydrates: 89.10g
- Fiber: 0.66g
- Sugar: 65.46g
- Protein: 6.28g
- Cholesterol: 108.87mg
- Sodium: 431.73mg
- Calcium: 71.01mg
- Potassium: 134.06mg
- Iron: 2.48mg
- Vitamin A: 266.63µg
- Vitamin C: 0.70mg
Expert Technique Tip for Perfecting Your Red Velvet Cake
When making the cream cheese frosting, ensure your cream cheese and butter are at room temperature before you start. This will make them easier to mix and result in a smoother, creamier frosting. If your frosting is too thin, add more icing sugar gradually, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. Conversely, if your frosting is too thick, you can thin it out with a little milk or cream. Remember to always taste as you go to ensure the perfect balance of sweetness.
Time-Saving Tips for Making Red Velvet Cake
Prep ahead: Prepare the cream cheese frosting a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. This will save time on the day of baking.
Organized workspace: Before starting, ensure all ingredients and equipment are laid out and ready. This will streamline the cooking process.
Room temperature ingredients: Allow the butter, eggs, and buttermilk to come to room temperature before using. This will help the ingredients incorporate more easily, saving time and effort during mixing.
Efficient mixing: Use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar and to mix the batter. This will save time and ensure a smooth, well-mixed batter.
Bake simultaneously: If oven space allows, bake both cake layers at the same time to reduce overall baking time.
Chill the cake: After assembling the cake, place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set the frosting, making it easier to slice and serve.
Substitute Ingredients For Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Recipe
- unsalted butter - Substitute with coconut oil: Coconut oil can provide a similar richness and moisture to the cake as butter.
- caster sugar - Substitute with granulated sugar: Granulated sugar can be used as a substitute for caster sugar in this recipe without significantly affecting the texture or flavor of the cake.
- cooking oil - Substitute with applesauce: Applesauce can be used as a healthier alternative to cooking oil, adding moisture to the cake while reducing the fat content.
- unsweetened cocoa powder - Substitute with dark chocolate: Dark chocolate can be melted and used as a substitute for cocoa powder, adding a rich and intense chocolate flavor to the cake.
- red food coloring - Substitute with beet juice: Beet juice can be used as a natural alternative to red food coloring, providing a vibrant red hue to the cake.
- pure vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract can be used to add a nutty and aromatic flavor to the cake, similar to vanilla extract.
- white vinegar - Substitute with apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar can be used as a substitute for white vinegar, providing the necessary acidity for the cake batter.
- plain cake flour - Substitute with all-purpose flour: All-purpose flour can be used as a substitute for cake flour, although the texture of the cake may be slightly denser.
- buttermilk - Substitute with milk and lemon juice: Adding lemon juice to milk can create a buttermilk substitute, providing the necessary acidity and richness to the cake batter.
- cream cheese - Substitute with Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt can be used as a healthier alternative to cream cheese, providing a similar tangy flavor and creamy texture for the frosting.
- confectioners sugar - Substitute with powdered erythritol: Powdered erythritol can be used as a low-calorie alternative to confectioners sugar, providing sweetness to the frosting without the added calories.
- lemon juice - Substitute with lime juice: Lime juice can be used as a substitute for lemon juice, adding a slightly different citrus flavor to the cream cheese frosting.
Presenting Your Red Velvet Cake Masterpiece
Elevate the cake layers: Place the first cake layer on a gold-rimmed porcelain plate, followed by the second layer. This will create a stunning visual impact and showcase the layers of the red velvet cake.
Garnish with edible flowers: Adorn the top of the cake with delicate edible flowers such as pansies or rose petals. This adds a touch of elegance and a pop of color to the presentation.
Incorporate gold leaf accents: Add a touch of luxury by delicately placing gold leaf accents on the sides of the cake. The shimmering gold will catch the light and create a visually striking effect.
Use a decorative cake stand: Present the red velvet cake on a crystal cake stand to elevate its visual appeal. The intricate design of the stand will add a touch of sophistication to the overall presentation.
Dust with powdered sugar: Lightly dust the top of the cake with a fine sprinkling of powdered sugar using a stencil to create an intricate pattern, adding a final touch of finesse to the presentation.
Essential Tools for Crafting the Perfect Red Velvet Cake
- Oven: You will need an oven to bake the red velvet cake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cake pans: Two 8-inch cake pans are required to bake the red velvet cake.
- Sifter: A sifter is essential for sifting the cocoa powder and flour for the cake.
- Mixer: A stand mixer or hand mixer is needed to cream the butter and sugar and to make the cream cheese frosting.
- Mixing bowl: You will need mixing bowls to combine and mix the cake and frosting ingredients.
- Measuring cups and spoons: These are necessary for accurately measuring the ingredients for the cake and frosting.
- Spatula: A spatula is essential for scraping down the sides of the mixing bowl and for spreading the frosting on the cake.
- Wire rack: A wire rack is used to cool the baked cakes.
- Cake lifter or offset spatula: This tool is helpful for transferring and assembling the cake layers.
Storing and Freezing Your Red Velvet Cake Creation
Once the red velvet cake has cooled completely, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out. You can store the wrapped cake at room temperature for up to 2 days.
If you want to keep the cake fresh for longer, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just make sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent it from absorbing any odors from the fridge.
To freeze the red velvet cake, first wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Then, place it in a freezer-safe container or bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat the cake, simply thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and let it come to room temperature before serving.
If you've already frosted the cake with the cream cheese frosting, you can still store it in the refrigerator or freezer. However, keep in mind that the frosting may become slightly soft and sticky when thawed. To minimize this, you can freeze the cake uncovered for about an hour until the frosting is firm, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before storing it in the freezer.
When storing the cream cheese frosting, make sure to keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 5 days. If you want to freeze the frosting, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use it, simply thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and give it a good stir before using.
Fascinating Facts About Red Velvet Cake
The red velvet cake is believed to have originated during the Victorian era, when the use of cocoa powder and buttermilk in cakes became popular. The reaction between the acidic buttermilk and the cocoa powder gives the cake its distinctive red color. This cake was later popularized in the United States, particularly in the South, where it became a staple dessert for special occasions and holidays.
Is Making Red Velvet Cake at Home Cost-Effective?
The red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting recipe is relatively cost-effective for a household. The ingredients are commonly found in most kitchens, and the recipe yields a delicious dessert that can serve a family of four. The cost of the ingredients is reasonable, and the versatility of the cake makes it a worthwhile investment. The approximate cost for a household of four people is around $15-$20, making it an affordable treat. The overall verdict rating for this recipe is 9/10, considering its taste, presentation, and value for money.
Is Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Healthy or Unhealthy?
The red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting recipe is not particularly healthy due to several factors:
- High sugar content: The cake and frosting contain a significant amount of sugar, which can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other health issues when consumed in excess.
- Refined flour: The recipe calls for plain cake flour, which is a refined carbohydrate that lacks fiber and essential nutrients.
- Saturated fat: The butter and cream cheese used in the recipe are high in saturated fat, which can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease.
- Artificial food coloring: The red food coloring used in the cake may contain synthetic dyes, which have been linked to potential health concerns, such as hyperactivity in children and allergic reactions.
To make this recipe healthier, consider the following suggestions:
- Reduce the amount of sugar in both the cake and frosting, or replace some of the sugar with natural sweeteners like applesauce, mashed bananas, or dates.
- Substitute a portion of the plain cake flour with whole wheat flour or almond flour to increase the fiber and nutrient content.
- Replace some of the butter with healthier alternatives like Greek yogurt, mashed avocado, or coconut oil to reduce the saturated fat content.
- Use natural food coloring alternatives, such as beet juice or pomegranate juice, to achieve the red color without relying on artificial dyes.
- Incorporate fresh fruits or vegetables into the cake batter, such as shredded zucchini or pureed beets, to add moisture, fiber, and nutrients.
- Reduce the portion size of the cake and frosting to help control calorie intake.
Editor's Opinion: Why Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a Must-Try
The red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting recipe is a classic and indulgent treat. The combination of moist, vibrant red cake layers with a rich and tangy cream cheese frosting creates a delightful balance of flavors. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, making it accessible for both novice and experienced bakers. The addition of lemon juice in the frosting adds a refreshing twist. Overall, this recipe is sure to impress and satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth.
Enhance Your Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
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Appetizers and Main Courses That Elevate Your Red Velvet Cake Experience
Why trust this Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Recipe:
This recipe is a tried and tested classic, guaranteed to satisfy your cravings for a decadent dessert. The red velvet cake is moist and flavorful, with the perfect balance of sweetness and cocoa richness. The cream cheese frosting is lusciously smooth and complements the cake beautifully. With precise measurements and clear instructions, this recipe ensures a successful outcome every time. Trust the combination of unsalted butter, buttermilk, and pure vanilla extract to deliver a delightful treat that will impress your guests and leave them coming back for more.
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