• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Pinch My Salt

Food, Recipes, and Photography

  • About
  • Contact
  • Links
  • Recipe List
  • Store
  • The BBA Challenge

Red Velvet Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

November 10, 2008 by Nicole 575 Comments

Red Velvet Cake | pinchmysalt.com

Red Velvet Cake. Until I met my husband, I had never even heard of a red velvet cake. Since it seems to be a southern specialty, I guess it’s not surprising that I never ran across one growing up in California.

But thanks to the California cupcake boom, it seems like there’s now a cupcake shop on every corner and every single one of them features some version of miniature red velvet cake.

But that’s not why I made this cake. My husband’s family LOVES Red Velvet Cake. His sister Katie gets it every year for her birthday, but they all love it. From hearing Justin, Katie, and Daniel talk about it, I began to think that this mysterious red cake had magical powers. But somehow, after seven years of marriage, I have yet to taste my mother-in-law’s version.

And partly because I was tired of waiting, but mostly in celebration of a momentous occasion, I decided to take matters into my own hands, and give this cake a try myself. Luckily, I had the family recipe!

You see, right before we left Sicily last year, my husband was promoted. In the military, promotions are always a big deal, but this one happened to be a VERY big deal. I could have baked a carrot cake, which is definitely one of his favorites.

I even toyed with the idea of a Black Forest Cake, another one that gets requested from time to time (maybe next time, Justin). But there was something about this Red Velvet Cake recipe that fascinated me. And since I had THE family recipe in my book, I decided it would be a fun surprise!

Now, I won’t lie. After reading the recipe, I was a little hesitant about making a cake that uses two full ounces of red food coloring. I even got online to check other red velvet cake recipes to make sure that I had copied the recipe down right!

Sure enough, lots of Red Velvet Cake recipes require the same amount of food coloring. And, I wanted to stay true to the recipe that his family loves, so I gave it a try. And in the process, lot of things in my kitchen turned red!

Kitchen Aid Mixer with Red Velvet Cake Batter Smudge | pinchmysalt.com

Especially my hands. Please make sure you don’t wear white clothing while making this cake!

Fingers stained red from red velvet cake | pinchmysalt.com

But, using all that food coloring really does make a beautiful, beautiful cake. Just look at these layers as they came out of the oven! As soon as I saw them, I was glad that I gave this cake a try.

Red Velvet Cake Cooling in Pans | pinchmysalt.com

And although it might not be the traditional frosting, my husband loves cream cheese frosting (and so do I), so that’s what I used on this cake.

I baked two 9-inch layers, rather than three, since I don’t have the 8-inch cake pans. It was beautiful as it was, but I can only imagine that the three red layers would be even more beautiful and dramatic.

Red Velvet Cake Waiting for Frosting | pinchmysalt.com

Since it’s difficult to keep the red crumbs from showing on the white frosting, I attacked this frosting job with a specific plan in mind.

I first put a thin layer of frosting all over the cake, to trap the unruly red crumbs. I might have even stuck it in the fridge for a bit to set that first layer of frosting, but I honestly can’t remember now.

Frosting a Red Velvet Cake | pinchmysalt.com
Red Velvet Cake Crumb Coat | pinchmysalt.com

Next, I added a second layer of frosting to cover up any hint of what lay beneath.

Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting | pinchmysalt.com

Part of what was so amazing about this cake is that once it’s frosted, no one has any idea of the bright red surprise waiting inside.

Red Velvet Cake Slice | pinchmysalt.com

Although I did stay true to the amount of food coloring in the original family recipe, I did make a few small changes. For one thing, the original recipe calls for shortening, and I decided to use unsalted butter instead.

It’s not that I never use shortening anymore, it’s just that I generally prefer butter. And also, that’s what I had on hand the day I made the cake. If you prefer shortening in cakes, go for it. I also added an extra tablespoon of cocoa powder, the original recipe called for only one tablespoon. I think everything else is pretty true to the original.

I thought this really was a great cake. For one thing, it’s absolutely beautiful. But it also has a great flavor—although the flavor is really kind of hard to describe. Just trust me, it’s good.

It was also very moist, which is my favorite kind of cake. And although the original recipe says you can frost it with either butter cream or cream cheese frosting, I really do recommend the cream cheese!

Update 2/4/09: I also turned this cake recipe into delicious Red Velvet Cupcakes, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Red Velvet Cake on kitchen counter | pinchmysalt.com

Related Recipes:

  • Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Easy Lemon Cake
  • Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Apple Galette
  • Pumpkin Roll

Around the Web:

  • Red Velvet Cake from Smitten Kitchen
  • Red Velvet Cupcakes from Firefly Pie
  • Red Velvet Cupcakes with Sprinkles Cream Cheese Frosting from Alice Q. Foodie
  • Red Velvet Cupcakes from Off the (meat)hook
  • Red Velvet Black and White Cookies from Joy the Baker
Red Velvet Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield: 16 slices
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Additional Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour*
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (unsweetened)
  • 2 oz. red food coloring
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 16 oz. cream cheese (2 packages), softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (one stick), softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or three 8-inch round cake pans.

2. Sift together the cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside. In a small bowl, mix food coloring and cocoa powder to form a thin paste without lumps; set aside.

3. In a large bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla and the red cocoa paste, scraping down the bowl with a spatula as you go. Add one third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beat well, then beat in half of the buttermilk. Beat in another third of flour mixture, then second half of buttermilk. End with the last third of the flour mixture, beat until well combined, making sure to scrape down the bowl with a spatula.

4. Make sure you have cake pans buttered, floured, and nearby. In a small bowl, mix vinegar and baking soda. Yes, it will fizz! Add it to the cake batter and stir well to combine. Working quickly, divide batter evenly between the cake pans and place them in a preheated 350 degree oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check early, cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

5. Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. To remove the cakes from the pan, place a wire rack on top of the cake pan and invert, then gently lift the pan. Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting. Frost with buttercream or cream cheese icing (recipe below).

Frosting Instructions:

With an electric mixer, blend together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Turn mixer to low speed and blend in powdered sugar, salt and vanilla extract. Turn mixer on high and beat until light and fluffy. Use immediately or refrigerate, covered, until ready to use. If refrigerated, the frosting will need to be brought to room temperature before using (after frosting softens up, beat with mixer until smooth).

If you prefer a sweeter and/or stiffer frosting, more powdered sugar can be added (up to four cups). But remember, the more sugar you add, the less you'll be able to taste the tangy cream cheese!

Notes

*Sift cake flour once before measuring, then sift again with the other dry ingredients per recipe instructions. Wear an apron and be careful with the red food coloring--no matter how hard I try, I always end up staining something! As you're mixing the cake batter, use a spatula to scrape down the bowl frequently throughout the entire process.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 2816 Total Fat: 9g Saturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 10mg Sodium: 4718mg Carbohydrates: 640g Sugar: 354g Protein: 58g
© Nicole
Category: Desserts

Filed Under: Adventures in Baking, Christmas, Holiday, NaBloPoMo Tagged With: cake, dessert, Holiday, NaBloPoMo, recipe, red velvet

Previous Post: « Simple Side Dish: Black Beans and Corn with Green Chiles
Next Post: Girls Night Out on Twitter »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. fara says

    January 30, 2014 at 8:58 am

    hi..im fara from Malaysia..i just want to ask a question..do you use measuring cup for measure the flour..its because when i checking for gram it is not same weight..im just confuse..please help me :(
    Reply
  2. Mimi says

    February 2, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Ive been searching high and low for a moist redvelvet cake and I believe I have found it, after reading the reviews. The only issue im having is here in the uk we dont have cups we have grams so when I see 2 cups of butter im not sure what that is in grams. Any help? Looking forward to hearing from you!
    Reply
  3. Sherie says

    February 3, 2014 at 6:24 am

    Mimi, it is indeed a really moist, wonderful cake that I have made many times. Often when using recipes originating from areas outside of the U.S. I have to convert grams to American measurements. I've found this site very helpful. http://allrecipes.com/howto/cup-to-gram-conversions/ Two cups of butter is equal to 452 grams.
    Reply
  4. Marina says

    April 20, 2014 at 8:40 pm

    Baked this twice and both times it turned out extremely well! Family and friends loved it! A great moist red velvet cake. Thanks a lot!!
    Reply
  5. Laura says

    June 14, 2014 at 7:49 am

    Remarkable things here. I'm very satisfied to look your article. Thank you so much and I'm looking ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
    Reply
  6. Sony prom says

    September 5, 2014 at 9:40 pm

    Hi I was wondering if I can use the same recipe to make cupcakes?
    Reply
  7. Salina says

    December 23, 2014 at 9:45 am

    Oh my goodness, this cake is so, so delicious! My 12 year old son made this exact recipe for his 4-H project and it won a blue ribbon at the Indiana State Fair this year. It is a beautiful cake! He didn't ice it for the failr, because the level he was in requested the cake not be iced, but later he make it again and used your icing recipe and it is also delicious. Trust me folks, this cake is wonderful without the icing as well. Merry CHRISTmas to all! :)
    Reply
  8. tamisha says

    January 11, 2015 at 4:38 am

    want to try this cake this weekend. Can this recipe be batched up? i need to make a 12x18 size cake for the family.. Thanks :)
    Reply
  9. tamisha says

    January 11, 2015 at 5:40 am

    i want to make this recipe this weekend. can it be batched up? I need to make a 12x18 size cake.
    Reply
  10. BYE says

    December 16, 2015 at 11:12 am

    Is there any way to convert this beautiful cake in to a Red Velvet POUND cake?
    Reply
  11. BYE says

    December 16, 2015 at 11:14 am

    Is there anyway to make this beautiful cake in to a Red Velvet POUND cake???
    Reply
  12. Tee says

    December 21, 2016 at 12:14 pm

    The vinegar and soda mixes together. Then you add that mixture to the batter after flour is incorporated.
    Reply
  13. Sue says

    February 3, 2017 at 9:19 pm

    Well which rock were you living under. I'm South African too and been having/making/buying red velvet cake since forever. The premixes are also on most supermarket shelves. Woolies and Belles Patisserie have the best red velvet. Go and give them a try. I have made this recipe it worked well enough and the cream cheese frosting definitely trumped the flour milk frosting for me.
    Reply
  14. Emily says

    June 27, 2017 at 8:37 am

    I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!!! Every single red velvet cake recipe i've tried previous has sunk in the middle either during or after baking. This worked perfectly and everybody loved it! Thank you so much!
    Reply
    • Nicole says

      June 30, 2017 at 9:56 am

      I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Emily!
      Reply
  15. pokemesh apk download says

    July 28, 2017 at 5:02 am

    really a great recipe
    Reply
  16. cakengifts.in says

    September 5, 2017 at 5:07 am

    After seeing your this recipe I could not stop myself without Making this cake. I made it, it was really fantastic!!!! https://www.cakengifts.in/cake-delivery-in-ghaziabad
    Reply
  17. Dave says

    June 26, 2018 at 9:18 am

    I will be giving this a go this weekend. Looks delicious.
    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Posts by Category

Copyright © 2019 · Privacy · Terms and Conditions