Homemade Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Homemade Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For the Red Velvet Cake
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 1/2 tablespoons red food coloring, gel or liquid
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 6-8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon milk, or buttermilk, as needed for consistency
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch (20cm) round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350
- 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set this mixture aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Beat in the large eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated into the mixture before adding the next one. Stir in the vanilla extract.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
In a separate small bowl, combine the buttermilk, red food coloring, and white vinegar.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Gradually add the dry ingredients mixture to the wet ingredients mixture, alternating with the buttermilk mixture. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until all ingredients are just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.
⏱️ 7 min
- 7
Divide the prepared cake batter evenly among the three prepared cake pans.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Bake the cake layers in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 350
- 9
Let the cakes cool in their pans for 10-15 minutes. After this initial cooling, invert them onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting (approximately 30 minutes).
⏱️ 45 min
- 10
For the frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and softened unsalted butter together until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, incorporating 1 cup at a time. Beat until the frosting is smooth after each addition.
⏱️ 10 min
- 12
Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
⏱️ 2 min
- 13
Beat the frosting until it becomes light and fluffy. If the frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk (or buttermilk) until the desired consistency is reached. If the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar to thicken it.
⏱️ 3 min
- 14
Once the cake layers are completely cooled, use a serrated knife to level them if necessary, creating flat tops for easier stacking.
⏱️ 5 min
- 15
Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Spread a generous and even layer of cream cheese frosting over the top.
⏱️ 3 min
- 16
Repeat the process with the remaining cake layers, stacking them and spreading frosting between each layer.
⏱️ 5 min
- 17
Frost the top and all sides of the entire cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting.
⏱️ 5 min - 18
Decorate the cake as desired.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Homemade Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
For the Red Velvet Cake
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 1 1/2 tablespoons red food coloring, gel or liquid
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 16 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 6-8 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon milk, or buttermilk, as needed for consistency
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour three 8-inch (20cm) round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350 - 2
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set this mixture aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
In a large bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Beat in the large eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated into the mixture before adding the next one. Stir in the vanilla extract.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
In a separate small bowl, combine the buttermilk, red food coloring, and white vinegar.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Gradually add the dry ingredients mixture to the wet ingredients mixture, alternating with the buttermilk mixture. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until all ingredients are just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.
⏱️ 7 min - 7
Divide the prepared cake batter evenly among the three prepared cake pans.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Bake the cake layers in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a cake comes out clean.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 350 - 9
Let the cakes cool in their pans for 10-15 minutes. After this initial cooling, invert them onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting (approximately 30 minutes).
⏱️ 45 min - 10
For the frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and softened unsalted butter together until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, incorporating 1 cup at a time. Beat until the frosting is smooth after each addition.
⏱️ 10 min - 12
Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
⏱️ 2 min - 13
Beat the frosting until it becomes light and fluffy. If the frosting is too thick, add a tablespoon of milk (or buttermilk) until the desired consistency is reached. If the frosting is too thin, add more powdered sugar to thicken it.
⏱️ 3 min - 14
Once the cake layers are completely cooled, use a serrated knife to level them if necessary, creating flat tops for easier stacking.
⏱️ 5 min - 15
Place one cake layer on a serving plate or cake stand. Spread a generous and even layer of cream cheese frosting over the top.
⏱️ 3 min - 16
Repeat the process with the remaining cake layers, stacking them and spreading frosting between each layer.
⏱️ 5 min - 17
Frost the top and all sides of the entire cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting.
⏱️ 5 min - 18
Decorate the cake as desired.
⏱️ 2 min