Best Red Velvet Cake
This easy Red Velvet Cake recipe is soft, moist, and perfect for any occasion, topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar 400g
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil 170g
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 113g
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1 1/3 cup buttermilk 320g - mix 1 1/3 cup whole milk with 4 tsp vinegar or lemon juice to make your own
- 2 tsp vinegar
- 1 tbsp gel red food color may need up to 1.5 tbsp depending on the brand
- 1/4 cup boiling water 60g
- 2 1/2 tbsp Dutch processed cocoa powder 15g
- 3 cups all-purpose flour 390g
- 1/4 cup cornstarch 30g
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter, softened 2.5 sticks or 283g
- 20 oz cream cheese, room temperature 2.5 8 oz blocks or 570g
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3-4 cups icing sugar, sifted 360 to 480g
Instructions
Red Velvet Cake
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour your cake pans.
- In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, vegetable oil, melted butter, and eggs until creamy.
- Stir in vanilla, buttermilk, vinegar, and red food color.
- Sift together cocoa powder, flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the liquid mixture, alternating with boiling water.
- Pour the batter into prepared pans and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat the softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth and fluffy.
- Mix in vanilla and salt.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing until you achieve the desired thickness.
Assembly
- Once the cakes cool completely, spread frosting between the layers and on top.
- Decorate as desired!
Notes
Letting your cake cool completely makes frosting easier and avoids melting the cream cheese.