Description

Indulge in the classic Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, a rich, velvety cake with a mild chocolate flavor and a tangy, smooth cream cheese frosting. This vibrant dessert offers a tender crumb, moist texture, and a perfect balance of sweetness and tang, making it ideal for celebrations or any sweet craving.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cake:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 ½ cups buttermilk, room temperature
1 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon white vinegar

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Prepare Your Ingredients: Measure all ingredients carefully and bring dairy items like buttermilk and eggs to room temperature for better mixing and fluffier results.
Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening agents and cocoa flavor.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat vegetable oil with sugar until combined, then add eggs one at a time, stirring in vanilla extract and red food coloring.
Alternate Adding Dry and Buttermilk: Slowly add the dry ingredients and buttermilk alternately to the wet mixture, beginning and ending with the dry mix to keep batter smooth and evenly textured.
Add Vinegar: Mix vinegar into the batter last; it reacts with baking soda to give the cake its characteristic lift and tenderness.
Bake the Cake: Pour batter evenly into greased or parchment-lined cake pans and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat softened cream cheese and unsalted butter together until smooth, gradually adding powdered sugar and vanilla extract until fluffy and spreadable.
Frost and Assemble: Once the cakes have completely cooled, frost each layer evenly and stack. Finish frosting the top and sides for a beautiful, classic presentation.

Notes

Use room temperature eggs and buttermilk for smoother blending and better texture.
Mix batter just until combined to avoid a dense or tough cake.
Check oven temperature with a thermometer to ensure even baking.
Use full-fat cream cheese to achieve the best frosting texture and flavor.
If frosting is too soft, chill briefly before spreading for cleaner layers.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 30 g
Sodium: 250 mg
Fat: 20 g
Saturated Fat: 8 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 38 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 4 g
Cholesterol: 65 mg

Keywords: red velvet cake, cream cheese frosting, classic dessert, chocolate cake, celebration cake, moist cake