This is what a TRUE authentic classic red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting tastes like. Soft, moist, buttery, and far better than any grocery store cake! This recipe is a true Southern classic perfect for weddings, birthdays, holidays, or for that red velvet-obsessed person in your life.
What's In This Blog Post
Why This Is The Best Red Velvet Cake Recipe
I spent a lot of time researching the history of American red velvet cake and how it was originally made. I also tested many different mixing styles until I perfected the best red velvet cake recipe that was super moist, soft, and had that perfect red velvet cake flavor.
Red velvet cake does NOT taste like chocolate cake. Although it does have some hints of chocolate, it's really a mixture of chocolate, vanilla, and buttermilk. It should taste a little tangy and is most often times paired with cream cheese frosting or ermine frosting.
- Velvet texture that is soft and moist
- True red velvet flavor from a combination of buttermilk and cocoa powder
- Beautiful red color without using too much due to the concentrated nature of super red gel
- An easy homemade cream cheese frosting that is the perfect compliment to this cake or you can make a classic ermine frosting which is also a traditional frosting combo.
- One bowl method! Anyone can make this cake.
Red Velvet Cake Ingredients
Authentic red velvet cake ingredients include vinegar, a small amount of cocoa powder, and food coloring which creates a true Southen red velvet cake flavor.
My favorite aspect of this perfect red velvet cake recipe is its simple mixing method. Scale the dry ingredients, scale the wet ingredients, and then mix them together! You have to work hard to mess up this cake. There are so many versions of red velvet cake, but to get to make the best version I referred back to these authentic ingredients that always make this classic cake a success.
Buttermilk: This is a key ingredient to achieving the tender “velvety” texture of this cake. The lactic acid (which is milder than lemon juice or vinegar) breaks down the long strands of gluten, and it thickens the buttermilk, giving it a creamy quality. I recommend using real cultured buttermilk for this cake to give it that distinct “red velvet” flavor. If you don’t have any buttermilk on hand, learn how to make it with my buttermilk substitute recipe.
White Vinegar: It sounds like a strange ingredient in a cake, but it is essential in a red velvet cake. This recipe calls for baking soda to leaven the cake (make the cake rise). The small amount of added vinegar allows the soda to do its best work.
Food Coloring: Originally Red Velvet cake was colored with beet juice for a reddish color. Additionally, the chemical reaction between natural cocoa powder and the vinegar would also make a reddish tinge. However nowadays a small amount of red food coloring is typically used and a lot easier to get. If you don't want to use food coloring you can definitely still use beet juice or look for natural food coloring available in most grocery stores.
Cocoa Powder: The purpose of cocoa powder in this recipe might not be what you think it is! The natural cocoa powder works alongside the buttermilk and vinegar to tenderize the flour and create a softer, finer, velvety crumb with just a touch of flavor.
How To Make Red Velvet Cake
- Preheat your oven to 335*F (168ºC) and prepare two 8" x 2” cake pans with cake goop or your preferred pan release.
- In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, vinegar, butter, vanilla, and red food coloring and set it aside. I like using food coloring gel instead of liquid food coloring for a more vibrant color. My favorite brand is Americolor Super Red.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda. Mix this on low speed for a few seconds to combine.
- While mixing on low speed, add the liquid ingredients to the dry and mix on medium speed until the batter is fully incorporated and smooth. Don't forget to scrape the bowl to ensure all the ingredients are evenly mixed. This should take about 30 seconds.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
- Bake the cakes for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out of the center cleanly and the dome bounces back when it is lightly touched.
- Let the cakes cool for about 10 minutes on a cooling rack until you can handle the pan with your bare hands, then flip the cakes out onto the rack to finish cooling.
- If you are going to layer and frost the same day, pop the cake layers into the freezer for about an hour, no need to wrap them. Otherwise, wrap the layers in plastic wrap and place in the freezer for up to a week.
Pro-Tip: Wrapping the cakes while they’re still warm seals in all of the moisture.
How To Make Cream Cheese Frosting
- Place the softened butter in the bowl of your stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Mix on low until it is smooth and lump-free.
- Add in the softened cream cheese and combine on low until smooth and completely homogeneous. Scrape the bowl to make sure it is all incorporated.
- Add in the sifted powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing on low to avoid throwing powdered sugar out of the bowl.
- Add the vanilla extract and salt. Mix until smooth. Do not over-mix.
- Mix until just combined, over-mixing could cause the frosting to curdle and separate.
Tips For Success
Is this your first time decorating a cake? Watch my free video tutorial on how to decorate a cake for the first time.
- Use a kitchen scale to weigh your ingredients for the best results. Baking is a science!
- I used a stand mixer to make my cakes but you can also use a hand-held electric mixer. If you use a hand-mixer then you may need to mix for longer to achieve the same batter consistency.
- Room temperature ingredients are important. Make sure your buttermilk and eggs are slightly warm and your butter is soft but not melted so that your ingredients mix together properly.
FAQ
Yes you can but the cake will not be very red on the inside.
I don't recommend it, of course, it will still make a red cake, but it will not have the flavor and texture of a classic red velvet cake.
Classic Red Velvet Cake is far more complex than a chocolate cake with red food coloring. The tenderizing buttermilk and vinegar create a texture that's soft, velvety, and full of tangy-rich flavor. The small amount of cocoa allows the other flavors to come through and not be masked with the deep richness that is in a traditional chocolate cake.
You can replace buttermilk with regular milk 1:1 plus 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice per cup.
Do you need more cake inspiration? Check out my other tried-and-true cake recipes
Related Recipes
If you love this red velvet recipe, try my other velvet cakes next!
Recipe
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cake Ingredients
- 14 ounces all-purpose flour
- 14 ounces granulated Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 4 ounces vegetable oil
- 8 ounces buttermilk room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon white vinegar
- 6 ounces unsalted butter melted but not hot
- 1 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 Tablespoon red food coloring gel food coloring
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- 12 ounces cream cheese softened
- 8 ounces unsalted butter softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or orange extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 26 ounces powdered sugar sifted
Instructions
Red Velvet Cake
- Preheat your oven to 335°F and prepare two 8" x 2” cake pans with cake goop or your preferred pan release.
- Combine the eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, vinegar, butter, vanilla, and red food coloring in a medium bowl and set it aside.
- Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda in the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Mix this on low speed for a few seconds to combine.
- Add the liquid ingredients to the dry and mix on medium speed until the batter is fully incorporated and smooth (about 1 minute). Don't forget to scrape the bowl to ensure all the ingredients are evenly mixed.
- Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
- Bake the cakes for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the tops bounce back when lightly touched.
- Cool the cakes in the pans for about 10 minutes, then flip them out onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.
- If you are going to layer and frost the same day, pop the cake layers into the freezer for about an hour, no need to wrap them. Otherwise, wrap the layers in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to a week. Pro-Tip: Wrapping the cakes while they’re still warm seals in all of the moisture, making them safe to freeze.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- Place the softened butter in the bowl of your stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Mix on low until it is smooth and lump-free.
- Add in the softened cream cheese and combine on low until smooth and completely homogeneous. Scrape the bowl to make sure it is all incorporated.
- Add in the sifted powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing on low to avoid throwing powdered sugar out of the bowl.
- Add the vanilla extract and salt and mix until just combined and smooth. Do not over-mix.
- After your cakes are fully cooled, decorate as desired.
Sara says
Hi Liz,
Thank you so much for your awesome recipes, I have made so many of your recipes and have always followed them to a T, always use oven thermometer, use 8x2" Fat Daddio's pans and all my ingredients are room temp/ a bit warm.
I baked this red velvet recipe, skipped the red coloring as I did not have any, used real 1% buttermilk, everything at room temp and a correct 350F oven temp, poured batter in two 8x2" pans and they took exactly 38min to fully bake...so far everything looked great, but as I went to cut the domes off of the cooled cakes, I noticed the sides are super crunchy but the rest of the texture was fine. I had to cut 1/4inch off from all around the layers.
How can I fix this? Should I use cake nails next time so the middle cooks faster and thus the sides wont harden up?
Elizabeth Marek says
I'm not for sure why the sides would be so crunchy, some browning is normal of course but 1/4 seems like a lot. I would try using the baking nail or baking strips.
Georggenna says
I made this cake turned out good
Adriana Negrete says
Hi Liz, thanks for sharing your recipes and knowledge. My ñame la Adriana and I'm from México and I just made your red velvet recipe and its delicious but I do not perceive the chocolate flavor is it possible that I can use more cocoa poder. And I also want to know if I can double the recipe
Elizabeth Marek says
Red velvet is not a chocolate flavor, the chocolate is only there for an accent in red velvet cake 🙂 Yes you can double this recipe.
Rose says
Hi Liz, I'm really glad to come across your website, you have so much details in your recipes, I just have one query though, when we have an option to change the servings, if for e.g, if we change from 8 to 4 servings, what would be the weight of the final cake stacked with frosting?
Elizabeth Marek says
I am not sure, I don't weigh my cakes
Pearl says
I love the receipe,
Luna says
Hey liz, can i make this cake in reverse creaming method like yor pink velvet cake recipe ?
Elizabeth Marek says
No you can't but you can use the traditional creaming method if you prefer
Vivian Barboza says
Hi! I've used this recipe before and found an older screenshot I saved that had 12oz flour and 14oz sugar. This now has changed to both being 14oz. Has it changed or is it a typo?
Elizabeth Marek says
I have changed it to be slightly more stable.
Asiya Zahoor says
Can I use red wine vinegar instead of white?
Elizabeth Marek says
Im not sure, It might leave a taste
Christine says
I increased the amounts to make a 3-layer 9-inch round cake. It looks great, but I have a question. The layers are pretty thick, almost 2-inches. Is that the depth of your layers? Do I need to torte them, or are they fine as is?
Elizabeth Marek says
I usually have thick layers 🙂
Kathy says
Is this frosting pipable? I want to do some decorating on the top of the cake.
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes you can pipe with it
Erin says
I've got maybe a strange question. I love ermine, and I know you're a fan of it, too. Do you think it would be possible to make a cream cheese style ermine frosting? I'm not a fan of powdered sugar and that's why I'll typically make Ermine. If so, how much of the butter would you replace for cream cheese? Thanks Liz 🙂
Elizabeth Marek says
Hmm good question! I dont know for sure if the cream cheese could handle getting whipped for so long.
Saba Sabir says
Wow! I cannot wait to try this 🤤. I’m making it for my friends this weekend *fingers crossed*
Just one question: I have only one 8 inch cake pan. Will half the batter be fine sitting in my mixing bowl while the first layer bakes ?
Elizabeth Marek says
It should be ok
Sithima says
Hii Liz, I have a doubt. Buttermilk already has the acidity then why would we add additional vinegar to the cake batter? I havent learned professional baking courses. I am a home baker so I would live to learn from you. Because you are doing a very great job here
Elizabeth Marek says
Because I want the extra acidity and flavor from the vinegar 🙂
Megan says
Can you make this without the extra red food coloring in it or will it throw off the recipe and baking times? Thanks!
Elizabeth Marek says
The only thing that will happen is the color of the cake will not be red.
Mayurie says
Hi Liz
Thank you very much for this recipe and the technique. I made a red velvet cake and some cup cakes from the same cake batter and they all turned out delicious. I received many exceptional comments from friends and family who got to try them, including from people who never liked red velvet cakes before. I am a total beginner to baking so it really motivated me. Thank you
Fiona Di Domizio says
For my step daughter's wedding last year I made the sugar geek red velvet cake and cream cheese frosting. We finally took the leftover slab out of the freezer after 13 months. Still moist and the frosting hadn't gone grainy. (Boxed and wrapped in four layers of plastic wrap)
Anita P. Green says
This was the best red velvet cake recipe. I get so many compliments for this cake . Thank you Liz
Tracie says
Would this recipe work for cake pops?
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes it can work for cake pops
Gabi says
Hi what’s the red powder used for decoration?
Sugar Geek Show says
It's red velvet cake, I just trimmed off the tops of the cakes to level them and crumbled it up to use as decoration 🙂
Alice says
I made this red velvet cake recipe and it has such an amazing taste, moisture and texture. My first time making a cake recipe by weighing the ingredients, so I was a little nervous. But loved the end result. The only problem I have is with the Cream cheese frosting. I feel like I can never get that one right it’s too soft or soupy. Liz, Thank you so much for your recipe.
Caitlin says
Dear Liz
Why does this velvet cake not require 2 minutes of mixing on medium like your other cakes?
My cake was slightly flatter.
Any help?
Sugar Geek Show says
This cake recipe is just a regular, easier creaming method. My white velvet cake uses the reverse creaming method, so the 2 minutes of mixing isn't required for this regular creaming method. And it's formulated to bake up flat, so that's good!
T Wang says
Just tried making this cake for a birthday celebration and it came out exactly like your picture (minus my sloppy piping of top edges). The cake was dense but moist and not too sweet and pairs so well with the cream cheese frosting. Only thing is that there was a weird after taste from the red food coloring (americolor gel) so i think I’ll 1/2 the coloring next time I try it. Thanks for sharing!
Maegan says
Quick question...can I use a cup for cup gf flour blend in place of ap flour for this recipe? I'm making my mom's wedding cake with the original recipe, but her new mil can't have gluten so I was going to make some cupcakes on the side for her. Thanks!
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes you can
Farrah says
Hey Liz! Great recipe. Urgent Question:
I overbooked myself on orders and wondering if I can make this about 2 weeks ahead of time and freeze it, will it be ok?
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes you definitely can
Katie says
Hello Liz, made this cake yesterday for the in-laws and it was outstanding ! Had to come back and say Thank You and God bless xx