White velvet cake is a soft, delicate cake with a hint of buttermilk and vanilla
White velvet cake is red velvet‘s pretty little sister. Red velvet cake has been around for ages and probably one of the most popular cake flavors of all time. But not everyone want’s to eat red food coloring or maybe they have special dietary requirements that don’t allow them to eat red food dye. Whatever the reason, options are always good.
A lot of people wonder if you can just leave out the red food color and get white velvet and the answer is yes, kinda. You also need to leave out the cocoa powder. All the things that make red velvet cake delicious can be left in.
sidenote… the more I spell the word “velvet” the weirder it looks… velvet. velvet VELVET. Starts to look wrong.
But anyway…
What is white velvet cake?
White velvet cake is basically red velvet without the red. It’s a buttermilk cake base that results in a VERY soft, fluffy and moist cake. If you leave out all the color and the cocoa powder you have yourself a nice white velvet cake. Neat huh. The buttermilk gives this southern inspired cake it’s rich and velvety texture
Traditional red velvet cake has a little bit of cocoa powder in it. Some will tell you that red velvet is actually chocolate cake (wrong) or that it’s just white cake with red food color added (so wrong). The cocoa powder does add a little bit of flavor to the cake but not enough to call it chocolate so when you leave it out, it doesn’t affect the flavor that much.
What’s so great about white velvet?
So one of the BEST things about this recipe in my opinion is the texture. The crumb is soooo soft and well… velvety! I love how it looks when you cut it. Soft and pillowy. It’s like magic!
I actually don’t know why it works. I do know however that the crumb is extremely tender. I imagine that has something to do with all that buttermilk keeping the gluten from getting too tough and making the cake turn into a brick. I mean, there’s a reason recipes like “buttermilk pancakes” and “buttermilk” biscuits always seem better than just… pancakes. Ya know?
The one thing I would warn against as a professional cake decorator is this cake is VERY soft. Not sure I would suggest using this for sculpted cakes. It will stand up to stacking though. If you are going to use it, make sure it’s well chilled first.
How does white velvet cake taste like?
White velvet cake tastes so amazing BECAUSE of the buttermilk! It just adds a little tang and zip that for some reason your tastebuds just love.
The crumb is super fine like my white cake recipe or my vanilla cake and is definitely a great cake for flavor to just bake up for a special occasion.
Pair white velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, easy buttercream, fruit fillings or even ganache! I don’t think I’ve ever paired it with a flavor that wasn’t delish.
Pro-tip. Add a little lemon or orange zest to your cream cheese frosting and frost your white velvet cake with that and WOWZERS that is one yummy flavor combination!
How do you make blue velvet cake?
To make blue velvet cake, simply add in 1 oz of electric blue food color (for a light blue cake) or royal blue food color (for darker blue) to the base white velvet recipe.
For a more natural blue, add 1-2 tsp of natural cocoa powder ( not dutched. I like Hershey’s special dark) The cocoa powder will tone down the bright blue just a little so it’s not so VIVID and make a nice natural blue. Or if you want a really bright blue you can leave the cocoa powder out.
Blue velvet is a great cake for gender reveals, birthday cakes or just because blue velvet is awesome.
Can you can make velvet cake with different colors?
Yes! If you want a different color of velvet cake then simply replace the food color with any other color you like. You can do a velvet rainbow, ombre or go with neon. The color possibilities are endless!
I made this lovely green velvet cake for st patricks day! I added in the cocoa powder for a more natural shade of green and used 1 oz of leaf green americolor food color gel.
What about black velvet cake?
Ok so TECHNICALLY I have another recipe called black velvet cake that does not use this velvet cake base. Why? Because it’s really a chocolate cake. It doesn’t have any buttermilk in it, vinegar or food coloring! So why even bother calling it black velvet?
Well it’s got a nice velvet-y texture. In the future I may experiment further with a true black velvet recipe working from the base velvet recipe but upping the cocoa powder. Too many cake ideas, so little time.
White velvet buttermilk cake recipe
White velvet cake gets it's flavor and velvety texture from buttermilk. A moist, tender cake that is great for any special occasion. This recipe makes two 8" round cakes about 2" tall. Bake at 335F for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out cleanly.
Ingredients
- 12 oz cake flour
- 12 oz granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 5 large egg whites room temperature
- 4 oz vegetable oil
- 10 oz buttermilk room temperature or slightly warm
- 6 oz butter unsalted and softened
- 2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
NOTE: It is SUPER IMPORTANT that all the room temperature ingredients listed above are room temperature and not cold so that the ingredients mix and incorporate correctly.
Heat oven to 335º F/168º C — 350º F/177º C. I tend to use lower setting to prevent my cakes from getting too dark on the outside before the inside is done baking.
Prepare two 8" cake pans with cake goop or preferred pan spray
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of .a stand mixer with paddle attachment. Mix 10 seconds to combine.
Combine egg whites, vanilla and 1/2 cup of milk in a measuring cup and whisk to combine. Set aside
Combine remaining milk and oil in a separate measuring cup and set aside.
Add your softened butter to the dry ingredients and mix on low until mixture resembles a coarse sand (about 30 seconds). Add in your milk/oil mixture and let mix until dry ingredients are moistened and then bump up to med (setting 4 on my kitchenaid) and let mix for 1 1/2 minutes to develop the cakes structure. If you don't let your cake mix on this step your cake could collapse.
Scrape your bowl and then reduce speed to low. Add in your egg white mixture in three batches, letting the batter mix for 15 seconds between additions.
Scrape down the sides again to make sure everything is incorporated the pour into prepared pans. Bake 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out cleanly but the cake has not begun to shrink yet from the sides of the pan.
Let cakes cool for 10 minutes inside the pan before flipping them out. The cake will shrink a bit and that is normal. Flip onto a cooling rack and let cool fully. I chill my cakes before handling or you can wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them to trap moisture in the cake. Thaw on the countertop while still wrapped before frosting.
I loved making this recipe, it was moist and delicious.
I have a recipe that I’m wanting to try for a Pina colada rum cake. It calls for a white or yellow cake mix. I don’t have a cake mix, because I never make anything but these cakes on your site. I’m wondering if I can use this recipe as my base instead of the mix. What are your thoughts on that?
Totally! You can add up to 1/4 cup of extra ingredients like pineapple and not have to make any changes to the recipe
I tried making this and failed miserably. I think I was wrong on the flour and sugar. How many cups of AP flour is 12 oz and how many cups of granulated sugar is 14oz. Thank you!
Hi there, if you try to convert to cups this recipe will not turn out. I always use a scale for accuracy since baking from scratch is a science 🙂 You can get a food scale at most grocery stores for less than $20
Wasted ingredients because that isn’t noted. Thanks.
Actually it IS noted. In every recipe, the first step says that you must weigh the ingredients.
Hi there, could I use yoghurt instead of buttermilk in this recipe?
I haven’t tried that so I am not for sure 🙂
I would not recommend it. I live in a country that doesn’t sell buttermilk, but you can easily make your own. Just mix normal milk with 1 tsp of vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for 5-10 min. Done! 🙂
THANK YOU for scaling your ingredients!! Using a scale is not only best for accuracy, but it saves a lot of time and utensils in the kitchen. I can’t live without my scale!
I made this cake and everyone loved it. I appreciated the subtle mix of sweet and tang. I will, however, have to turn down the temp on my oven because the edges got a bit crispy. Great for home snacking (I looove the crispy bits), but not so great if I’m cooking it for someone else.
How many cups of batter does the recipe version for 2-8″ rounds make? I’m looking for at least 6 cups batter. Should I go with 2 rounds or 3? Thanks!
6 cups of batter, I use 2″ tall cake pans.
Mine came out as yellow as any other standard cake made with whole eggs and very brown on top too. The only thing I can think of is that baking soda intensifies the maillard reaction that causes food to brown so it made my cakes dark. But I measured it very precisely according to the recipe and yours comes out lovely and white using baking soda. 🙁
Maybe your oven is a little hot or the cake was too close to the top of the oven? I do always have browning on my cakes but I trim the brown parts off (top, bottom and sides) before torting and frosting.
Would I do the white velvet recipe to do a yellow velvet cake and just add yellow food coloring?
yes you could do that
I love this cake, the first time I made it I failed somewhere but tried it again and voila!! Lol. I am going to try this cake adding in pistachios next time, my husband wants pistachios in a cake, how do you think that would taste?
Pistachio cake sounds divine!! I bet it would look really pretty too
ok for the baking science challenged and those leery of vinegar in cakes…
why the vinegar? can I leave it out?
Vinegar is delicious in cakes! It helps create a bubbly reaction with the baking soda so you can a nice fluffy texture. Fluffy is good 🙂 Trust me, no vinegar taste can be detected hehe
Hi! I am excited to try this recipe…I have been reading through all of the notes here. I notice the comment here for the vinegar, which I used in red velvet cake, but I didnt see it in the ingredients list here. Did I over look it or is it not needed for the white velvet cake. I just want to be sure before I delve in. 🙂 Thanks so much!!
I took out the vinegar because I don’t think it needs it 🙂
Do you think this could be done in a hand mixer
Absolutely! Any of these recipes (except fondant) can be made with a hand mixer, I just prefer my stand mixer so I can multi-task 🙂
Do the eggs and buttermilk need to be room temp? Can I use carton egg whites?
Did you leave out the cocoa to achieve the purple color or adjust the amount of cocoa?
There isn’t any cocoa in white velvet. If you want it purple just add in some pink and purple food coloring
Does this recipe do well as cupcakes? I’ve learned the hard way not every cake recipe works well as cupcakes. Ina Garten’s Beatty’s Chocolate Cake is one. I would give ANYTHING to use it for cupcakes but every time I’ve tried its been a complete disaster. It bakes out over the cupcake pans, its a mess. I was so shocked the first time I tried it I didn’t know what to do. And shockingly, the very same thing happened when I used it to bake in a Wilton shaped cake pan. I only fill about half or a hair above full and it bakes out all over the oven. But yet, when I do it in round cake pans, it’s beautiful. Go figure. It makes NO sense to me at all.
I haven’t tried this with cupcakes yet, but I agree not all cake recipes do well as cupcakes. I’ll test it out 🙂
Hi Liz! I’m a huge fan of you, your family & your work! Which one of your buttercreams would you suggest for this recipe? Thanks girlfriend! XOXO
Crusting cream cheese is always a hit with red velvet cake! https://sugargeekshow.com/recipe/crusting-cream-cheese-buttercream/
Hello, just checking that the oil & buttermilk measurement their weight and not fluid ounces?
Yes it’s all by weight
Have you had a chance to try this or any of your “velvet” cakes as cupcakes? I need a good white cupcake and immediately thought of this recipe. When I wrote before you mentioned you were going to try cupcakes. Have you tried any yet?
If this recipe calls for 2- 8″round pans then why does the picture show a three-layer cake?
Because I made a cake using three layers 🙂
Hello, I’m also interested in knowing if this velvet cake recipe will work for cupcakes.
Yes it will
Hello, I use olive oil for much of my cooking. Will this work in this velvet cake recipe?
You can but just keep in mind that olive oil has a flavor that will affect the cake. Grapeseed oil is a great option because it doesn’t have a flavor.
Hi do you use the same recipe above for the blue velvet cake but just add blue food colouring and cocoa powder ?
Yes I do
Hi! I’m planning to use this recipe for my daughter’s birthday. Can it be made the night before? Do you suggest leaving it at room temp or refrigerating if so? Thanks so much!
Yes it can be made the night before, I usually makes cakes at least a day in advance. I refrigerate mine so they are easier to handle
Hi! In your description of the cake, you say to use egg white if you want to make blue velvet but the whole egg for other colours. I want to make pink velvet. Can I use the whole egg? If so, how many? I need 24 cupcakes
Yes you can use the whole egg but your pink will turn more to a peach color. 2 egg whites equals 1 whole egg (roughly)
Hi. Just wondering if this cake is robust enough to stand up to a fondant icing and decorations or is it too fluffy and likely to collapse?
Thanks.
The only cake that isn’t strong enough for fondant is an un-doctored box mix
Can I make this cake ahead of time and freeze it? If so…for how long?
Totally! Freezing seals in moisture for cakes. Just wrap in plastic wrap, freeze and when you’re ready to use them defrost on the countertop while still wrapped. If you stack while still slightly cold, that’s best.
Hi
I have noticed that the recipe has changed recently. Will this new version be robust enough to be carved in the shape of a house and decorated with fondant.
I am looking forward to making this for my best friends birthday cake.
Thanks
Jo
Yes it has been updated to be more like my other cake recipes that use the reverse creaming method. I wouldn’t use this cake to carve since it is extremely tender. You could use the white cake recipe for carving though and replace the milk with buttermilk and add in 1/2 tsp baking soda to get a similar cake recipe.
Hi! I noticed the description mentions a tang from buttermilk & a touch of vinegar. I don’t notice vinegar in the recipe ingredients. I feel like I read it 100x, but I don’t see it listed. Did I misunderstand? Is vinegar supposed to be an ingredient? —cake looks delish btw!
Sorry this was from a previous edit that used vinegar, I have updated it 🙂
All measurements are always by weight for accuracy. If you use cups then the recipe has the potential to not turn out and then you waste expensive ingredients.
Could you please let me know the measurement for AP flour instead of the cake flour? Will it work with AP flour?
This recipe uses cake flour, not AP flour and they are not interchangeable. If you try to make a substitution you can end up with a cake that’s more of a cornbread texture
what is the frosting on the cake?
https://sugargeekshow.com/recipe/easy-buttercream-frosting/
thanks so much
You’re welcome!
Does this cake freeze well for later use?
Yes! Freezing your cakes is great
Hi, I have some question. Do egg whites with buttemilk need to be whipped or mixed? I used the K whisk to mix the dry ingredients and the “Spider” whisk for the rest. I did well? the cake is rather yellow. it did not come as white as in the picture. why? THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!
No they don’t have to be whipped, the stand mixer does most of the work to get everything mixed
This recipe was really good!! I made it for my mother’s birthday and everyone loved it! I frosted it with a whipped cream cream cheese frosting that was delish!!❤
Wish I could show you a pic of it! Thank you for the recipe!!!
Yay thats excellent! You can always join our fb group! I love to see finished projects in there 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/groups/sugargeeks
Can i use 3 6 inch pans instead of 2 8 inch pans? How long would i bake it for? How much food coloring to make pastel pink?
Yes you can, I often do this. I would use just a drop of electric pink food coloring and start with 30 minutes and see where you are.
They didn’t pull away from the liners! Woohoo!
For all the colors, once the cocoa powder and red coloring has been eliminated, is it just a matter of adding the desired color to White Velvet Cake or do some of the colors have cocoa powder in them or another formula?
Hi! To make the three layer cake, did you split the batter into 3 8inch pans? or 3 6inch pans?
Thank you!
I split the batter into three 6″ pans but you could do 8″ if you don’t mind the layers being about 1″ thick instead of 2″