Hands up, who likes moist, velvety chocolate cakes? Hands up, who prefers an easy cake recipe? Obviously I can’t see who has their hands up, but this easy red velvet cake recipe is a delicious classic, that’s super simple to whip up, hands down!
I’m a huge fan of Cook’s Illustrated, so when they came out with their Comfort Food issue, I swooped it up in the grocery store, browsed each page and left with a cart full of food! Probably a bad idea, haha! Not surprisingly, the dessert that stood out to me the most was the red velvet cake recipe.
It’s really such a classic recipe, light in texture, moist and velvety! I added in a little vegetable oil to help ensure the moistness.
The frosting, on the other hand, takes the cake (pun intended) with its creamy and just the right amount of sweetness.
And since red is the color of choice when it comes to Christmas, 4th of July, Valentine’s Day and Labor Day, this red velvet cake recipe is the pretty perfect year-round!
How To Make Easy Red Velvet Cake – Step By Step
Red Velvet Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Whisk together buttermilk, eggs, vegetable oil, vinegar and vanilla in a tall liquid measuring cup, set aside.
- In a small bowl, add the cocoa powder and red food coloring together, set aside.
- In another bowl combine the flour, salt and baking soda, set aside. (Lots of setting aside : P)
- With an electric mixer and a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium high.
- Reduce speed and then add the buttermilk mixture and flour in 3 additions, alternating.
- Add cocoa mixture and beat on low until everything is incorporated.
- Divide the batter into 2, greased 9-inch round pans.
- Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, try to take it out when the center is just a little wiggly.
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
- With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light in color and fluffy about 2 minutes. Add in the cream cheese and beat on high until incorporated. Add in vanilla and salt.
An Easy Red Velvet Cake Recipe
If you’ve never made a red velvet cake from scratch, then this is the perfect starter recipe for you! The cake and the frosting are delicious and are super simple to whip up, you’ll be amazed at what you can put together so quickly and simply. Plus, you’ll have a lot of the ingredients in your kitchen already. Don’t be daunted, give it a try!
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
If ever there was frosting that’s in danger of being licked off the spoon before it gets to the cake, this is it! This fluffy, light frosting holds its shape well, so great for make a make ahead dessert. Made with a handful of ingredients it’s a simple frosting too. Just make sure it makes it to the cake!
A Cake For All Occasions
With it’s eye catching red hue and perfectly creamy, chocolaty taste this easy red velvet cake hits the spot for most occasions! Birthdays, dinner parties, baby showers, in the shower, wherever and whenever this is a simple and delicious go to cake!
Plus, so many holidays lend themselves to this gorgeous red cake. Christmas…check! Fourth of July Check! Iron Man-themed party, 40th wedding anniversary…check!
Top Tips For Easy Red Velvet Cake
- Use a preheated oven.
- Use and angled spatula to frost the cake, to help smooth the frosting more smoothly.
- Make sure to grease your pans before pouring in the cake mix.
- You can leave your frosted cake out overnight, if you have a coolish environment. If it’s too hot out, then pop it in the fridge.
Check Out These Other Delicious Cake Recipes
The Best Devil’s Food Cake Recipe
A Delicious Spring Coffee Cake Recipe
Brown Sugar Cake With Creme Fraiche
Carrot Cake by Jo Cooks
Pineapple Upside Down Cake by Sugar Spun Run
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Red Velvet Cake Recipe via Cook’s Illustrated
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cake
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- pinch salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1/8 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoon red food coloring
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
- 16 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cut into chunks.
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 pound cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
Instructions
Red Velvet Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Whisk together buttermilk, eggs, vegetable oil, vinegar and vanilla in a tall liquid measuring cup, set aside.
- In a small bowl, add the cocoa powder and red food coloring together, set aside.
- In another bowl combine the flour, salt and baking soda, set aside. (Lots of setting aside : P)
- With an electric mixer and a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium high.
- Reduce speed and then add the buttermilk mixture and flour in 3 additions, alternating.
- Add cocoa mixture and beat on low until everything is incorporated.
- Divide the batter into 2, greased 9-inch round pans.
- Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, try to take it out when the center is just a little wiggly.
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
- With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light in color and fluffy about 2 minutes. Add in the cream cheese and beat on high until incorporated. Add in vanilla and salt.
I’m definitely going to make this for a special someone! 🙂
sounds amazing. also love the first photograph! will maybe need to roadtest this recipe on an upcoming weekend!
rae of lovefromberlin