The Best Food Coloring
We highly recommend using gel food coloring rather than a liquid one. We purchased the 12-color starter kit which is great for any baking project.
- Gel is more concentrated so you need less of it. This cake calls for just 1/2 teaspoon of super red #120 gel color and you could get away with using 1/4 tsp and still maintain a nice color.
- Gel is thicker which means its less likely to water down your batter or frosting.
Red Velvet Cream Cheese Frosting
The frosting is one of the most important things for this cake: I use a classic red velvet cream cheese frosting but you can also go for a classic American butter cream or totally change the frosting, by using mascarpone cream , whipped cream or even custard cream. It goes without saying that the original version is made with cream cheese frosting that give the cake its traditional acidic taste.
What can I use instead of buttermilk?Buttermilk is essential to the success of this recipe but you can replace it with a homemade substitute for buttermilk. Just put lemon drops in some milk, let it rest for a few minutes and then use it for your cake.
What Does A Real Red Velvet Cake Recipe Taste Like
A real red velvet cake recipe is made with buttermilk, vinegar and a tiny bit of cocoa powder. These ingredients result in a very tangy cake with a hint of chocolate. This is a pretty unique flavor combination but when you add in some cream cheese frosting or ermine frosting , then it adds even more tangy flavor. That tangy flavor is the sign of a true red velvet cake recipe.
Recommended Reading: Where To Buy Wedding Cake Stands
What Makes A Red Velvet Cake The Best
Red velvet shouldnt be too sweet, since the cake is often topped with cream cheese frosting. You want a nice balance of flavors.
In more traditional Southern kitchens, you may also find red velvet topped with ermine frosting. This is a cooked frosting made from a roux with flour, sugar, and water.
Its a different style, but I personally prefer cream cheese frosting, especially since I really love my cream cheese frosting!
Ive included that recipe below for you too.
Lotion Cheese Icing For Red Velour Cake
After the cake is done cooking, its time for our lotion cheese icing. Seriously could there be anything much better?
For todays lotion cheese icing, you just require a couple of easy active ingredients: butter, lotion cheese, vanilla essence, salt, powdered sugar, and also perhaps a little light whipping cream. Make certain you utilize full-fat block lotion cheese as opposed to lite lotion cheese or spreadable. Both of those type of lotion cheese are also slim for making frosting with. You can additionally mess around a little with the quantity of powdered sugar depending upon just how wonderful you like it also.
Read more: how to make pink lemonade cake from scratch
After that frost your cooled down cake, and also additionally embellish with sprays. If you wish to discover a lot more pointers concerning making lotion cheese icing you can additionally take a look at my complete overview to making it below.
Recommended Reading: Nothing But Bundt Cakes Lexington Ky
Frequently Asked Questions About This Red Velvet Cake Recipe
Can this recipe be made into cupcakes? Yes you can definitely use this recipe for cupcakes. I have made them many times and they turn out really well. Bake for 5 minutes on 400ºF then reduce to 350ºF for 10-15 minutes or until the cupcakes are set in the center. Do not fill cupcake liners more than 2/3 of the way full or they will overflow and collapse.
What can I use if I dont have buttermilk? You can use an equal amount of sour cream or you can add 1 Tbsp of vinegar into regular milk and let it sit a few minutes until it starts to curdle to make homemade buttermilk.
Can I leave out the red food coloring? Yes you can but the cake will not be very red on the inside.
Make Ahead Tips For Red Velour Cake
The red velour cake can be made the day in the past. Awesome totally, after that cover and also keep at space temperature level for as much as 1 day. After that I advise making the frosting the day you intend to offer the cake.
Unfrosted cake can be iced up. Merely cool down the cake after cooking, cover securely and also freeze. After that thaw over night in the refrigerator, and also forst it when you prepare to offer.
This very easy red velour cake has the best red velour taste, delightfully wet and also tender cake crumb, and also appetizing lotion cheese icing. Youll like just how easy the dish is and also will promptly become your preferred red velour dish.
Extra red velour treats:
- Cake Mix Red Velour Cookies
- Red Velour Cookie Cake
Read Also: Where To Buy Giant Korean Rice Cakes
Where Did Red Velvet Cake Originate
While the red velvet cake is largely considered a Southern treat, it appears its roots are in New York City!
The Waldorf Astoria hotel created the recipe and called it the Waldorf Astoria cake sometimes around the Depression Era. So sometime in the 1930s.
The red part of the cake is actually a result of a chemical reaction between the vinegar in the batter and the cocoa powder. Its not as bright as red velvet cakes now. To get that red, we have to add dye.
Despite its northern roots, Ive always known it to be a distinctly Southern cake. In my opinion, its rare to find a truly delicious recipe outside of the South.
Video Recipe: See How This Recipe Is Produced From Begin To End
Isaac: Ooooh, what are you making?
Me: Crimson Velvet Cupcakes with cream cheese frosting!
Isaac: *proceeds to fake gag and faints* Whyyyyy mom!!! Simply whyyyyyy!!!
SMH, what am I going to do with that little one of mine? He gave up Crimson 40 meals coloring some time in the past , and he has caught to it. This resolution meant giving up his favourite Nerds sweet, Nacho Doritos, and so many different merchandise which have crimson 40 in them. Im happy with my little man and check out to verify I dont deliver Crimson 40 in the home if I may also help it, however NOT in the case of my fairly crimson velvet stuff!! No sirree!!
Pay attention, dont play with a southern lady and her crimson velvet!! As a lot as I like pure choices, Ive tried the pure crimson meals coloring, and meh!
You May Like: How To Do A Gender Reveal Cake
Products I Use To Make This Cake
9-inch cake pans these high quality cake pans help my layer cakes bake beautifully. Some of you asked me on Instagram how come my cakes are so flat. There are a few tricks for it, and you can read about it in this helpful guide, but Ill be honest that I dont bother with this. I get good results with these cake pans, and if the cakes have a dome, I slice it off with a sharp knife. Its less trouble, and no one would notice.
Red food coloring I always prefer using gel than liquid. Ive tried many and this one has the best vibrant red color.
Tips On How To Achieve The Best Red Velvet Cake
- Following the above doses you will get a cake of 18 cm in diameter if using the method of the three baking sheets or 21-22 cm using a single baking sheet and then cutting the cake once cooked
- Do not overmix: the key to get a perfect Red Velvet Cake is give all the ingredients air so that they will raise while cooking
- If you bake layers of different sizes, you can decide their size once cooked by using a knife to get the desired shape/size. You can crumble the remaining cake on top of the cake
- The layers of the cake must be cold before being filled with the cream. If you try to fill the cake when the layers are still hot, they will collapse
- Once ready, place the cake in the fridge and remember to remove it at least 15 minutes before serving it so that it is not too cold
- Do not leave the cake out of the refrigerator for a long time or the cream will soften too much and may become sour
- Use the remaining cooked mix to cover the surface of the cake, by crumbling it. You will get an original yet more beautiful Red Velvet
- Once prepared, the original Red Velvet keeps well for 3 days in the refrigerator, taking care to cover it to prevent the cheese from assimilating the odors of the other products.
If you like this article share it!
Also Check: Calphalon 8 Inch Round Cake Pan
What Is Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake is a classic American dessert, but its becoming more and more popular outside of the US, and for a good reason its so festive and delicious.
Is red velvet a chocolate cake? Although theres cocoa powder in the recipe, the amount is rather small and the flavor of chocolate is subtle, so it isnt meant to be a chocolate cake. Actually, the cocoa powder is there mainly to provide a slight red color.
What Kind Of Frosting Is Best For Red Velvet Cake
I know so many of you prefer your red velvet with cream cheese frosting, but Im ALL about the Heritage Frosting on this cake, that I linked to above! BUT you can also use:
- Cream cheese frosting, which is a classic on Red Velvet Cake!
- Buttercream Frosting, because its an easy option for those who dont want to go to the trouble of Heritage Frosting or dont like Cream Cheese Frosting
- Chocolate Frosting! It might seem crazy, but chocolate and red velvet go together perfectly!
Don’t Miss: Where To Buy Boston Coffee Cake
How To Make Red Velvet Cake From Scratch
The process is really simple, so even though the finished product may *look* fancy, dont be intimidated! Heres how youll bring it together in your own kitchen:
Why Should You Use This Red Velvet Cake
There are 3 more specific things about this recipe which might be a bit different to other Red Velvet recipes you have seen, but theres a reason for it.
1. Cake flour its a must! Its key to achieving that soft silky sponge, just like what you get from posh bakeries. However, if you really cant find it, please see the notes for a substitute 2. Only 2 eggs Ive seen some recipes call for up to 5 eggs. I only use 2. Its enough to hold the cake together just fine any more than 2, and find the cake begins to start tasting eggy and3. Buttermilk For almost every other baking recipe that I make using buttermilk, I say that you can substitute with lemon juice + milk which, when left for 5 minutes, curdles to have the same effect as using buttermilk. Not for this recipe sorry! It is just not the same part of the reason mine was zara zara.
Oh, and one more rule. There is no substitute for Philadelphia Cream Cheese for the frosting. Ive tried better value store-brand cream cheese before. It is never the same. Promise.
I bake the layers in 2 separate tins, but if you dont have two tins, you can make one big one and cut the cake in half. And to make the layers nice and neat, I cut the dome top off.
I like to crumble the off cuts and use it to decorate the cake. I think it looks pretty, dont you? But thats purely optional!
Don’t Miss: Cream Cheese Frosting For Carrot Cake
Pro Tips For This Recipe
- Measure your flour correctly! Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake. The best, and easiest way to measure flour is by using a scale. If you dont have one then fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
- If youre not using 6-inch pans, double the recipe for 8-inch pans or triple the recipe for 9-inch pans.
- Skip the food coloring if you want a great tasting cake that isnt red.
- To get FLAT layers that are moist inside and out try using cake strips! You can buy a set on the shop page or make your own from foil and paper towels at home. I made a whole blog post on it so check it out if youre interested!
- For nice uniform crumbs for decorating use the fine grater, or just whip out that cheese grater!
- This red velvet cake recipe also makes an AWESOME sheet cake! Youll save tons of time and you can pour less sugar into the cream cheese frosting since you wont have to worry about consistency. I would use approximately a 9×13 inch pan if youre making this as a sheet cake.
Best Southern Red Velvet Cake Recipe
Easy, moist red velvet cake recipe full of Southern charm with a secret ingredient! Frosted with Cream Cheese frosting!
Watch me make this Easy, Moist Red Velvet Cake from start to finish!
There is something so elegant about a red velvet cake. Maybe its the name or that beautiful, bold red color. Or maybe its the delicate crumb and light chocolatey flavor with a tad bit of tang from the buttermilk.
Whatever it is, Im totally present for all things RED VELVET!!! Red Velvet Pound Cake anyone??
Ive been getting a lot of requests for red velvet cake. Being from the south my recipe options were endless. I swear everybody in my family has their way of making red velvet cake and to them, it is the best!!
Hooooowever, I still knew that the perfect red velvet cake was still out there somewhere.
I have been on the search for the best homemade red velvet cake recipe for a while now actually. I wanted one that was easy, super moist, melt-in-your-mouth soft with that signature light chocolatey buttermilk red velvet flavor.
Ive tried a few recipes that wereOK. Nothing that really blew my heels off though. Until I played around with merging three recipes and out came THE MASTERPIECE!!! Or at least we think so in my house!
Also Check: How To Ship A Cake Usps