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A delicious plate of Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake

This classic Red Velvet Cake is a showstopper for any occasion with its vibrant color and rich cream cheese frosting.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 1164
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 420 g all-purpose flour
  • 21 g unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1.5 tsp baking soda
  • 3 g kosher salt
  • 113 g unsalted butter melted
  • 250 g vegetable oil
  • 500 g granulated sugar
  • 227 g sour cream room temperature
  • 170 g milk room temperature
  • 150 g large eggs room temperature
  • 12 g pure vanilla extract
  • 28 g red food coloring
For the Frosting
  • 680 g cream cheese room temperature
  • 226 g unsalted butter room temperature
  • 565 g powdered sugar
  • 8 g pure vanilla extract
  • 0.5 tsp kosher salt

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer
  • 9-inch Round Cake Pans

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease three 9-inch round cake pans. Set aside.
  2. Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to a large bowl and whisk until combined.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, vegetable oil, and sugar together until smooth.
  4. Add in the sour cream, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract and beat until smooth. Add in the red food coloring and beat until fully incorporated.
  5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Divide the batter evenly among the 3 cake pans.
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool for at least 10 minutes.
  7. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the butter and beat until incorporated.
  8. Sift in the powdered sugar through a fine-mesh sieve. Mix until well incorporated. Add in the vanilla extract and salt and mix again until the frosting reaches a smooth and creamy consistency with stiff peaks.
  9. Using a bread knife, shave off the rounded top of each cake to create a flat top. Place 1 cake layer on a cake stand cut side down. Spread a generous layer of frosting on top.
  10. Add on the 2nd cake layer and spread a layer of frosting on top. Add on the 3rd cake layer. Frost the entire exterior of the cake with the remaining frosting.
  11. If desired, crumble the leftover cake scraps and decorate the sides or top of the cake with them. Additionally, pipe decorations on the top of the cake with leftover frosting.

Notes

For a lighter, fluffier cake, swap the all-purpose flour for cake flour. Let the cakes cool completely before frosting; otherwise, the frosting will melt off! Store red velvet cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.