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Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This classic red velvet cake is moist, fluffy, and paired with a rich cream cheese frosting, making it a perfect dessert for any celebration.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Cake, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 540
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 cups granulated sugar
  • 1.25 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp salt adjust to taste
Wet Ingredients
  • 1.5 cups vegetable oil
  • 2 units eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 1 tbsp red gel food coloring
Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 2 cups unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 8 oz cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 7 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 0.5 tsp salt (adjust to taste)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare three 7-inch cake pans by greasing and lining them with parchment paper.
  2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt until well combined.
  3. In another bowl, mix the vegetable oil, room temperature eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, white vinegar, and red gel food coloring. Stir until smooth.
  4. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until fully combined and smooth.
  5. Divide the batter evenly among the three prepared cake pans.
Baking
  1. Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until the cake layers spring back when lightly touched.
  2. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting
  1. In a large bowl, beat the room temperature butter and cream cheese until creamy.
  2. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt and beat until fluffy.
Assembly
  1. Once the layers are cool, level them with a knife if needed.
  2. Stack the layers with frosting in between and apply a crumb coat. Chill for 30 minutes.
  3. Frost the outer layer of the cake and decorate as desired.

Notes

For best results, use room temperature ingredients. Chilling the cake after applying the crumb coat helps set the frosting and makes it easier to frost the outer layer. Variations include adding nuts or using as cake for cupcakes.