Red Velvet Cake Recipe

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The most incredible Classic Red Velvet Cake is topped with the silkiest creamy cream cheese icing! The cake is moist with that hint of chocolate and the most perfect velvet texture you will ever take a bite of.

This southern red velvet cake recipe is super easy to make and just slightly adapted from the original recipe given to me by a sweet friend years ago. A made from scratch recipe that I have been making ever since. And for good reason, it gets rave reviews from family and friends alike!

Definitely my most requested cake for Christmas, Valentine's Day, or the Holidays in general. If you love red velvet cake you are in for a treat! Red velvet fans will also love Red Velvet Cupcakes or Red Velvet Brownie Cups!

A upclose image of a slice of red velvet cake on a white plate with a fork in front of the cake.

Table of Contents

Why you’ll love this homemade red velvet cake recipe!
What exactly is Red Velvet Cake?
Ingredients Needed:
How to make the Best Red Velvet Cake!
Tips
Tips
Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
Variations and Substitutions:
Make Ahead and Storage Instuctions:
More Delicious Cakes to Enjoy
Red Velvet Cake Recipe
Cake Sizes:
Comments

Why you’ll love this homemade red velvet cake recipe!

Easy Scratch Recipe: Although I always use a stand mixer for this recipe you really could whip this cake up with a hand mixer or even by hand. Either way it is super simple to make.
Best Red Velvet Cake Recipe Ever: Sometimes I have had red velvet cake that is on the dry side or the crumb just isn't quite right. This one is moist and velvety.
Tried and True Recipe: I have made this recipe over the years time and time again. This one is perfection! (At least the family and friends tell me so.)

Like I mentioned before several years ago a friend shared this recipe with me. She wanted to remain anonymous because this was a "secret" family recipe.

This recipe also was in my Stewart family cookbook and almost identical to my friends, with just a little less oil in the recipe (However, I recommend keeping the amount in my recipe here).

Actually, our family cookbook has two versions one with white icing made with flour and another with cream cheese icing made by two different family members. It seems this recipe is passed down by many families, and rightfully so. It's a keeper!

I did make a few adaptions to an already perfected recipe. I added a little more cocoa powder for a slightly more chocolatey version and most often I make a little more icing than originally called for.

After years of making this, I have to say this is my absolute favorite red velvet cake I have ever had.

What exactly is Red Velvet Cake?

Red Velvet Cake is not just a red cake or a chocolate cake that has red coloring added in. The cake is soft and moist and has a velvet-like texture. The chocolate is mild (although I add a little more than most recipes). It is almost a little mysterious in taste. Not vanilla and not full-on chocolate. It has a subtle tang from the buttermilk and that dash of vinegar.

A fluffy cream cheese frosting tops this off making one of the most unique and delicious cakes!

Perfectly Imperfect Cake:

If you have been following along here for any amount of time. You know I don't usually do anything too fancy or at least I don't proclaim to make things picture-perfect. I like to say my desserts have a rustic flair. Well, the same goes here.

This Southern Red Velvet Cake tastes delicious even though I don't always slice it perfectly or keep crumbs at bay. I am sure you will do a much better job at that than I do. But I do promise it tastes AMAZING my friends!

Here's what you need to make the perfect southern red velvet cake!

Ingredients Needed:

Cake Ingredients

All-Purpose Flour: This is the base of the cake.
Unsweetened Cocoa: That hint of chocolate that makes this cake famous. I add a little more than most recipes. I find this amount delightfully delicious.
Baking Soda: Baking soda works much like baking powder, but it is more powerful. You do need acid to activate it. The buttermilk will do that for this recipe. The vinegar aids in this as well.
Kosher Salt: Salt balances out the sweetness and adds to the special flavor in this cake.
Granulated Sugar: Sugar adds sweetness to this red velvet cake.
Buttermilk: Adds a tanginess and buttery flavor to the cake. It also adds moisture. It's a must-have in this recipe.
Vegetable Oil: This recipe calls for a little more oil than most cakes, and I believe it is one of the reasons this one is extra special. Don't be alarmed it doesn't taste oily at all. You get the moistest and most amazing cake!
Eggs: This recipe uses just enough to hold the cake together while not giving it too much of an eggy taste.
Vanilla Extract: This will add flavoring to the cake and to the icing.
Red Food Coloring: 2 bottles of the classic red food coloring. You can find this in most grocery stores. It really gives a nice deep red color.
White Distilled Vinegar: Some say vinegar originally was put in this recipe to react with the cocoa to get a red tint. It also adds acidity to react with the baking soda. In either case, the combination creates an amazing texture.
Block Cream Cheese: Make sure to use the block cream cheese for the right consistency. The containers are a little softer in texture. This gives a nice tang to the icing too! So yummy!

Icing Ingredients:

Block Cream Cheese: Make sure to use the block cream cheese for the right consistency. The containers are a little softer in texture. This gives a nice tang to the icing too! So yummy!
Butter: Butter makes everything better and butter in icing is no exception. It adds a creamy and airy factor making icing so dreamy.
Powdered Sugar: This is also known as confectioners sugar. It's airy and soft and creates the perfect icing.

Image of all the ingredients needed for red velvet cake and icing.

How to make the Best Red Velvet Cake!

✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and instructions!

Step 1 | Mix Dry & Wet Ingredients

Sift together all the dry ingredients to get a nice lump-free fluffy mix. Set aside.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or large bowl (using a hand mixer), mix together all the wet ingredients until combined (minus the red food coloring and vinegar). I like to add that in at the very last.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until incorporated. Turn down the mixer to low and add in food coloring and vinegar. Once incorporated turn to medium speed and mix until fluffy. (Don't overmix)

Tips

Measure your flour correctly: Adding too much flour to the recipe is the most common mistake. This will cause the cake to be dry. Make sure to fluff your flour with a spoon, sprinkle it into your measuring cup, and use a knife to level it off.
Buttermilk - Buttermilk is a key ingredient and flavor in this recipe. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own substitution. To do this, add 1 ½ teaspoons of fresh lemon juice or white vinegar to a liquid measuring cup. Add enough whole milk to make 1 cup. Stir the two together, then let it sit for 5 minutes before using. (Note: You will still need the additional vinegar in the recipe as well.)
Make sure buttermilk, eggs, cream cheese and butter are at room temperature. This allows everthing to mix together evenly and give a nice smooth texture.

Step 2 | Pour into can pans and bake.

Pour red velvet cake batter into prepared cake pans and bake in preheated 350° oven.

Prepare Cake Pans Well: Make sure to spray the cake pans well with baking spray (the one with flour in it) or use oil or butter and flour to coat the pan. If desire you can place a parchment circle in the bottom of the pan and spray it as well.
If you want taller thicker layers use 8-inch cake pans.
For a 3 Layer Cake: Make 1.5 times the recipe and divide into 3 cake pans.
The best cake pans: I like to use a heavy light colored cake pan. I find they cook more evenly. These USA pans are my favorite. They come in 8 or 9-inch options.
If you want your cakes absolutely even in size you can weigh your pans and cake batter on a kitchen scale. Just eyeballing the amount is fine too, that is what I usually do.
Start checking at about 20 minutes the first time you bake. Oven temperatures vary and this will help you gauge how yours is cooking.

Tips

Collage image of stages of red velvet cake preparation.

Step 3 | Icing the Cake

Beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, and then slowly add in powdered sugar until combined. Add in vanilla and mix until combined and icing is creamy and spreadable.

Optional: If desired cut the top (dome) of each cake to level or make layers flat.

Spread the top of one of the cakes with some of the icing. Top with other cake. Spread top and sides of cake with remaining icing.

Collage image of stages of red velvet icing preparation.

Tips

For the icing, you want room temperature or softened cream cheese and butter. For the butter, you want an indention when you touch it but it shouldn't be so soft you press right through it. Same with the cream cheese. If the icing gets too soft just place it in the refrigerator for a bit until the icing firms back up.
Add a dollop of icing to the base of serving dish then spread out a little. This will hold the bottom cake layer in place and keep it from moving around on the serving dish.

Overhead image of red velvet cake iced with cream cheese icing and garnished with chopped pecans on a wooden cake plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is red velvet cake hard to make?

No, it may look a little fancy, but the cake really is easy to make. Just measure out your ingredients as directed and you are good to go.

Why do you add vinegar and buttermilk?

The cocoa reacts with the addition of vinegar along with the buttermilk to create the perfect texture. Don't skip either of these!

What kind of food coloring do you need to use?

I always use the McCormick bottled food coloring. It comes in a 1-ounce bottle and yes 2 bottles are what you need. It gives that deep rich color and it does not alter or give a bitter taste to the cake. However, there are all kinds of colorings you can try. Gel colorings work well. There are also natural colorings available like beet powder. Feel free to experiment if you would like. I just stick to the basics here.

How do you make the frosting with the flour in it?

While I love and recommend a cream cheese frosting with this cake, you can make a flour-based frosting by using 1 cup milk, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup butter (room temperature), 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, and ½ teaspoon vanilla.

In a medium saucepan whisk milk, flour, and salt together on medium-low heat until it thickens (like a gravy). Remove the pan from heat and allow it to cool (stirring occasionally). In the bowl of a stand mixer beat butter until light and fluffy. Add in cooled flour mixture and vanilla, and mix until combined (2-3 minutes). Frosting will be thick and smooth.

Slice of red velvet cake with cream cheese icing and pecans set on a red cloth.

Variations and Substitutions:

Add nuts to the icing: Add toasted pecans or walnuts to the cream cheese icing for a little crunchy texture.
Keep the icing simple or add pecans around the edges. You can take them all the way around the sides of the cake too.
Pipe beautiful roses or swirls on top with an icing tip! Take this cake to the next level by making it even fancier!
If you want to cut the domes off of the cake to keep it flat you can do that and reserve the crumbs to sprinkle on top and/or around the sides of the iced cake. If you do this I recommend using an 8-inch cake pan so that your layers are not too thin. These crumbs are really beautiful on the cake.

Image of whole red velvet cake partially sliced.

Make Ahead and Storage Instuctions:

Make-Ahead Instructions:

The cake layers can be baked, cooled, and covered tightly at room temperature overnight.

The frosting can be prepared then covered and refrigerated overnight. Let the frosting sit at room temperature to slightly soften for 10 minutes before assembling and frosting.

Storage:

Cover leftover cake tightly or with a cake dome or carrier and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freezer:

Frosted or unfrosted cake layers can be frozen for 2 to 3 months. Wrap with freezer-safe wrap and place in a freezer-safe zip bag (or double wrap cakes). This will keep freezer burn at bay and keep other odors away.

Thaw cake overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before decorating/serving.

Up close image of classic red velvet cake with another slice in background set on a red cloth with cake server.

More Delicious Cakes to Enjoy

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Red Velvet Cake Recipe

Why you’ll love this homemade red velvet cake recipe!

What exactly is Red Velvet Cake?