The BEST Red Velvet Cake Recipe

This Classic Red Velvet cake is made with buttermilk and topped with a rich and creamy cream cheese frosting. Delicious and beautiful! 

I once made this recipe in a baking competition. It was a Cupcake Wars style competition where I went head to head with four other crazy talented bakers. 

The pressure was intense and I questioned if red velvet was the right choice. After an hour in the display kitchen, with dozens of people watching, we were ready to pass over our creations to be judged. 

I got second place. 

First place went to another super talented baker who killed it with the decorations. After all was said and done, each of the judges shook my hand and mentioned that if the competition was only based on flavor, I would have knocked it out of the park. 

I consider that a win. 

Easy Red Velvet Cake Recipe

Red Velvet Cake Ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Cornstarch
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Cocoa powder
• Salt
• Eggs
• Oil
• Buttermilk
• Red food color
• Vanilla extract
• Vinegar

Is red velvet cake just chocolate?

Technically, this cake does include cocoa powder. However, the amount in the batter is so minimal that it does not have that classic chocolate flavor. 

What is the flavor of red velvet cake?

Red Velvet cake gets its distinct flavor from buttermilk, vinegar, and small amounts of cocoa powder. The amount of cocoa is so minimal that it wouldn’t be classified as chocolate, but enough that it would not fall under the label of vanilla. Red velvet lands somewhere between the two leaving you with a moist and rich cake that tastes incredible when paired with a cream cheese frosting. 

Like this recipe? You will love my:

• Homemade Red Velvet Pancakes
• Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
• Cake Mix Red Velvet Cookies

How to make red velvet cake from scratch:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of three 8 inch cake pans with parchment and grease the sides.

2. In the bowl of your electric mixer whisk together your flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa,  corn starch and salt. Grab a large measuring cup and combine the oil, eggs, buttermilk, food color, extract, and vinegar. Slowly mix into the dry ingredients.

   Divide your batter evenly between your prepared pans. Bake 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

3. Frost with your favorite frosting. We like cream cheese frosting.

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Red Velvet Cake

Yield: 1 layer cake

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Decorating: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

This Classic Red Velvet cake is made with buttermilk and topped with a rich and creamy cream cheese frosting. Delicious and beautiful! 

Print

Ingredients

• 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 5 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups canola oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 tablespoon red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of three 8 inch cake pans with parchment and grease the sides.
2. In the bowl of your electric mixer whisk together your flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa,  corn starch and salt. Grab a large measuring cup and combine the oil, eggs, buttermilk, food color, extract, and vinegar. Slowly mix into the dry ingredients.
3. Divide your batter evenly between your prepared pans. Bake 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
4. Frost with your favorite frosting.

Notes

We like to serve this cake with my cream cheese frosting.

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