Home Dishes & Beverages Cakes Chocolate Cakes

Best Red Velvet Cake

Name: Best Red Velvet Cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 14 servings.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened; 1-1/2 cups sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 2 bottles (1 ounce each) red food coloring; 1 tablespoon white vinegar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2-1/4 cups cake flour; 2 tablespoons baking cocoa; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup buttermilk; FROSTING:; 1/2 cup cold water; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 2 cups butter, softened; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

29 reviews

Test Kitchen Approved

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Makes

14 servings

It's just not Christmas at our house until this festive cake appears. This is different from other red velvet cake recipes I’ve had; the icing is as light as snow. —Kathryn Davison, Charlotte, North Carolina

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 bottles (1 ounce each) red food coloring
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/4 cups cake flour
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
FROSTING:
1/2 cup cold water
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 cups butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in food coloring, vinegar and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool layers 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
For frosting, combine water and cornstarch in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until thickened and opaque, 2-3 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Beat butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Beat in cornstarch mixture. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; beat until light and fluffy. Spread between layers and over top and side of cake.

Editor’s Note: For a snow effect, sprinkle confectioners' sugar over frosted cake top.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 595 calories, 34g fat (21g saturated fat), 115mg cholesterol, 564mg sodium, 71g carbohydrate (52g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.

Best Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients

Directions

Nutrition Facts

More from Taste of Home