The Best Red Velvet Cake Recipe

I’m sharing the Best Red Velvet Cake Recipe today! This is the recipe my mom always used. It’s soft, moist and tender, with the perfect red velvet flavor!

Use my Heritage Frosting (cooked frosting) on this cake for a true southern classic!

This Best Homemade Red Velvet Cake Recipe you will ever try! 

My mom would always make this velvet red cake cake from scratch on Christmas when I was growing up. I never really thought too much about it, except that it was a “special occasion” cake. She would go to the trouble of making the cake, cooking the frosting, and carefully frosting it. It was a rustic beauty.

But What IS Red Velvet?

We can all see that it’s red…but what makes it “velvet”? I mean, it’s a valid question. Some people think red velvet is just a mild chocolate cake with a lot of food coloring. And while that’s KIND of right, red velvet done right is special! Simply put it’s a cake made with buttermilk, and in my recipe also a little vinegar to really give it a tender crumb. My recipe also used oil instead of butter, which gives the cake a fluffy texture. 

The little bit of cocoa powder added does give it a VERY slight chocolate taste, but I’d describe it more like a vanilla buttermilk cake with a hint of chocolate. It’s unique and delicious!

Red Velvet Cake Ingredients:

• Vegetable oil
• Large eggs
• Buttermilk
• Vinegar
• Vanilla extract
• Granulated sugar
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• Kosher salt
• Baking soda
• All purpose flour
• Red food coloring

Tips:

1. What kind of food coloring do you need?  I use old school McCormick food coloring, because that’s what my mom used. I know there are all sorts of fancy food dyes out now, with more natural ingredients, so please feel free to use whatever you feel comfortable with. And full disclosure, my mom’s recipe calls for TWO whole bottles of the McCormick’s food coloring, but after testing it out multiple times, I feel like you can achieve a gorgeous color red with just one bottle. The are more potent food dyes out there now where you can probably use even less, but I know almost everyone can find the McCormick’s at their local supermarket, so for ease I write this recipe using that brand. 
2. What size pans do you need? Three 8- inch round cake pans will be perfect. You can also use 9- inch pans if that is what you have, just know your layers will be thinner. You can also bake this in a 9×13 pan if you want to make a single layer cake.
3. Do you really need to use buttermilk AND vinegar? Yep. I find that the combo of the two is what really makes the texture of this cake special.

What If You Don’t Have Buttermilk?

If you find that you don’t have buttermilk and don’t want to run to the store, you can make a buttermilk substitute very easily at home. I get the question a lot of you make your own buttermilk with milk and vinegar do you still need to add the extra vinegar the recipe calls for and I say yes! Using both buttermilk and vinegar is the “secret trick” I use in my recipe to make it so tender!

How To Make Red Velvet Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 3, 8-inch round pans with nonstick spray. Cut parchment rounds to fit in the bottom of the pans. Place the parchment rounds in the pans and coat again with nonstick spray. Set aside.
2. In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment add the oil, eggs, buttermilk, vinegar, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until combined. Add in the sugar and mix until incorporated.
3. Next add the cocoa powder, salt and baking soda, mixing on medium speed for 30 seconds, or until no lumps remain in the cocoa powder.
4. Turn mixer to low and add in the flour and red food coloring. Mix until smooth, 30 seconds – 1 minute, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
5. Divide the cake batter equally into the 3, 8- inch or 9-inch prepared pans. An 8 inch pan gives a thicker layer and a 9- inch pan makes the layers thinner. The bake time isn’t too much different.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack to cool completely. If the layers become domed, use a serrated knife to trim the tops when cooled, so they layer flat!
8. Frost as desired.

What Kind of Frosting is Best For Red Velvet Cake?

I know so many of you prefer your red velvet with cream cheese frosting, but I’m ALL about the Heritage Frosting on this cake, that I linked to above! BUT you can also use:

• Cream cheese frosting, which is a classic on Red Velvet Cake!
• Buttercream Frosting, because it’s an easy option for those who don’t want to go to the trouble of Heritage Frosting or don’t like Cream Cheese Frosting
• Chocolate Frosting! It might seem crazy, but chocolate and red velvet go together perfectly!

Can You Make This Recipe Into Red Velvet Cupcakes?

Yes you can! It should make about 36 cupcakes. Fill the liners 2/3 of the way full and bake them at 350°F for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

When you cut this red velvet cake, you’ll going to be so happy. This cake just does that to your heart! It’s outrageously soft, moist, and has the perfect crumb.

Looking for more Red Velvet Recipes? 

• Red Velvet Popcorn
• Red Velvet Krispie Treats
• Red Velvet Snowball Cookies

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