Description
This Easy Red Velvet Cake recipe offers a stunning dessert bursting with a perfect balance of subtle cocoa flavor, moist texture, and iconic vibrant red color. Ideal for celebrations, family gatherings, or a sweet treat, it features simple steps and accessible pantry ingredients to create a tender, flavorful cake that’s sure to impress.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon red food coloring (gel preferred)
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare Your Pans and Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease two 9-inch round cake pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper for easy removal, then lightly flour the pans to prevent sticking.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and baking powder to ensure even distribution and prevent lumps in the batter.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla extract, red food coloring, and white vinegar until the mixture is smooth and well emulsified.
- Blend Wet and Dry Mixtures: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mix, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing; a few small lumps are okay to keep the cake tender.
- Bake Until Perfect: Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- Frost and Assemble: Once cooled, spread your favorite cream cheese frosting or buttercream evenly between the layers and across the top and sides. Smooth or create swirls for a professional look.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs and buttermilk for better mixing and texture.
- Measure flour carefully by spooning lightly into cups to avoid a dry cake.
- Gel food coloring ensures vibrant color without thinning the batter.
- Do not omit vinegar, it boosts rise and adds classic tang alongside maintaining color.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting and sliding.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: Red Velvet Cake, Easy Red Velvet, Moist Cake, Birthday Cake, Celebration Dessert