The perfect red velvet cake recipe with sweet cream cheese frosting
Prep Time20mins
Cook Time20mins
Total Time40mins
Course: Dessert
Servings: 16
Author: Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey
Ingredients
3cupsCake Flour
1 ¾cupsSugar
3TablespoonsUnsweetened Cocoa Powder
1teaspoonBaking Soda
¼teaspoonSalt
½cupButtercut into cubes
3Eggs
1cupButtermilk
¾cupCanola Oil
1 - 2TablespoonsRed Food Coloringmay do less depending on preference
1TablespoonPure Vanilla Extract
Cream Cheese Frosting:
2 - 8-ouncepkgs. Cream Cheeseroom temperature and softened
12TablespoonsButter¾ cup, softened
4 ½cupsPowdered Sugar
1Vanilla Bean or 2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a standing mixer, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
Beat the butter into the flour mixture, one cube at a time. Continue to beat until it resembles coarse crumbs.
In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, oil, red food coloring, and vanilla.
Add the buttermilk mixture to dry ingredients and beat the batter until thoroughly mixed.
Take a spatula and scrape the sides of the bowl.
Spread into two greased 8 or 9-inch cake pans and smooth tops with a spatula.
Bake for 16-22 minutes, depending on the depth of pans. If the cake layers are thin, they will cook for less time than the thicker layers.
Let cakes cool. Run a knife around edge of cake pan and flip over. Frost with cream cheese frosting.
To make frosting:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. If using a Kitchenaid mixer, use the whisk attachment.
Add powdered sugar and mix until creamy.
If using a vanilla bean, split vanilla bean in half and use the tip of the knife to scrape the vanilla bean paste from each side of the vanilla bean pod.
If using vanilla extract, add to frosting and stir until combined.