It is a rich and decadent cake with a unique flavor and texture. The red color of the cake comes from cocoa powder and food coloring, while the cream cheese frosting makes it irresistible. Red velvet cake is known for its moistness and sweetness, making it a favorite among many.
Brief History and Origin
The origin of red velvet cake dates back to the 19th century in the United States when Mrs. A.L. White first created it in her cookbook “The Cookery Book of Lady Clark,” published in 1874.
Red Velvet Cake – The Recipe
- Preparation Time: 25 mins
- Cooking Time: 30 mins
- Additional Time: 35 mins
- Total time: 1 hr 30 mins
- Servings: 8
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 300g white sugar
- 95g shortening
- 2 eggs
- 4 tbsp. red food coloring
- 2 tbsp. cocoa
- 235ml buttermilk
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 315g plain flour
- 1 tbsp. distilled white vinegar
- 1 ½ tsp. baking soda
For the Icing
- 235ml milk
- 5 tbsp. plain flour
- 200g icing sugar
- 235ml butter
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and preheat it to 175 degrees C. Also, prepare 2 20cm round pans by lightly greasing them with butter.
For the Cake
- In a bowl, add shortening and sugar, and mix using an electric mixer until fluffy and light. Add eggs, one by one, while whisking continuously.
- Add cocoa powder and red food coloring in a separate bowl, mix to make a paste, then add to the egg mixture until everything combines.
- In a small bowl, mix vanilla, salt, and buttermilk. Alternately add flour and buttermilk mixture to the egg mixture until combined.
- In another bowl, add baking soda and vinegar, gently pour into the cake mixture, and fold until everything combines well, avoid overmixing. Transfer the batter to the two prepared round pans.
- Place the pans in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean from the center of the cakes. Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly, then remove from pan and place on the wire rack until cooled completely.
For the Icing
- Pour milk into a saucepan over low heat, add flour and stir to cook until thick; remove from heat and set aside until cool completely.
- Add vanilla, butter, and sugar to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy and light. Add flour mixture and continue beating until the frosting is smooth and has a good spreading consistency.
- Sandwich the frosting between two sponges, then spread the frosting on top and sides of the cake, level the surfaces with a spatula, and place in the refrigerator until set, then slice and serve.
Popular variations
Here are a few ways you can change this basic recipe to adjust it to your liking:
- Red Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Brownies: The delicious red velvet cake turned into Cheesecake swirl brownies. It is fudgy, chocolaty, cheesy, and delicious. These are so fun to make all year round.
- Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake: This variation of red velvet cakes is for all cheesecake lovers. This divine cake has creamy smooth cheesecake, a red velvet layer, and cream cheese frosting.
- Red Velvet-Berry Cobbler: The red velvet cobbler is a fun and cools summery dessert with freshness from the berries and a decadent chocolatey flavor from the red velvet cake. We also love adding ice cream; it is super cool and delicious.
- Red Velvet Cake Pops: These red velvet cake pops are soft, smooth, chocolaty, and fudgy. We love the hint of vanilla frosting and the candy casing over the cake pops. They are so fun to eat.
- Red Velvet Marble Bundt Cake: The red velvet cake swirls in the traditional vanilla Bundt cake is genius and so delicious. You will get all the flavors with eye-pleasing swirls in every slice of the cake.
