Homemade Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For the Red Velvet Cake:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk (at room temperature)
2 large eggs (at room temperature)
2 tablespoons red food coloring (gel or liquid)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon white vinegar
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
4-5 cups powdered sugar (adjust for desired sweetness)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
Instructions
For the Cake:
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, red food coloring, vanilla extract, and vinegar until smooth.
Add Dry to Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cake dense.
Bake the Cake: Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove them from the pans and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
Beat Cream Cheese and Butter: In a large bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating until the frosting is smooth and fluffy. If the frosting is too thick, you can add a small amount of milk or cream to reach the desired consistency.
Flavor the Frosting: Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
Assemble the Cake:
Frost the Cake: Once the cakes are completely cool, place the first cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a generous amount of cream cheese frosting on top of the first layer. Place the second cake layer on top and spread frosting on top and around the sides to cover the entire cake.
Decorate (Optional): You can decorate the cake with additional frosting, red velvet cake crumbs, or fresh berries.
Serve:
Once your Homemade Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is fully assembled and decorated, slice and enjoy! The cake will stay moist and delicious for a few days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.