Description
Indulgent red velvet cake combines rich cocoa and buttermilk for a luxurious dessert with deep crimson color. Cream cheese frosting complements the cake’s velvety texture, promising a delightful experience you won’t soon forget.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
- 2 ¼ cups (279 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
- ½ cup (109 grams) vegetable oil
- 1 stick (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup plain hot coffee or boiling water
- 3 tsps red gel food coloring, plus more if needed
- Vanilla extract to taste
- 16 oz (454 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 227 grams unsalted butter
- 4 cups (500 grams) powdered sugar, sifted
Instructions
- Preheat Preparation: Set oven to 325°F (163°C) and thoroughly coat three 8-inch round cake pans with butter or non-stick spray.
- Cocoa Infusion: Whisk hot coffee and unsweetened cocoa powder into a smooth, intense liquid base that will enhance the cake’s rich flavor profile.
- Dry Ingredient Fusion: Combine flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl, ensuring complete and uniform integration.
- Liquid Mixture Creation: Blend vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, red food coloring, and white vinegar until achieving a vibrant crimson consistency that defines red velvet’s signature appearance.
- Batter Integration: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, incorporating the coffee-cocoa infusion and stirring until color is perfectly uniform and no streaks remain.
- Pan Preparation: Evenly distribute batter across prepared pans, smoothing surfaces to eliminate potential air pockets and ensure consistent baking.
- Baking Process: Slide pans into preheated oven, rotating midway through 25-30 minute cooking time to guarantee even browning and checking with a toothpick for perfect doneness.
- Cooling Stage: Allow cakes to rest in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack for complete cooling, preparing for the frosting application.
- Frosting Finalization: Whip cream cheese, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract into a smooth, creamy mixture that will elegantly coat the cooled cake layers.
- Presentation: Carefully layer and frost the cake, creating a polished and professional dessert that showcases the rich red velvet tradition.
Notes
- Precise Temperature Matters: Maintaining exact 325°F ensures perfect cake texture and prevents drying or underbaking.
- Coffee Cocoa Magic: Hot coffee intensifies chocolate flavor and creates deeper, richer cake complexity.
- Color Control: Use gel food coloring for vibrant red hue without altering batter consistency.
- Gentle Mixing Strategy: Overmixing develops gluten, resulting in tough cake texture; fold ingredients delicately to preserve tenderness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 50 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg