The Only Red Velvet Cake Recipe You'll Need
Founders
12-16 slices
15 minutes
35 minutes
Soft, lightly chocolatey, tangy, and incredibly moist — with a classic cream cheese frosting. No complicated steps, no fancy techniques. Just a reliable cake that works every time.
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1–2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk (see swap below)
- ¾ cup (180ml) neutral oil (canola or vegetable)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1–2 tbsp red food colouring (adjust for colour)
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, slightly cool (not room-temperature soft — see tip below)
- ½ cup (115g) butter, slightly cool
- 3–4 cups (360–480g) icing sugar, starting with 3 cups
- 1–2 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt — don’t skip it (see tip below)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 8-inch round pans or one 9×13 pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
In a small bowl, mix the cocoa powder with the food colouring and vanilla to form a thick paste. This “blooms” the cocoa, deepening flavour and ensuring even colour distribution without streaks.
Add the cocoa paste, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vinegar directly to the large bowl.
Whisk or stir until fully combined and smooth — this batter is forgiving, don’t overthink it.
Pour into prepared pan(s). Bake 8-inch layers 25–30 minutes; 9×13 pan 30–35 minutes. A toothpick should come out clean.
Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting
Start with cream cheese and butter that are slightly cool — not fully softened. This keeps the frosting stable and pipeable rather than soupy.
Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
Add icing sugar gradually, starting with 3 cups. Add more only if needed for consistency.
Mix in vanilla and the pinch of salt — the salt is essential to balance the sweetness and prevent the frosting from tasting cloying.
Beat until fluffy and spreadable. Stop as soon as it comes together; overbeating can cause it to loosen.
Assembly Options
Easiest: Frost right in the pan and serve as a sheet cake
Layer cake: Stack, fill, and lightly frost — rustic is perfect
Birthday style: Add sprinkles, crumb coat, or simple piping