Name: Southern Red Velvet Cake Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 ½ cups granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon fine salt; 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 ½ cups vegetable oil; 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature); 2 large eggs; 2 tablespoons red food coloring; 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; ½ cup unsalted butter (softened); 8 oz cream cheese (softened); 4 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Few desserts inspire awe quite like a decadent slice of Southern Red Velvet Cake. With its striking crimson hue, delicate, moist crumb, and rich cream cheese frosting, this classic treat is the star of every celebration in the South for a reason. It’s a cake that begs to be shared and savored, combining subtle cocoa flavor and tangy buttermilk in the most irresistible way. If you’re searching for a show-stopping bake with history, personality, and a guaranteed “wow” with every forkful, you’re about to find your new favorite recipe.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Southern Red Velvet Cake Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of Southern Red Velvet Cake is in the perfect balance of pantry staples and a couple of transformative touches. Each ingredient plays its part to create that signature flavor, bold color, and tender bite. Gather these with care — you’re about to make a cake worth celebrating!

All-purpose flour: Provides structure and a soft, fine crumb essential to red velvet’s signature texture.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps lock in moisture for irresistible tenderness.
Baking soda: Ensures a light rise and adds just enough airiness to lift each bite.
Fine salt: Enhances all the other flavors and keeps the sweetness in check.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: Adds a hint of subtle chocolate without overpowering the red color.
Vegetable oil: Makes the cake extra moist and keeps it soft for days.
Buttermilk (room temperature): Adds tang and reacts with baking soda for a plush, tender cake.
Large eggs: Bind everything together and give the cake structure and richness.
Red food coloring: This is the classic pop of color that makes Southern Red Velvet Cake so iconic.
White distilled vinegar: Reacts with cocoa and buttermilk for that unmistakable red velvet flavor.
Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavors and perfumes the cake with vanilla warmth.
Unsalted butter (softened): The creamy base for a luscious, tangy frosting.
Cream cheese (softened): Brings rich tanginess and the silkiest texture to the frosting.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens up the frosting and makes it perfectly spreadable.
Vanilla extract (for frosting): Adds depth and classic flavor to the creamy topping.

How to Make Southern Red Velvet Cake

Step 1: Prepare Your Cake Pans & Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and get your cake pans ready before you do anything else. Generously grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans — this extra step ensures your beautiful cake layers come out in one gorgeous piece, not stuck to the pan.

Step 2: Sift and Mix Your Dry Ingredients

Grab a large bowl and sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Don’t skip this step! Sifting eliminates any lumps and guarantees each ingredient is evenly distributed, which is key to a soft, consistent crumb in your Southern Red Velvet Cake.

Step 3: Whisk Together the Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk up the vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, red food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla extract. This vivid mixture is what gives red velvet its signature brightness and tender texture. Be sure everything is at room temperature for a smooth, well-blended batter.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures

Slowly pour the wet ingredients into your dry mixture, stirring just until combined. A gentle hand is best here — overmixing can make the cake tough. You’re looking for a gorgeous ruby batter that’s just incorporated. Divide it evenly between your pans.

Step 5: Bake and Cool the Cakes

Slide the pans into the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, just until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in their pans for 10 minutes (resist the urge to rush!) then carefully turn them out onto wire racks to cool completely. This prevents sticking and gives your cake a lovely, even texture.

Step 6: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

While your cakes cool, it’s frosting time. With a stand or hand mixer, beat softened butter and cream cheese together until completely smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, followed by the vanilla, beating until it’s silky and fluffy. This classic cream cheese frosting is the crowning glory of a great Southern Red Velvet Cake.

Step 7: Frost and Assemble

Once completely cooled, place your first cake layer on a serving plate, spread a thick even layer of frosting, then top with the second layer. Smooth frosting over the top and sides for a bakery-worthy finish. For extra decadence, consider brushing each layer with simple syrup before frosting — a baker’s trick for an ultra-moist crumb.

How to Serve Southern Red Velvet Cake

Garnishes

The classic look for Southern Red Velvet Cake includes a scattering of cake crumbs on top or a few pretty swirls of extra cream cheese frosting. Fresh berries, toasted pecans, or a pinch of cocoa powder make elegant additions, bringing a pop of color or crunch that’s just delightful on the plate.

Side Dishes

Pairing your cake with the right side makes every slice feel special. Serve it alongside fresh strawberries, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a mug of hot coffee. These simple, comforting sides let the lush flavor of Southern Red Velvet Cake shine front and center.

Creative Ways to Present

If you love a wow-worthy presentation, try assembling mini cakes with biscuit cutters, or arrange sliced cake into parfait glasses, layering bits of cake and frosting like a Southern trifle. Cupcakes are another crowd-pleasing option, each topped with a generous swirl of frosting.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any leftover Southern Red Velvet Cake fresh by storing it tightly covered in the refrigerator. The cake stays moist and the flavors deepen after a day or two, making late-night slices even better.

Freezing

To freeze, wrap whole layers (unfrosted) or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then store in a freezer-safe bag. The cake thaws beautifully; just bring it to room temperature in the fridge overnight before enjoying.

Reheating

You don’t typically need to reheat Southern Red Velvet Cake, but if you love that warm, just-baked flavor, pop a slice in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. The frosting will soften slightly, making each bite extra luscious.

FAQs

Why does Southern Red Velvet Cake use vinegar and buttermilk?

Vinegar and buttermilk are key to the unique flavor and tender crumb of a true Southern Red Velvet Cake. Together, they react with the baking soda and cocoa powder, helping create that soft texture and giving the cake its softly tangy, complex taste.

Can I use less food coloring in the recipe?

Absolutely! You can reduce the food coloring for a more muted shade, or use a natural food dye if you prefer. The vibrant red is traditional, but the flavor shines no matter the intensity of color.

How do I get the cake layers perfectly even?

Weighing the batter into each pan with a kitchen scale gives the most even results. Also, gently smoothing the tops with a spatula before baking helps guarantee gorgeous, even layers for your Southern Red Velvet Cake.

Is it possible to make this cake gluten-free?

Yes, you can! Substitute your favorite 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. Be sure to check that all other ingredients are gluten-free, and your cake will be just as delightful.

Can I prepare the frosting in advance?

Definitely. Cream cheese frosting stores well in the fridge for up to three days. Just let it soften at room temperature and whip it briefly before spreading on your cake for a fluffy, fresh texture.

Final Thoughts

Baking a Southern Red Velvet Cake is more than just mixing up ingredients; it’s about creating a memory, a centerpiece, a reason to gather. If you haven’t tried it yet, now is the perfect moment to treat yourself and your loved ones to this vibrant Southern classic. Happy baking!

Southern Red Velvet Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 12 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 12 slices 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Indulge in the rich, velvety goodness of a classic Southern Red Velvet Cake. This vibrant dessert features moist layers of red-hued cake, perfectly complemented by a luscious cream cheese frosting. A must-try for any cake enthusiast!

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine salt
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder

Wet Ingredients:

1 ½ cups vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For Frosting:

½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

Preheat and Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder in a large bowl.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla.
Blend Batter: Slowly add wet ingredients to dry, mixing until just combined. Divide batter between pans.
Bake: Bake for 30–35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool and Frost: Cool cakes in pans for 10 mins, then transfer to wire racks. Make frosting by beating butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until fluffy. Frost cakes.