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The Best Southern Style Moist Red Velvet Cake From Scratch with Classic Cream Cheese Frosting

A tall, moist slice of red velvet cake featuring three layers of deep red cake separated by thick white cream cheese frosting.
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You can create a show-stopping, ultra-moist, and soft red velvet layer cake from scratch. This authentic Southern recipe balances cocoa flavor with buttermilk for a tender crumb, finished with the perfect homemade cream cheese frosting. It is ideal for birthdays or any celebration.

Ingredients

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  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup red food coloring (liquid or gel)
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil and granulated sugar until combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  3. In a separate small bowl, mix the cocoa powder, baking soda, and red food coloring until smooth. Add this mixture to the wet ingredients and mix well.
  4. In a small bowl, combine the white vinegar and buttermilk.
  5. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined; do not overmix.
  6. Gently fold in the vinegar/buttermilk mixture last. The batter will be thin.
  7. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
  8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Prepare the cream cheese frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
  10. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, beating until fully incorporated. Stir in the vanilla extract until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  11. Once the cakes are completely cool, frost and stack the layers to create your red velvet layer cake.

Notes

  • For the most vibrant red velvet cake color, use a high-quality gel food coloring instead of liquid coloring.
  • True Southern red velvet cake gets its slight tang and moistness from the reaction between buttermilk and vinegar/baking soda, not just from the coloring.
  • You can make this an easy baking recipe by preparing the batter ahead of time and chilling it for up to 24 hours before baking.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonfulsnap.com/red-velvet-cake-moist-easy-from-scratch/