Red Velvet

The Red Velvet is a very popular cake with a velvety red color. It’s important to know that to achieve that characteristic red color, food coloring is usually used. Here is the recipe for you:

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 240 ml of vegetable oil
• 300 g of granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 250 g of flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 pinch of salt
• 15 g of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 240 ml of buttermilk (or, 230 ml of whole milk + 10 ml of lemon juice or white vinegar)
• 2 tablespoons of red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar

For the cream cheese frosting:

• 100 g of butter at room temperature
• 200 g of spreadable cheese (like Philadelphia)
• 350 g of sifted powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Preparation

For the cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (356 °F) and grease and flour two 20 cm diameter cake pans.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using an electric mixer), beat the oil and sugar until they are light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
5. In another bowl, mix the buttermilk with the red food coloring and vanilla.
6. Add the dry ingredient mixture to the egg and sugar mixture, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients.
7. Mix until the batter is homogenous, then add the vinegar and mix for another brief moment.
8. Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans and bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
9. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.

For the cream cheese frosting:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or using an electric mixer), beat the butter until it is fluffy.
2. Add the spreadable cheese and beat until the mixture is well combined and creamy.
3. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time and continue to beat until the cream is smooth and spreadable.
4. Finally, add the vanilla extract and mix for another brief moment.

To assemble the cake:

1. If necessary, level the cooled cakes by cutting off the rounded tops with a serrated knife.
2. Place one layer of cake on a serving plate and spread a generous amount of cream cheese frosting on top.
3. Stack the second layer of cake and cover the entire dessert with the remaining frosting, both on the top and sides.

Curiosity

Red Velvet is often associated with festive occasions, particularly Valentine’s Day and Christmas, thanks to its intense red color. Originally from the United States, this cake has conquered the world with its unique taste and its soft and velvety texture. Moreover, according to some legends, the Red Velvet was created during the Great Depression, when beet juice was used to make cakes moister and to add a touch of color without having to resort to expensive colorants.