It's hard not to love this classic homemade Red Velvet Cake with Butter Roux Frosting. This beautiful cake bakes up tender and moist with that famous beautiful red color we expect in this velvety cake, and making it from scratch is so easy.
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My love of Red Velvet started in the late '60s when this cake wasn't even popular yet. Our neighbor asked us over for cake and to my delight, she sliced up a beautiful red cake with fluffy white ermine icing, I never had anything like it and I immediately fell in love with this cake. Ever since then, I have made this Red Velvet Cake a tradition.
Tradition is such a good thing. It ties us together with stories and memories, it creates a culture in families now and for future generations. So having a cake as a tradition in our home has meant Red Velvet Cake for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and special occasions. This was even my wedding cake
Red Velvet Cake flavor
What makes Red Velvet so unique is its flavor that comes from buttermilk, vanilla, cocoa powder, and vinegar which creates a mild chocolate buttery flavor with a little bit of tang.
The texture of a Red Velvet Cake
The texture is just as unique as the flavor of the cake; it is moist and tender with an amazing velvety crumb.
Another version of this cake is our Red Velvet Pound Cake that's baked in a bundt pan with a cream cheese glaze. This is a great party cake.
What type of frosting goes on a Red Velvet Cake?
- I grew up with only the butter roux frosting I am using today. This icing is almost like whipped cream; it's rich and creamy and pairs well with the acidity of the cake. Butter roux is also known as ermine frosting or boiled milk frosting.
- Butter roux is the traditional Red Velvet cake frosting; I think it is delicious!
- Cream Cheese frosting and American buttercream frosting are also used to ice the cake and are more common than the butter roux.
- Swiss and Italian meringue frosting can also be used for icing the cake.
📃Red Velvet Cake Ingredients
- Cake Flour - I recommend using cake flour as it is a finer flour than all-purpose and give this cake a great texture
- Shortening - I still use solid shortening, you can substitute butter
- Sugar
- Salt
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Vanilla
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Red food coloring - liquid food color works the best
📃Frosting ingredients
- Milk
- Flour
- Butter
- Sugar
🍰 How To Bake A Red Velvet Cake
There are several steps to preparing this cake recipe, meaning several bowls, but it is all worth the dirty dishes.
- The first step in making this cake is mixing the cocoa powder and liquid red food coloring together in a small bowl. I use McCormicks that come in 1-ounce bottles.
- For this recipe, you can use either a handheld electric mixer with a large bowl or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
- In a large mixing bowl beat the solid shortening and sugar together at medium speed until this mixture becomes light and fluffy.
- Measure the buttermilk into a one-cup measuring cup, then add the eggs and vanilla. With a small whisk or a fork beat the eggs into the buttermilk. Alternatively, you can add this to a small bowl and mix these ingredients together.
- To the shortening and sugar mixture add half the flour and salt then mix on medium speed to incorporate. Next, add the buttermilk mixture, and mix to combine at medium speed, scraping the bowl as needed. Add the remaining flour and mix thoroughly to combine.
- Mix in the cocoa powder and food coloring mixture at low speed, scraping the bowl and then mixing again.
- Your last step is to mix the vinegar with the baking soda in a small bowl, then mix this into the batter until well incorporated at low speed.
- Split the batter between two 8" square baking pans and bake at 350 degrees F. for 25 minutes.
How to make butter roux frosting
- In an 8" saucepan mix the flour and sugar together then slowly whisk in the milk. Cook this mixture over medium heat until thick and creamy. This will take about 10 - 14 minutes.
- Pour this mixture into a small bowl and cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to cool for about 30 -45 minutes. Once cooled this mixture should be very thick and paste-like.
- In a large mixing bowl beat the butter and vanilla until creamy.
- Add the cooled flour mixture in thirds to the butter beating a medium speed between each addition, scraping the bowl as needed. Keep beating until the mixture is fluffy, smooth, and creamy.
How To Frost A Cake
- Place one square of cake upside down on a cake plate and add half of the frosting. Spread the icing in an even layer.
- Add the next layer upside down on top of the iced cake layer and spread it with the remaining frosting.
- I get asked why I leave the sides of the cake unfrosted and the reason is (you guessed it) tradition. My mom didn't frost the sides of her cake and I personally love showing off the beautiful red cake inside. And by the way, my Red Velvet cakes are always square. Tradition!
You can make this cake without any decoration, and many times I simply just frost the cake with butter roux frosting, but today roses are in order for the birthday girl.
The answer is nooooo! Red Velvet Cake has a small amount of cocoa powder in it that adds flavor and aids in the red color when mixed with the buttermilk, food coloring, and vinegar. Chocolate cake does not have vinegar as an ingredient and uses more chocolate which gives it a different flavor and a different texture.
No, you don't. The original Red Velvet Cake relied on the chemical reaction of the buttermilk, vinegar, and cocoa powder for coloring. If you choose not to add food coloring your cake with be more of a mahogany color. Opt for the food color to get that classic red cake. I prefer using liquid food coloring as it mixes well with the cocoa powder.
You do have options for natural food coloring such as using beet root powder. I have not used this but adding ¼ cup to the cocoa powder should result in a nice red cake color.
The vinegar either white or apple cider makes all the difference in this cake since reacts with the buttermilk to give this cake its unique flavor, and the vinegar also reacts with the baking soda to help the cake rise.
🥄 Pro Cake Tips
- For this recipe I use cake flour, if you don't have this on hand you can make substitutions. This guide for Baking Ingredients Substitutions will help you decide what to use.
- You can make this cake in two 8" round cake pans, a 13" x 9" cake pan, or approximately 30 cupcakes.
- This cake has a somewhat dense texture to it, however, over creaming the shortening and sugar together could result in a very dense cake, so only mix these ingredients for a minute.
- Try this tip for the red food coloring if you want a deep red color you don't want to use a lot of the food coloring. Pour the 1-ounce bottle in with the cocoa powder as directed, then fill the bottle with water, shake and pour that into the cocoa powder. This adds more color without having to buy another bottle.
More delicious desserts
If you love pumpkin, try this Spicy Pumpkin Sheet Cake with a White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting filled with warming spices.
If chocolate is your thing this three-layer Chocolate Torte Cake will cure your chocolate cravings.
This Sweet Tart and Tangy Lemon Cake is moist and delicious and full of lemon flavor inside and out.
Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies make the best treats for Christmas and Valentine's Day.
There are so many nuances to baking the best red velvet cake. This is my neighbor's original recipe and the results are a stunning cake that deserves to be set on a pedestal.
I am including the recipes for the Red Velvet Cake, Butter Roux Frosting, and Piping Frosting.
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Recipe
Red Velvet Cake with Butter Roux Frosting
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Ingredients
- 1 cup solid vegetable shortening I use Crisco
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 ½ cups cake flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoons vinegar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ounce liquid red food coloring can use 2 oz. for a brighter red color
Butter Roux Frosting
- 1 ½ cups milk
- ¼ cup flour
- 1½ cups butter unsalted, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Perfect Piping Buttercream
- 4 sticks butter unsalted, room temperature
- 2 ¼ pound powdered sugar sifted
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup whipping cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 8" pans with nonstick spray and parchment paper - I use square pans
- In a small bowl mix the cocoa powder and red food coloring together and set aside.
- In a large bowl beat the shortening and sugar together until creamy for one minute.
- In another bowl mix the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla,
- To the bowl of shortening and sugar, add the flour and buttermilk mixture alternating between the two. Mix well after each addition. Add the salt
- Pour the cocoa powder mixture into the bowl and mix until combined.
- In a small bowl mix the vinegar and baking soda, then mix into the batter until combined.
- Pour the batter between the two baking pans. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool on racks for before removing from pans.
Butter Roux Frosting
- In a heavy saucepan whisk the flour and sugar together than slowly whisk in the milk. Cook this mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth and thick, about 10 - 14 minutes.
- Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. Place a piece of plastic over the mixture. Let the mixture cool completely, about 30 - 45 minutes in the fridge This will be thick like pudding.
- Beat the butter and vanilla for about 5 minutes until fluffy.
- Add the cooled flour milk mixture in thirds, beating well after each addition until smooth and creamy. Scrape the bowl and mix still smooth.
Frosting the cake
- Once the cake has fully cooled place one layer on a cake plate with the bottom facing up to get a nice flat surface then spoon the icing onto the middle of the cake. With a large icing knife spread the icing to the sides of the cake. Top with the second layer of cake, again flip the cake over and spoon the icing onto the middle of the cake and spread to the sides. To achieve the pretty scallops on the sides of the cake use a #1 icing tip to pipe rosettes around the edge of the cake.You can leave the side unfrosted if you like or frost the sides.
Perfect Piping Buttercream
- Mix the butter until smooth and fluffy, then add the cream, cornstarch, and salt.
- Scrape the bowl then add the sifted powdered sugar in batches. Beat to combine and scraping bowl occasionally.
- Add the almond extract.
- Adjust the consistency of the icing by adding more powdered sugar or more cream for your desired piping.
- Add food coloring.
- This is a crusting buttercream so keep a plastic wrap over the bowl.
This buttercream can be stored in the refrigerator for two weeks or it can be frozen for six months.
Storing the cake
- This cake will keep for several days in an airtight container.
Notes
- Two - 8" round cake pans
- One - 13" x 9" cake pan
- Make about 30 cupcakes
Nutrition
Happy Birthday to my daughter Juliane who I know will be carrying on this delicious cake tradition for her family too.
First published: Nov 14, 2019, Last updated: June 16, 2021, for better readability.
Thank you for stopping by the One Hot Oven blog. Please leave a comment to say Hello or just let me know what you are baking these days, I always love hearing from fellow bakers. Have any questions or just want to chat about the recipe? Please visit my about page for information, and I’ll be happy to help!
About Jere'
From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending. Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory recipes with all my baking friends.
Marty Sharp
This is one special cake, I grew up having red velvet cake for special occasions and decided to make this for my retirement party. I love that you made it square but I only had round pans, but I didn't ice the sides like your show. I like that look.
Sherry McClellan
My mother made me this cake when I was a little girl. It was my favorite. We make the roux frosting. One trick is to beat the butter and sugar for quite awhile. That will take care of the grainy texture. I do add a dash of salt. And I only use 1 Oz of red food coloring. I fill the bottle up with water for the 2nd ounce. I made this cake yesterday for my granddaughter’s. They love it. One said, “I want this cake for my wedding cake.” That must mean they love it too.
Jere Cassidy
That is a great tip on using just one bottle of red food coloring and adding water to the bottle for the additional color. I am so doing that. Tell your granddaughter that I also had a red velvet cake at my wedding, and both of my daughter's plan to have red velvet as well. It is such a tradition to bake this cake for all of our special occasions.
Ashok
Thanks Guys, Your Recipe Was Too Fantastic. Me and My Family Loved it. I Will Share your Rrecipe with my friends. Hope they will love it too.
Jackie
Should I use the dutch-pressed (alkalized) cocoa powder for this recipe? There are also unsweetened cocoa powders that aren't dutch-pressed, so they have acidity. Not sure which one to pick!
Jere Cassidy
Hi Jackie, you do not need to use dutch-processed cocoa powder. I usually use Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder. If you only have the dutch-processed that will work to considering the recipe uses a small amount.
Penny
Love the frosting. But we have always put pecans and coconut in it.
Jere Cassidy
I love pecans and coconut, I'll have to try that in the icing.
gary l
So true about the red cake tradition. My grandmother made this cake in the middle 60's and for the following approximately 40 years I had red cake on my birthday. Getting older and watching weight, I stopped the red cake tradition, but still make it every once in a while on special occasions. I always need to look up the recipe every time. Yours is that recipe of my grandmother's. The best cake ever. I actually cannot eat red cake made by anyone else using any other recipe. And that butter roux frosting is a must. I usually split the cake layers in half to get more layers and thus more frosting. My next trick is to make a white velvet cake, eliminating the food coloring, chocolate and egg yolks, and adding more egg whites. Thank you for your comments, so true.
Jere Cassidy
Thank you for your kind comments. I love to hear about different families food traditions, I think they are so important. I so want to try your white velvet cake, it sounds amazing. I need to add this to the blog.
Amy
Cake was great, but the butter roux frosting didn't do it for me. Just kind of tasted like eating a stick of butter.
Katherine Brown
Is it granular or powdered sugar for the roux frosting? I've use granulated and it's still grainy.
Jere Cassidy
Try this, mix the sugar in with the flour and milk mixture, or make sure to whip the frosting longer.
Katherine Brown
I'm making the butter roux frosting but it's very grainy. The sugar has not dissolved. Ideas?
Kelly Anthony
You answered all the questions I had about red velvet cake. I've never made a red velvet cake and have wondered if it is considered a chocolate cake and now I know the answer. Thanks for sharing one of your favorite traditions.
Jere Cassidy
Glad you liked the post, hope you make a red velvet soon
Danielle Wolter
This sounds just incredible! I am drooling over that butter roux frosting - yum! Can't wait to try it!
Jere Cassidy
I hesitated to mention how incredible the frosting is, it's almost like candy.
Megan Ellam
I am a big red velvet fan and this looks super tasty. Thanks for sharing Jeré.
kim
So delicious! Everyone needs a great red velvet cake recipe and this is definitely mine!
Jere Cassidy
Thanks so much, this is a good recipe
Beth
I am so curious about that butter roux icing! I've not heard of it but it sounds incredible! Red Velvet cakes are THE BEST!
Jere Cassidy
Not many people use butter roux, but it is so delicious.
Caroline
I love red velvet cake and yours looks amazing!! I'm definitely going to try this out, thanks for sharing.
OneHotOven
Thanks, I hope you do give it a try.