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4.7 from 45 votes

Homemade Red Velvet Cake

Bright and vibrant in color, this homemade red velvet cake recipe is rich and moist with a tender crumb. Top with cooked frosting for a simple, lightly sweet flavor!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 15
Calories: 584 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the Frosting:
  • 2 cups milk (I used 2%)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups salted butter (4 sticks)
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
For the Cake:
  • 1/2 cup shortening (butter flavor)
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 ounces Red food coloring
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Instructions

For the Frosting:
    Cup of Yum
  1. In a saucepan, whisk the flour into the milk over medium-low heat until it thickens. Stir it constantly, lowering the heat to low if needed. The consistency should be very thick, like mashed potatoes. This step took about 12-15 minutes.
  2. Remove the pan from the heat and set the pan in a bowl of ice for 5-10 minutes to quicken the cooling process. The temperature of the mixture should be at room temperature.
  3. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. If you have a food processor, process the white sugar for a minute or so so that the granules become finer.
  5. While the mixture is cooling, cream together the butter and processed sugar using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment until light and fluffy. Do this for 5 minutes until the sugar is completely creamed and there is no graininess left.
  6. Add the cooled flour mixture and beat it until it all combines and looks like whipped cream. This will take about another 3-5 minutes of beating. Keep scraping the sides of the bowl while the mixture is beating together so that everything gets well incorporated. The mixture have the texture of a fluffy whipped cream. Set aside the frosting until you are ready to frost the cake.
For the Cake
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cream together the shortening and sugar.
  3. Add eggs and mix well.
  4. Add the cocoa and red color and mix again.
  5. Add the buttermilk, salt and flour. Mix well.
  6. Lastly, add the vinegar and baking soda and mix until the batter is smooth.
  7. Grease (with shortening) and flour two 8" round baking pans.
  8. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans.
  9. Bake the cakes for 25-30 minutes or until the center of the cake bounces back when you touch it.
  10. Allow the cakes to cool for 10 minutes, then turn them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Assemble the Cake
  1. Once the cakes are cool, place one cake on a cake plate. Spread frosting on top of that layer, then place the other cake on top of the frosted cake. Use the remainder of the frosting to frost the top and sides of the cake.

Notes

  • The calories shown are based on the cake being cut into 15 pieces and using all of the frosting, with 1 serving being 1 slice of frosted cake. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. Also, if you use less frosting, the serving will be less calories.

Nutrition Information

Calories 584kcal (29%) Carbohydrates 66g (22%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 33g (51%) Saturated Fat 18g (90%) Cholesterol 94mg (31%) Sodium 558mg (23%) Potassium 105mg (3%) Sugar 49g (98%) Vitamin A 870IU (17%) Calcium 69mg (7%) Iron 1.2mg (7%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 15Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 584

% Daily Value*

Calories 584kcal 29%
Carbohydrates 66g 22%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 33g 51%
Saturated Fat 18g 90%
Cholesterol 94mg 31%
Sodium 558mg 23%
Potassium 105mg 2%
Sugar 49g 98%
Vitamin A 870IU 17%
Calcium 69mg 7%
Iron 1.2mg 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.