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The Best Authentic Southern Red Velvet Layer Cake with Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting

A tall, moist slice of red velvet cake with three layers of deep red cake and thick white cream cheese frosting.
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Make this ultra-moist and soft Southern Red Velvet Cake from scratch. This classic recipe features a tender crumb and is paired with rich, homemade cream cheese frosting, making it a showstopper for any birthday or holiday gathering.

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 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons red food coloring (liquid or gel)
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the 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 buttermilk, white vinegar, and red food coloring. Set aside.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
  5. Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. Add the buttermilk mixture and mix until blended. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until the batter is smooth. Do not overmix.
  6. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
  7. 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.
  8. Prepare the cream cheese frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until creamy. Mix in the vanilla extract.
  9. Once the cakes are completely cool, frost the first layer, top with the second layer, and frost the top and sides of the cake.

Notes

  • For a vibrant red cake coloring, use a high-quality gel food coloring instead of liquid coloring.
  • True Southern red velvet cake gets its slight tang and moist texture from the combination of buttermilk and vinegar reacting with the baking soda.
  • If you want a slightly easier assembly, you can use this recipe to make a single 9×13 inch sheet cake instead of layers.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://seventhflavour.com/best-authentic-southern-red-velvet-cake/