Red Velvet Cake

Recipe courtesy Johnnie Gabriel

Show: Paula's PartyEpisode: Atlanta Eats

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (68)

Cook Time:
1 hr 0 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
6 to 8 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: 30 min
Cook: 1 hr 0 min
Total:: 1 hr 45 min

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Ingredients

For the Red Velvet Cake:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (recommended: White Lily)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cocoa
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups canola oil
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 (1-ounce) bottle red food coloring
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup buttermilk

For the cream cheese frosting:

1/2 cup margarine
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
1 box confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped lightly toasted pecans

For the Red Velvet Cake:

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) round layer cake pans.

Sift flour, baking soda and coco together. Beat sugar and eggs together in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl mix together oil, vinegar, food coloring, and vanilla. Add to the bowl of eggs and sugar and beat until combined.

Add the flour mixture and the buttermilk to the wet mixture by alternating the buttermilk and dry ingredients. Always start with the flour and end with the flour.

Pour batter into pans. Tap them on the table to level out the batter and release air bubbles. Bake for 25 minutes or until a cake tester inserted near the middle comes out clean but be careful not to over bake or you'll end up with a dry cake.

Let layers cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes before turning out of pan. Cool completely before frosting.

For the cream cheese frosting:

This is the "official" cream cheese frosting recipe but we always use about 1 1/2 recipes on each cake to cover it well.

Let margarine and cream cheese soften to room temperature. Cream well. Add sugar and beat until mixed but not so much that the frosting becomes "loose". Add vanilla and nuts. Spread between layers and on top and sides of cake.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Red Velvet Cake
geri sarasota, FL 11-13-2009
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wow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

i love this cake ! its so good! it looks so creamy and moist and appetizing even on the computer screen! WOW!
recipe Red Velvet Cake
Monica asheville, NC 11-10-2009
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Awesome Red Velvet Recipe!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I've been baking cakes for a long long time and I am always in search for the best easiest home made cake recipes that can... hold up to being decorated and traveling. This cake has it all, it's moist, tastes delicous, and has the perfect firmness without being tough. I also found it very easy to put together. The faster I can get a cake in the oven from mixing the better. I will definately be using this red velvet from now on! Watch out Christmas baking here I come! LOL MONSTER CAKES*Read more
recipe Red Velvet Cake
Antoinette Blytheville, AR 11-08-2009
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My first time making the cake and I happy
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

Me and My mother are trying to find some new dishes for thanksgiving this year. Shes making desserts and im trying to find... cassorles. When i came on this website i seen a picture of a red velvet cake. So i was like " ILL MAKE THAT" I seen the recipe and I was happy. I made it today and it was really good. For the people who say it wasnt good, its either the way you made it the ingredients you used or its your taste buds. there is nothing wrong with this cake.Read more
recipe Red Velvet Cake
Vanessa St. Stephen, SC 10-29-2009
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Fantastic
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

The red velvet cake recipe was given to me by a friend of a friend over 15 years ago. Surprisingly it is the same recipe... that Paula uses. There is only one exception, I use white lily self-rising flour. I still use the baking soda and it comes our perfect and delicious every time. I also put in 1 tsp butter flavoring in the cake mix and add 4 oz more cream cheese to the frosting. It's the perfect red velvet cake.Read more
recipe Red Velvet Cake
Jacqueline Chicago, IL 10-24-2009
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Its not that difficult...
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

You must not know how to bake at all if you cant pull off this recipe. It needs a tweak but it is moist and delicious, my... boyfriend and friends ate the entire thing! I am completely a novice and can pull this off. Try and try again I guessRead more
recipe Red Velvet Cake
Elizabeth Palatine, IL 10-10-2009
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I don't know why everyone is having a tough time with this recipe!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

Geez, I swear people must not know how to bake on here. I know a lot of people who *think* they can bake, but don't really... know much about the chemistry which is what makes baking work. Every good baker knows that you do have to tweak recipes for your taste, elevation, humidity, and variations in your local ingredients. I use a little less oil than is called for in this recipe and typically make cupcakes rather than cakes. I also use butter rather than margarine for the frosting and use quite a bit more cocoa powder. I love this recipe because it's a very easy jumping-off point and gives you the highlights of what makes a good red velvet cake. I've never had it come out dry or flat--are you accounting for elevation, measuring by aerating/sifting your flower and then gently knifing off the top, using fresh leavening agents, and fresh eggs? If you overlook any of those steps, you will wind up with a floury, flat, or dense cake. Oh, a helpful word of wisdom, if you have a food service store in your area (I live near a GFS), you can get a 32-oz. bottle of food coloring for $10.39. A 1-oz bottle runs you about $3.00 at the grocery store.Read more