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Get the Recipe: The Best Red Velvet Cake

(5 stars) 1 review

Ingredients

For the Red Velvet Cake

  • 2 cups (14 ounces) granulated sugar
  • fresh zest from 2 medium oranges
  • 3 cups (12 ounces) cake flour
  • 1 tablespoon natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces // 1 stick) unsalted butter,, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces) vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons red food coloring
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia extract (see baker's notes)
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups (12 fluid ounces) buttermilk,, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 10 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 cup (8 ounces // 2 sticks) unsalted butter,, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 cups (16 ounces) confectioner's sugar

Instructions
 

For the Red Velvet Cake

  • Center a rack in the oven and preheat to 350 (F). Prepare three 8-inch round cake pans by spraying generously with cooking spray, and lining the bottom of each pan with a parchment paper circle. Spray the parchment circle as well.
  • In a small bowl, combine 2 cups granulated sugar and the fresh zest from 2 medium oranges. Use you fingers to rub the orange zest into the sugar until it is fully distributed throughout the sugar and the mixture becomes fragrant — this will help release oils from the orange peel that will make your cake more flavorful. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together 3 cups cake flour, 1 tablespoon natural unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon espresso powder, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt until well combined. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a freestanding electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine 1/2 cup unsalted butter and the sugar from the 2nd step and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. While the butter and sugar are creaming, combine 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons red food coloring, 2 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, and 1/2 teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia extract in a liquid measuring cup, using a fork or small whisk to briefly whisk together the ingredients. Lower the mixer speed to its slowest setting and stream into the oil mixture into the butter and sugar, making sure to stream the mixture down the sides of the bowl to avoid making a mess. Once the oil has been added, turn the mixer speed up to medium and continue beating for another 5 minutes, until the mixture is very light and fluffy and a vibrant pinkish color.
  • Once the mixture is light and fluffy, reduce the mixer speed back down to its lowest setting. Add 3 large eggs, one at a time, only adding the next egg when the previous one has fully incorporated. Be sure to use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
  • Once the eggs have been added, add the flour mixture from the 3rd step in three parts, alternating with 1 1/2 cups buttermilk in two parts, starting and ending with both the flour mixture. Continue mixing until the last of the flour is just incorporated — at this point, it's okay to have one or two flour streaks left in the batter.
  • In a small ramekin, combine 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar with 1 teaspoon baking soda. The mixture will begin to bubble and fizz immediately. Quickly add it to the cake batter and mix for an additional minute or so.
  • Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans, and bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean and the tops of each cake bounce back when gently poked. Allow the cakes to cool in their pans on a wire rack for about 20 minutes, before turning out of the pans onto a wire rack to cool completely.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In the bowl of a freestanding electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine 10 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup (8 ounces // 2 sticks) unsalted butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt. Beat on medium-high speed for 1 to 2 minutes, until well combined.
  • Lower the mixer speed to its slowest setting and add 4 cups (16 ounces) confectioner's sugar all at once. Beat on low speed for a minute or so, just until the confectioner's sugar has been absorbed into the cream cheese and butter. Turn the mixer speed up to medium-high, beating for at least 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. The longer you beat the frosting, the lighter and fluffier it will be.
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