Classic Southern Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
A tender cocoa-and-buttermilk layer cake with its signature crimson hue, finished with tangy cream cheese frosting.
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Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cupsall-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cupsgranulated sugar
- 1 tspbaking soda
- 1 tspsalt
- 1 tbspunsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cupsvegetable oil
- 1 cupbuttermilk, room temperature
- 2 largeeggs, room temperature
- 2 tbspred food coloring
- 1 tspvanilla extract
- 1 tspwhite vinegar
- 16 ozcream cheese, softened, for frosting
- 1 cup (2 sticks)unsalted butter, softened, for frosting
- 4 cupspowdered sugar, for frosting
- 1 tspvanilla extract, for frosting
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Method
- 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- 2
Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder together in a large bowl.
- 3
In a separate bowl, whisk oil, buttermilk, eggs, red food coloring, vanilla, and vinegar together.
- 4
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and whisk just until smooth and combined; do not overmix.
- 5
Divide batter evenly between the pans; bake 28-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- 6
Cool in the pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
- 7
For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth; gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until light and fluffy.
- 8
Level the cake layers if needed, then frost between the layers, on top, and around the sides.
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