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Aunt Margaret's Red Velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, decorated with walnuts and served on a white plate

Aunt Margaret's Red Velvet Cake (Secret Recipe)

A decadent crumbly and moist red velvet cake recipe with a simple yet rich cream cheese frosting.
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Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

Red Velvet Cake

  • 2½ cups Sifted flour
  • 1½ cups Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon Cocoa
  • 1 cup Buttermilk
  • 2 cups Oil
  • 1 teaspoon Vinegar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 oz bottle Red food coloring
  • 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1 block Cream cheese  room temperature
  • 1 stick Butter room temperature
  • 3-4 cups Confectioners sugar sifted
  • 3-4 tablespoons Vanilla

Instructions
 

Red Velvet Cake

  • Preheat oven to 325 F.
  • Generously grease and flour (2) 9-inch round cake pans. Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cocoa powder. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the sugar and vegetable oil. Then, mix in the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and red food coloring until combined. Stir in white vinegar.
  • Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients a little at a time, mixing after each addition, just until combined. (Batter will be thin.)
  • Pour the batter evenly into each pan. Then, bake on the middle rack for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it. Do not overbake as the cake will continue to cook as it cools.
  • Let pans cool on a cooling rack until the pans are warm to the touch. Then, slide a knife or offset spatula around the inside of the pans to loosen the cake from the pan.
  •  Gently remove the cakes from the pan and let them finish cooling so you can frost them. (The warm cake will be very delicate.)

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Add cream cheese into mixer bowl and mix alone first.
  • Then add butter and mix until mixed into cream cheese well.
  • Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
  • Chill for at least an hour before use. Frost the cake and serve!

Notes

Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your eggs, buttermilk, and cream cheese are at room temperature for smooth mixing.
Sift Your Flour: This ensures a light, even texture in the cake.
Don’t Overbake: Keep an eye on the cake as it bakes. Overbaking can dry it out.
Chill the Frosting: Let the cream cheese frosting chill for at least an hour before spreading—it will be easier to work with.
Level Your Layers: If your cake layers dome a bit, use a serrated knife to level them before frosting for a professional look.
Keyword cream cheese frosting, red velvet cake, secret recipe