This cake, though typically intimidating with that vivid crimson colour, is less complicated to make than it seems to be, and even simpler with our sheet cake model. You get every little thing you’re keen on about this gorgeous and scrumptious cake however in a straightforward, fool-proof recipe that also offers you moist cake served straight from the pan.
Love crimson velvet cake as a lot as we do? Strive our authentic Most Superb Pink Velvet Cake or our dye-free, Naturally Pink Velvet Cake.
Why Our Recipe
- A simple sheet cake model of a basic crimson velvet cake that feeds a crowd.
- One-bowl cake batter retains every little thing easy and all the time scrumptious.
- Our recipe is tried-and-true, making a moist and fluffy cake each time.


The cocoa powder imparts a refined chocolatey trace with out making it as wealthy as a full-blown chocolate cake. In the meantime, the buttermilk and vinegar introduce a faint tanginess, balancing out the sweetness. This cake’s delicate dance of flavors, complemented by the creamy tang of cream cheese frosting, renders it unmistakably distinctive. It’s neither overtly chocolate nor purely vanilla, however relatively a scrumptious in-between.
Ingredient Notes


- All-Function Flour: The principle structural part. It gives the cake’s texture and physique.
- Cornstarch: We use cornstarch on this recipe to imitate cake flour. Truffles with cocoa powder can’t fairly maintain up when utilizing precise cake flour (it doesn’t give it sufficient construction) so we mimic it by including in cornstarch.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Imparts a slight chocolate taste, giving depth to the cake’s style. It additionally performs a task within the cake’s colour. Dutch-processed cocoa can be utilized. Cut back quantity of cocoa to 1/4 cup for a brighter crimson hue.
- Baking Soda and Powder: You’ll want each. Remember to examine the expiration date to keep away from a flat cake.
- Eggs: Normal Grade AA massive eggs will work completely.
- Buttermilk: Provides acidity, tanginess, and moisture. Reacts with baking soda to assist the cake rise.
- Salted Butter: It’s also possible to use unsalted butter and add a pinch of salt.
- Distilled White Vinegar: Only a contact of vinegar introduces this cake’s iconic tang.
- Pink Meals Coloring: Normal crimson meals dye offers this recipe its signature colour. In the event you’d like a pure dye choice, you can also make your personal from beets or you’ll find all kinds of pure meals dyes on Amazon.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract offers the perfect taste, however imitation vanilla additionally works.
- Cream Cheese: Softened and full-fat works greatest for this creamy frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: Add it in half a cup at a time. Extra powdered sugar makes for a thicker frosting. How thick you make it’s a matter of private desire.
Frosting Choices
Pink velvet cake pairs superbly with a wide range of frostings, although I simply can’t think about crimson velvet cake with out cream cheese frosting. Listed below are a number of scrumptious frosting choices to select from:
Buttercream Frosting: For individuals who desire a silky easy and candy choice, buttercream frosting is good. It’s versatile sufficient to be flavored or coloured and gives a basic, elegant end to the cake.
Cream Cheese Frosting: The basic selection for crimson velvet cake, cream cheese frosting gives a wealthy, tangy complement to the cake’s refined cocoa taste. Its creamy texture and decadent style make it a perennial favourite.
Ermine Frosting: Often known as boiled milk frosting, Ermine frosting gives a lighter different with a fluffy texture and a refined sweetness. It’s a standard selection that pairs splendidly with the cake’s trace of chocolate.


Chocolate Cake vs. Pink Velvet Cake:
It is a typical false impression that crimson velvet cake is simply chocolate cake with crimson meals coloring. Pink velvet cake does have some chocolate taste to it, however it’s also barely acidic and tangy, as a result of buttermilk, vinegar, and both cream cheese or ermine frosting. On this recipe, we embody the directions for an ermine frosting that we love as an incredible stability to the tangy taste of crimson velvet, however it’s also possible to use cream cheese frosting.
Presentation Concepts
Serve straight from the pan when you’re pressed for time, or you possibly can simply use cookie cutters to chop the sheet cake into excellent rounds and even hearts for an important day.
For holidays, prime with festive sprinkles going with no matter colours go together with the vacation. For Valentine’s day, crimson coronary heart candies are the proper decide.
Cake crumbs are a typical path to sprinkle on prime to offer distinction between the white frosting and the attractive, crimson colour of the cake. Simply skim off just a little from the highest or sneak some from a bit and fill it in with frosting. We received’t inform.
Contemporary fruit may also work. For summer season, cherries give a daring, fairly look. For winter, sugared cranberries and sprigs of rosemary offers a surprising look.
Storage Directions
Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 5 days.
Freeze particular person slices separated on a baking sheet. As soon as frozen stable, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and retailer in an hermetic container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature.