This classic red velvet cake brings together layers of moist, buttery, chocolate-flavored cake with velvety cream cheese frosting. Learn how to make the striking chocolate cake, which is sure to be an instant hit with all of your party guests.

Simple Red Velvet Cake Recipe: How to Make Red Velvet Cake

Red velvet cake is a popular dessert made with cocoa-flavored moist batter tinted red with liquid food coloring. Tangy [cream cheese frosting](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cream-cheese-frosting-recipe) is the traditional topping for this rich, decadent cake, but home cooks can cover it in glaze, confectioners’ sugar, chocolate ganache, or [buttercream frosting](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/buttercream-frosting-recipe). With its bright red color and rich chocolate flavor, red velvet cake makes the perfect festive addition to any Christmas party or Valentine’s Day celebration.
Follow these tips to make the best red velvet cake possible: 

1. __Spoon and level your flour__. For a light, airy cake, spoon the cake flour into the measuring cup and level off the top, rather than scooping it directly into the flour. This technique will prevent you from using too much flour, resulting in a denser cake. 
2. __Adjust the food coloring__. Adjust the amount of liquid or gel food coloring in the recipe until you’ve reached your desired red cake batter tone. Alternatively, omit the red dye to make a light chocolate cake.
3. __Experiment with toppings__. Cream cheese frosting is the most traditional topping for red velvet cake, but you can switch it up by using [buttercream frosting](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/german-buttercream-recipe) or [chocolate frosting](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chocolate-whipped-cream-frosting-recipe). Top the frosted cake with shaved chocolate, crushed nuts, chocolate sprinkles, or discarded red velvet cake crumbles. 
4. __Store properly__. Assembled red velvet cake will keep well covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Once you’ve covered it in cream cheese frosting, the cake should only sit out at room temperature for a maximum of 3 hours, or else the frosting will melt.
5. __Prepare in advance__. Prepare the cake and the frosting for this dessert up to 1 day in advance for easy assembly. Wrap the baked and cooled cake layers tightly in plastic wrap and store them at room temperature. Store cream cheese frosting in an airtight container or piping bag in the refrigerator. 
6. __Change up the format__. Swap the round cake pans for a larger rectangular sheet cake pan for a low-effort, crowd-friendly dessert. Alternatively, pour the batter into cupcake tins to create super moist [red velvet cupcakes](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/red-velvet-cupcakes-recipe). Remember that these handheld treats require a shorter baking time, while a sheet cake will require more time in the oven.
This classic red velvet cake brings together layers of moist, buttery, chocolate-flavored cake with velvety cream cheese frosting. Learn how to make the striking chocolate cake, which is sure to be an instant hit with all of your party guests.

Red velvet cake is a popular dessert made with cocoa-flavored moist batter tinted red with liquid food coloring. Tangy <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cream-cheese-frosting-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cream-cheese-frosting-recipe","linkCopy":"cream cheese frosting","category":null}'>cream cheese frosting</a> is the traditional topping for this rich, decadent cake, but home cooks can cover it in glaze, confectioners’ sugar, chocolate ganache, or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/buttercream-frosting-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/buttercream-frosting-recipe","linkCopy":"buttercream frosting","category":null}'>buttercream frosting</a>. With its bright red color and rich chocolate flavor, red velvet cake makes the perfect festive addition to any Christmas party or Valentine’s Day celebration.

What Is Red Velvet Cake?

Follow these tips to make the best red velvet cake possible: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Spoon and level your flour. For a light, airy cake, spoon the cake flour into the measuring cup and level off the top, rather than scooping it directly into the flour. This technique will prevent you from using too much flour, resulting in a denser cake. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Adjust the food coloring. Adjust the amount of liquid or gel food coloring in the recipe until you’ve reached your desired red cake batter tone. Alternatively, omit the red dye to make a light chocolate cake. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Experiment with toppings. Cream cheese frosting is the most traditional topping for red velvet cake, but you can switch it up by using <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/german-buttercream-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/german-buttercream-recipe","linkCopy":"buttercream frosting","category":null}'>buttercream frosting</a> or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chocolate-whipped-cream-frosting-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chocolate-whipped-cream-frosting-recipe","linkCopy":"chocolate frosting","category":null}'>chocolate frosting</a>. Top the frosted cake with shaved chocolate, crushed nuts, chocolate sprinkles, or discarded red velvet cake crumbles. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Store properly. Assembled red velvet cake will keep well covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Once you’ve covered it in cream cheese frosting, the cake should only sit out at room temperature for a maximum of 3 hours, or else the frosting will melt. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Prepare in advance. Prepare the cake and the frosting for this dessert up to 1 day in advance for easy assembly. Wrap the baked and cooled cake layers tightly in plastic wrap and store them at room temperature. Store cream cheese frosting in an airtight container or piping bag in the refrigerator. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 6. Change up the format. Swap the round cake pans for a larger rectangular sheet cake pan for a low-effort, crowd-friendly dessert. Alternatively, pour the batter into cupcake tins to create super moist <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/red-velvet-cupcakes-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/red-velvet-cupcakes-recipe","linkCopy":"red velvet cupcakes","category":null}'>red velvet cupcakes</a>. Remember that these handheld treats require a shorter baking time, while a sheet cake will require more time in the oven. </li></ol>

6 Tips for Making Red Velvet Cake

Homemade Red Velvet Cake Recipe

This classic red velvet cake brings together layers of moist, buttery, chocolate-flavored cake with velvety cream cheese frosting. Learn how to make the striking chocolate cake, which is sure to be an instant hit with all of your party guests.

This classic red velvet cake brings together layers of moist, buttery, chocolate-flavored cake with velvety cream cheese frosting. Learn how to make the striking chocolate cake, which is sure to be an instant hit with all of your party guests.
