Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet Cake

This red velvet cake recipe produces an incredibly delicious sweet treat with a distinctive and dramatic look. It makes a spectacular celebration cake for any occasion, or a showstopping dessert for a dinner party. The red and white colouring of this classic cake with its rich chocolaty flavour, and moist, tender crumb make it an irresistible favourite.

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Ingredients

2 Eggs
240 g Caster sugar
210 g Wheat flour
1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
tsp Salt
1 tbsp Cocoa
1 tsp Vanilla sugar
1 tbsp White wine vinegar
100 ml Colza oil
Arla® Skyr Natural 450g 200 ml Arla® Skyr Natural 450g
2 tbsp Red food colourings
4 Egg whites
240 g Caster sugar
1 tsp Vanilla sugar
200 g Butter
1 Bag of mixed fresh berry

Instructions

Step 1

  • Heat the oven to 175 °.

Step 2

  • Whip the eggs and sugar until the mixture is creamy and a pale yellow. Mix the dry ingredients together and stir into the whipped eggs and sugar. Add the vinegar, oil, milk and food colouring; stirring to make a smooth mixture.

Step 3

  • Pour the mixture into a greased cake tin of about 1½ litres, and bake in the middle of the oven for approximately 40 minutes. Let the cake cool slightly in the tin. Then turn out onto a wire rack and let it cool.

Step 4

  • Put the 4 egg whites in a bowl and beat with an electric whisk over a hot water bath. Add sugar and vanilla sugar, and whisk until it has dissolved and the meringue/frosting is warm and firm

Step 5

  • Place the bowl of meringue/frosting in a cold water bath and continue to whisk until the mixture has cooled. Add the butter in small chunks, whisking all the time.

Step 6

  • Using a sharp knife, slice the cake into three layers and spread some frosting on the bottom layer. Gently lay on the next cake layer and spread on the frosting.

Step 7

  • Add the top cake layer and spread the rest of the frosting over the cake. Garnish with fresh berries.
Enjoy!

Red velvet cake FAQs

What is the secret of red velvet cake?

The secret to a perfect red velvet cake is a moist and tender crumb, so measure everything carefully to get the perfect balance. You should also cream your butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy to help blend with the other ingredients for a smooth batter.

What are the main ingredients of red velvet cake?

Red velvet uses flour, sugar and butter, but also includes cocoa powder and either buttermilk or yogurt. Naturally, it includes red food colouring to provide its unique look. The icing on a red velvet cake is usually made with cream cheese.

What makes red velvet cake different?

Red velvet cake is chocolate cake with a twist. The most obvious difference is the red colour of the sponge against the white of the frosting. The texture of a red velvet cake should also be very luscious and moist, as suggested by the cake’s name. The cream cheese frosting also provides a sweet and tangy finish.

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The perfect celebration cake

For special celebrations, red velvet cake is ideal. It makes a big visual impact and tastes divine. Our red velvet cake recipe goes the extra mile with fresh berries topping the cream cheese icing—an elegant contrast that elevates the presentation. You could also add a sprinkling of pink or red sugar crystals for some extra sparkle.

The origins of red velvet cake

The exact origin of red velvet cake is unclear, but it’s popular across the US in many variations. The “velvet” refers to its fine crumb texture, while the reddish hue may have come from brown sugar. It rose to fame in the 1920s at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria hotel and had another surge of popularity after it featured in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, where it was shaped like an armadillo.

Make it ahead of time

Making a red velvet cake for a celebration? You can bake it ahead of the party. Once cooked, let the cake cool completely before cutting into three layers. Wrap the layers thoroughly or place them in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for a couple of days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Then, defrost overnight in the fridge before icing and assembling your cake ready to serve.

https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/red-velvet-cake/