Cake Ingredients Recipe for Red Velvet
Cake Ingredients Recipe for Red Velvet (two 9-inch round cakes)
It’s usually flavored with various ingredients and baked until fluffy and tender. Cakes are often layered and frosted for special occasions.
Cake Ingredients: What is Nigerian Cake?
Nigerian cake is a dense, rich, buttery cake commonly served at weddings, birthdays, and celebrations in Nigeria.
It is often made with a generous amount of butter and sometimes includes nutmeg or mixed fruits.
The texture is firmer than many Western cakes, and it has a distinct melt-in-the-mouth flavor that many Nigerians love.
It’s typically baked without much decoration and is loved for its taste, not just looks.
Cake Ingredients: What is Red Velvet Cake?
Red velvet cake is a soft, fluffy cake with a mild chocolate flavor and a vibrant red color.
It’s made with cocoa powder, vinegar, and buttermilk, which give it a slightly tangy taste and a moist texture. It is often paired with cream cheese frosting.
The red color traditionally came from a reaction between cocoa and acidic ingredients, but now it’s usually enhanced with food coloring.
What Makes Red Velvet Different from Other Cakes?
- Color: It has a signature red or red-brown color.
- Flavor: Mild cocoa taste with a tangy twist from vinegar and buttermilk.
- Texture: Soft and velvety crumb, lighter than Nigerian cake.
- Frosting: Commonly frosted with cream cheese, unlike Nigerian cake, which may not be frosted at all.
Red Velvet Cake Ingredients
Dry cake ingredients:
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
Wet cake ingredients:
- 1½ cups vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 2 tablespoons red food coloring
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Optional: ½ cup sour cream for extra moisture
Cream Cheese Frosting Cake Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 16 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
How to Make Red Velvet Cake
- First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Then, grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Secondly, in a medium bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder.
- Meanwhile, in a separate large bowl, whisk together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla extract. If desired, add the sour cream at this stage for extra moisture.
- After that, slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and stir until the batter is smooth. Be careful not to overmix.
- Then, pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Finally, let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes before gently turning them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
- First, beat the butter and cream cheese together in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth and fluffy.
- After that, gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition to avoid lumps and ensure a smooth texture.
- Then, add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Mix until everything is fully combined and the frosting is light and creamy.
- Finally, frost the cooled cakes and layer them as desired. You can spread the frosting between the cake layers, over the top, and around the sides.
