The world’s best easy red velvet cake recipe! Everyone will be asking you for this recipe, a crowd pleaser every time!
No lie, this is the best red velvet cake I have ever had. Moist & unbelievably delicious, this easy red velvet cake recipe just can’t be beat. Do you wanna hear the story behind it?
When I was a little girl we lived in Texas for three years. Because we lived away from home and all our family, so our friends basically became our family! We were so blessed to make friends with an amazing family, the Warnicks when we were there!
Every Sunday we got together for dinner. Dinner was always delicious, but the best Sunday dinners were the ones that ended in Marilee’s red velvet cake… the best red velvet cake recipe in the whole world. Typically on my birthday this is the cake I made for myself! Haha. You gotta love being an adult, no?
Is a red velvet cake just a chocolate cake?
Red velvet cake is a variation of chocolate flavored cake, but it isn’t “just” a chocolate cake with added food coloring! Would you like to know why?
What is the difference between chocolate cake and red velvet cake?
Red velvet cake is different from chocolate cake because of a chemical reaction between the vinegar and buttermilk used to make red velvet cakes! Not only does the reaction heighten the red color of the cake, but it makes the cake extra moist, fluffy and light.
Red Velvet Cake Icing
Also, as you can probably tell from the photos, I am big into frosting, haha. When I make this as a double layer cake (two 9 inch round pans instead of a jelly roll pan) then I always make an extra half batch of frosting (so one and a half total) to be sure I have plenty to fill the middle and cover the entire cake!
Easy Red Velvet Cake

Easy Red Velvet Cake Recipe
Video
Ingredients
For the Cake
- 1 oz red food coloring
- 1 tsp cocoa powder
- 1-1/2 C oil
- 1-1/2 C sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 C buttermilk
- 2-1/2 C flour
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp vinegar
For the Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 Cup butter
- 1 lb powder sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
For the Cake
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- In a glass measuring cup mix food coloring and cocoa, set aside.
- Mix sugar, oil and egg.
- Once they are mixed well, add food coloring and vanilla.
- Pour buttermilk in the glass measuring cup that the food coloring was in.
- Alternate adding milk and sifted flour and salt and mix well.
- Fold in soda and vinegar.
- Pour in greased pan (2- 9" round pans or a jelly roll pan).
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
For the Frosting
- Mix all ingredients together until well blended and spread evenly over your cake!
Nutrition
The perfect cake for any special occasion! It is sure to impress the company, ha! I hope you love it as much as I do.. if that’s even possible.
If you are a cake lover you are going to love these other favorite cake recipes!
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xo,

Light and delicious, a total winner!
This really is the Best! We were all fighting over the last piece, lol!
Beautifully moist and absolutely the fluffiest red velvet cake… and that frosting is incredible!
Oh my gosh you are so nice!! Thank you Natasha!
i love red velvet cake this time of year. Thanks for a great recipe!
It’s my favorite time of year for it too- and Valentine’s Day! Thanks friend!
This is so fun and festive!
Thank you so much!
ThIs reCipe is perfect. I’ve made it many times and pe loVe it.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Best red velvet ive ever had!
my new go-to red velvet cake recipe!
Yay! It really is so yummy!
This looks delicious! Can you tell me what the red crumbles are on the top edge and sides? I like that look.
It is just extra crumbs from the cake all crumbled up!! So easy and so fun! Thanks so much, I hope you love it :)
I forgot this question, can u add nuts I guess pecans to frosting?
Yes you absolutely can! Yum!
Is it 1 and a half cups of oil or 1 x half a cup of oil. Same thing for the sugar and the flour?
Can I steam this instead of baking?
I’m not sure, I’ve never tried it! I’m so sorry!
Oh well, thanks anyways!
Any time! Good luck!
Do you use all purpose or self-rising flour?
All purpose!
Have you ever tried making cupcakes with this recipe?? If so, how many does it make?
I haven’t but I’m sure they’d be delicious! Let me know if you try it!
This looks amazing! I have been on a red velvet kick lately and can’t wait to try this recipe!