Luscious Ina Garten Red Velvet Cake Recipe

Red velvet cake transforms ordinary dessert moments into extraordinary culinary experiences.

This crimson beauty captivates with its luxurious velvet-like crumb and seductive chocolate whispers.

Each slice tells a story of indulgence and refined baking artistry.

The deep ruby color hints at layers of complex flavor waiting to unfold.

Cream cheese frosting adds creamy decadence that perfectly balances the cake’s subtle cocoa notes.

Soft, tender, and impossibly smooth, this cake elevates any celebration with its stunning presence.

One bite promises pure dessert bliss that will leave you craving more.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 45 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 560 kcal

Servings: 11

Red Velvet Cake Ingredients the Ina Garten Way

• Cake Flour: Choose a finely milled, low-protein flour for a tender, delicate crumb.
• Cocoa Powder: Opt for high-quality, unsweetened cocoa for rich, deep chocolate flavor.
• Baking Soda: Fresh, active baking soda ensures proper rising and texture.
• Salt: Use fine-grained table salt for even distribution and balanced taste.

• Vegetable Oil, Butter: Select fresh, unsalted butter and neutral-flavored oil for smooth mixing.
• Eggs: Choose large, room-temperature eggs for better incorporation and consistent texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract for authentic, robust flavor.
• Red Food Coloring: Pick gel-based food coloring for vibrant, even color distribution.
• Buttermilk, White Vinegar: Fresh, tangy dairy ingredients activate leavening agents.

• Cream Cheese, Butter: Use full-fat, softened cream cheese and butter for creamy, luxurious frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Sift to remove lumps and ensure silky-smooth consistency.
• Vanilla Extract, Salt: Add depth and balance to the sweet frosting.

Baking Tools for Red Velvet Cake

• Electric mixer: Perfect for creaming butter and sugar, blending wet ingredients smoothly.
• Medium mixing bowl: Essential for combining dry ingredients and creating cake batter.
• 9×13 inch baking pan: Provides ideal space for even cake baking.
• Whisk: Helps blend dry ingredients thoroughly and eliminate lumps.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures precise ingredient quantities.
• Toothpick: Checks cake doneness by testing center for cleanness.
• Spatula: Helps scrape batter and spread frosting evenly.
• Sifter: Creates smooth, lump-free powdered sugar for frosting.
• Cooling rack: Allows cake to cool completely before frosting.

How to Prepare Red Velvet Cake

Create A Decadent Red Velvet Cake

Dive into a baking adventure that transforms simple ingredients into a stunning dessert everyone will adore. This recipe promises a moist, vibrant cake with irresistible cream cheese frosting.

• Prep Your Baking Station

Set up your kitchen workspace with mixing bowls, measuring tools, and a 9×13 inch pan. Warm your oven to a cozy 350°F, creating the perfect baking environment.

• Craft The Cake Batter

Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another container, cream butter and sugar until they transform into a fluffy cloud. Gently fold in eggs, oil, vanilla, and a splash of red food coloring. Slowly incorporate dry ingredients, alternating with buttermilk. Add a dash of white vinegar for that signature tender crumb.

• Bake To Perfection

Pour the vibrant batter into your prepared pan. Slide it into the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should emerge clean and promising.

• Whip Up Dreamy Frosting

Beat butter until creamy, then blend in softened cream cheese. Sprinkle in vanilla and a tiny pinch of salt. Gradually add powdered sugar, creating a smooth, luxurious frosting. Adjust consistency with a touch of cream if needed.

• Bring It All Together

Let the cake cool completely. Spread the luscious cream cheese frosting generously across the top, creating swoops and swirls that make everyone’s mouth water. Slice, serve, and watch faces light up with pure joy.

Tips for Perfect Texture in Ina’s Red Velvet Cake

Smart Baking Tricks

Ensure all ingredients like eggs, buttermilk, and butter are precisely room temperature for smoother mixing and consistent cake texture.

Swap liquid food coloring for gel-based versions to achieve deeper, more vibrant red without altering cake batter consistency.

Experiment with adding orange zest or almond extract to cream cheese frosting for subtle, sophisticated flavor complexity.

Replace some buttermilk with sour cream to create an incredibly moist, tender cake crumb that melts deliciously in your mouth.

Ways to Present Ina Garten’s Red Velvet Masterpiece

• Slice and Savor: Cut the red velvet cake into neat, equal squares for a clean, professional presentation that highlights the cake's rich color and texture.
• Party Perfect Plating: Serve each slice on a white porcelain plate to create a stunning color contrast that makes the deep red cake pop and look incredibly appetizing.
• Garnish with Grace: Sprinkle some finely grated white chocolate or add a light dusting of cocoa powder on top to give the cake an elegant, finished look that adds subtle flavor complexity.
• Pair with Pleasure: Complement the cake with a cold glass of milk or a steaming cup of coffee to balance the sweetness and enhance the overall dessert experience.

Storing Red Velvet Cake the Ina Garten Way

• Meal Planning & Storage Advice
• Slice Smart: Cut cake into individual portions before storing to maintain freshness and make grab-and-go servings easier.
• Refrigerate Right: Store frosted cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, keeping it moist and delicious.
• Freeze Friendly: Wrap unfrosted cake layers tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, storing in the freezer for up to 2 months for future enjoyment.
• Room Temperature Tip: Remove cake from refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to allow frosting to soften and flavors to develop fully.

Spectacular Ina Garten Red Velvet Cake Recipe

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4.7 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 11 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s red velvet cake brings Southern charm to classic dessert traditions. Layers of crimson sponge and tangy cream cheese frosting create a delightful balance you’ll savor with each indulgent bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ¾ cups (350 g) white sugar
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk, at room temperature
• 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil
• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 ½ tbsps (37 ml) red food coloring
• 2 tsps (10 ml) vanilla extract
• 2 tsps (10 ml) white vinegar
• 2 ⅔ cups (340 g) cake flour
• 2 tbsps (10 g) cocoa powder
• 1 tsp (5 g) baking soda
• ¼ tsp (1 g) salt
• 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp (1 g) salt
• 1–2 tbsps (15–30 ml) cream, as needed

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Instructions

1. Preheat Preparation: Calibrate oven to 350°F (175°C), establishing optimal thermal conditions for red velvet cake baking.
2. Pan Conditioning: Meticulously grease 9×13 inch baking pan with butter and dust with flour to ensure seamless cake release.
3. Dry Ingredient Integration: Sift and combine cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt, whisking to create a homogeneous dry mixture.
4. Base Mixture Creation: Cream butter and white sugar using electric mixer until achieving a light, voluminous consistency, developing a smooth foundation.
5. Liquid Component Infusion: Incorporate vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and red food coloring into butter mixture, blending until perfectly harmonized.
6. Batter Development: Gradually fold dry ingredients and buttermilk into wet mixture, alternating additions to create a silky, well-integrated batter, ensuring thorough incorporation without overmixing.
7. Acidic Enhancement: Introduce white vinegar, which contributes to the cake’s distinctive tender texture and subtle tangy undertone.
8. Baking Process: Distribute batter evenly in prepared pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, confirming doneness by inserting a toothpick that emerges clean.
9. Cooling and Frosting Preparation: Allow cake to cool completely on wire rack while preparing cream cheese frosting by whipping softened butter until smooth.
10. Frosting Composition: Blend cream cheese into butter, incorporating vanilla extract and salt, then gradually add sifted powdered sugar to achieve a luxurious, spreadable consistency.
11. Final Assembly: Once cake has cooled entirely, lavishly spread cream cheese frosting across surface, optionally embellishing with decorative elements for visual appeal.

Notes

• Achieve Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter, eggs, and cream cheese are at room temperature for smooth blending and better cake texture.
• Master Color Intensity: Add red food coloring gradually to control the vibrant red hue without affecting cake’s moisture.
• Prevent Overmixing: Stir batter just until ingredients combine to maintain a tender, soft crumb and avoid dense cake.
• Control Frosting Consistency: Add powdered sugar incrementally and adjust with cream to create a spreadable, luxurious cream cheese frosting.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 11
• Calories: 560
• Sugar: 66 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 34 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 61 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 105 mg