↞ recipe box start page
Category: Desserts
Prep Time: Cook Time: Total Time:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Pinch salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons natural cocoa powder
2 tablespoons red food coloring
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
Frosting
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
16 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch salt
Instructions
1 For the cake Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl. Whisk buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla, and eggs in large measuring cup. Mix cocoa with food coloring in small bowl until a smooth paste forms.
2 With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down bowl as necessary. Add one third of flour mixture and beat on medium low speed until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add half of buttermilk mixture and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down bowl as necessary and repeat with half of remaining flour mixture, remaining buttermilk mixture, and finally remaining flour mixture. Scrape down bowl, add cocoa mixture, and beat on medium speed until completely incorporated, about 30 seconds. Using rubber spatula, give batter final stir. Scrape into prepared pans and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes then turn out onto rack to cool completely, at least 30 minutes.
3 For the frosting
With electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add cream cheese, one piece at a time, and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Beat in vanilla and salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
4 When cakes are cooled, spread about 2 cups frosting on one cake layer. Top with second cake layer and spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 3 days.
view more member recipes
Red Velvet Cake America Test Kitchen

Prep Time: Cook Time: Total Time:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Pinch salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons natural cocoa powder
2 tablespoons red food coloring
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
Frosting
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
16 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Pinch salt
Instructions
1 For the cake Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl. Whisk buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla, and eggs in large measuring cup. Mix cocoa with food coloring in small bowl until a smooth paste forms.
2 With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar together until fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down bowl as necessary. Add one third of flour mixture and beat on medium low speed until just incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add half of buttermilk mixture and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down bowl as necessary and repeat with half of remaining flour mixture, remaining buttermilk mixture, and finally remaining flour mixture. Scrape down bowl, add cocoa mixture, and beat on medium speed until completely incorporated, about 30 seconds. Using rubber spatula, give batter final stir. Scrape into prepared pans and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes then turn out onto rack to cool completely, at least 30 minutes.
3 For the frosting
With electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add cream cheese, one piece at a time, and beat until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Beat in vanilla and salt. Refrigerate until ready to use.
4 When cakes are cooled, spread about 2 cups frosting on one cake layer. Top with second cake layer and spread top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 3 days.
Note: This recipe is part of a user's personal recipEbox. It is not part of the CDKitchen collection.
recipe comments
related member recipes
Carrot Cake America's Test Kitchen
by suemunzlinger
Shred the carrots on the large holes of a box grater or in a food processor fitted with the shredding disk. Do not substitute liquid buttermilk for the buttermilk powder.* To ensure the proper spreadi
by suemunzlinger
Shred the carrots on the large holes of a box grater or in a food processor fitted with the shredding disk. Do not substitute liquid buttermilk for the buttermilk powder.* To ensure the proper spreadi
New York Style Cheese Cake From America Test Kitchen
by suemunzlinger
Ingredients Graham Cracker Crust 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (4 ounces, 8 whole crackers, broken into rough pieces and processed in food processor until uniformly fine) 1 tablespoon granulat
by suemunzlinger
Ingredients Graham Cracker Crust 1 cup graham cracker crumbs (4 ounces, 8 whole crackers, broken into rough pieces and processed in food processor until uniformly fine) 1 tablespoon granulat
Hot Chocolate America Test Kitchen
by suemunzlinger
3 cups nonfat dry milk 2 cups confectioners' sugar 1 1/2 cups Dutch-processed cocoa powder 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips 1/4 teaspoon Salt Instructions Combine ingredients in large bowl
by suemunzlinger
3 cups nonfat dry milk 2 cups confectioners' sugar 1 1/2 cups Dutch-processed cocoa powder 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips 1/4 teaspoon Salt Instructions Combine ingredients in large bowl
Waffles America Test Kitchen
by suemunzlinger
Whisk together 2 cups flour 1 tablespoon sugar 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup dry buttermilk powder Mix together 2 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup sour
by suemunzlinger
Whisk together 2 cups flour 1 tablespoon sugar 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup dry buttermilk powder Mix together 2 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 cup sour
Banana Bread America Test Kitchen
by suemunzlinger
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar 1/3 cup mascarpone *see note 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
by suemunzlinger
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup (packed) dark brown sugar 1/3 cup mascarpone *see note 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
view more member recipes
Recipe Quick Jump