Red Velvet Cake

This 3-Layer Naked Red Velvet Cake recipe is so easy to make. It's perfect for special occasions from Valentine's Day to birthdays and holidays.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword 3 layer, cake, naked, red velvet

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 24

Assembly 25

Total Time 1 4

Servings

Calories 1016kcal

Equipment

3 8" cake pans

Ingredients

Cake

1 cup butter softened
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 cup sour cream
½ cup milk
1 oz liquid red food coloring or 1 tbsp gel red food coloring
2 tsp vanilla
2½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup cocoa powder not Dutch processed
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt

Frosting

8 oz cream cheese softened
4 tbsp butter softened
2 tsp sour cream
3½ cups confectioner’s sugar
2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

Cake Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
Prepare three 8-inch round cake pans by spraying them with shortening or softened butter and then adding a light coat of flour or cocoa powder. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.
Beat in the eggs.
Mix in the sour cream, milk, food color, and vanilla.
Slowly blend in the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
Divide the batter between the 3 prepared round cake pans.
Bake at 350°F for 24 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean OR until they spring back when gently pressed in the center.
Allow the cakes to cool for 15 minutes before flipping them out of the pans and onto your work surface.
Allow to cool completely before assembling or decorating.

Frosting

Beat the cream cheese, butter and sour cream together in a large mixing bowl.
Add the confectioner’s sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Assembly

Place one layer of cake on a serving dish.
Cover the top with 1/3 of the frosting.
Add another layer of cake on top of that frosting, followed by another layer of frosting.
Add the final layer of the cake and decorate the top with the remaining frosting.

Notes

The frosting is enough for this 3-layer naked cake as shown here. Double the frosting if you want a crumb coat around the whole cake for semi-naked decoration. Triple the frosting to decorate completely with filling, crumb coat, and decorated frosting layer as well as any piping.

Nutrition