This cake, though typically intimidating with that vibrant pink coloration, is simpler to make than it seems, and even simpler with our sheet cake model. You get all the things you’re keen on about this beautiful and scrumptious cake however in a straightforward, fool-proof recipe that also provides you moist cake served straight from the pan.
Love pink velvet cake as a lot as we do? Strive our unique Most Superb Crimson Velvet Cake or our dye-free, Naturally Crimson Velvet Cake.
Why Our Recipe
- A simple sheet cake model of a basic pink velvet cake that feeds a crowd.
- One-bowl cake batter retains all the things easy and all the time scrumptious.
- Our recipe is tried-and-true, making a moist and fluffy cake each time.
The cocoa powder imparts a delicate chocolatey trace with out making it as wealthy as a full-blown chocolate cake. In the meantime, the buttermilk and vinegar introduce a faint tanginess, balancing out the sweetness. This cake’s delicate dance of flavors, complemented by the creamy tang of cream cheese frosting, renders it unmistakably distinctive. It’s neither overtly chocolate nor purely vanilla, however relatively a scrumptious in-between.
Ingredient Notes

- All-Objective Flour: The primary structural element. It supplies the cake’s texture and physique.
- Cornstarch: We use cornstarch on this recipe to imitate cake flour. Truffles with cocoa powder can’t fairly maintain up when utilizing precise cake flour (it doesn’t give it sufficient construction) so we mimic it by including in cornstarch.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Imparts a slight chocolate taste, giving depth to the cake’s style. It additionally performs a job within the cake’s coloration. Dutch-processed cocoa can be utilized. Scale back quantity of cocoa to 1/4 cup for a brighter pink hue.
- Baking Soda and Powder: You’ll want each. You’ll want to verify the expiration date to keep away from a flat cake.
- Eggs: Customary Grade AA giant eggs will work completely.
- Buttermilk: Provides acidity, tanginess, and moisture. Reacts with baking soda to assist the cake rise.
- Salted Butter: You too can use unsalted butter and add a pinch of salt.
- Distilled White Vinegar: Only a contact of vinegar introduces this cake’s iconic tang.
- Crimson Meals Coloring: Customary pink meals dye provides this recipe its signature coloration. If you happen to’d like a pure dye possibility, you may make your individual from beets or you’ll find all kinds of pure meals dyes on Amazon.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract provides one of the best taste, however imitation vanilla additionally works.
- Cream Cheese: Softened and full-fat works finest for this creamy frosting.
- Powdered Sugar: Add it in half a cup at a time. Extra powdered sugar makes for a thicker frosting. How thick you make it’s a matter of private desire.
Frosting Choices
Crimson velvet cake pairs fantastically with quite a lot of frostings, although I simply can’t think about pink velvet cake with out cream cheese frosting. Listed below are a number of scrumptious frosting choices to select from:
Buttercream Frosting: For individuals who desire a silky easy and candy possibility, buttercream frosting is good. It’s versatile sufficient to be flavored or coloured and supplies a basic, elegant end to the cake.
Cream Cheese Frosting: The basic alternative for pink velvet cake, cream cheese frosting gives a wealthy, tangy complement to the cake’s delicate cocoa taste. Its creamy texture and decadent style make it a perennial favourite.
Ermine Frosting: Often known as boiled milk frosting, Ermine frosting supplies a lighter various with a fluffy texture and a delicate sweetness. It’s a standard alternative that pairs splendidly with the cake’s trace of chocolate.

Chocolate Cake vs. Crimson Velvet Cake:
It is a typical false impression that pink velvet cake is simply chocolate cake with pink meals coloring. Crimson velvet cake does have some chocolate taste to it, however it’s also barely acidic and tangy, because of the buttermilk, vinegar, and both cream cheese or ermine frosting. On this recipe, we embody the directions for an ermine frosting that we love as an excellent steadiness to the tangy taste of pink velvet, however you can even use cream cheese frosting.
Presentation Concepts
Serve straight from the pan for those who’re pressed for time, or you may simply use cookie cutters to chop the sheet cake into good rounds and even hearts for an important day.
For holidays, prime with festive sprinkles going with no matter colours go along with the vacation. For Valentine’s day, pink coronary heart candies are the right decide.
Cake crumbs are a typical path to sprinkle on prime to provide distinction between the white frosting and the attractive, pink coloration of the cake. Simply skim off a bit of from the highest or sneak some from a bit and fill it in with frosting. We gained’t inform.
Contemporary fruit may also work. For summer time, cherries give a daring, fairly look. For winter, sugared cranberries and sprigs of rosemary provides a shocking look.
Storage Directions
Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 5 days.
Freeze particular person slices separated on a baking sheet. As soon as frozen stable, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and retailer in an hermetic container for as much as 3 months. Let thaw at room temperature.