I love my Red Velvet Cake with buttermilk, vanilla, and a good measure of cocoa for that chocolatey yummy taste plus the soft fluffy texture that seems to melt in my mouth.
Having the Red Velvet Cake can never go wrong in any kind of occasion or even if there is no occasion at all, and you simply crave for this perfect cake.
Most people would love the original flavor and it is what I definitely crave for, but what if I told you that a Red Velvet Cake with no buttermilk can be as delectable and satisfying.
Let us compare and see how it is done.
Original Red Velvet Cake Flavors
Originally, this cake is a crimson-colored cake layered with creamy cheese frosting. It is made from flour, cocoa, buttermilk, and vinegar. When these ingredients are combined, the chemical reaction gives the cake its crimson or deep-red color.
Modern recipes are now being followed to make this cake and food colorings are used to enhance its color.
As to its taste, everybody who has eaten this velvety cake has their own description like its main ingredient is chocolate and buttermilk, that it has vanilla, that it has slight tang. Well, no one is wrong because each of us can taste food a little differently.
Red Velvet Cake can truly have a mild acidic taste because of the buttermilk and vinegar in its ingredients and that makes its taste distinct from other cakes.
The cream cheese frosting layers adds to its flavorful taste and complements the chocolate flavor of the cake.
Truly, you can get a burst of flavor in your mouth from this cake in just a small bite.
Now, are you tempted to make your own velvety cake? If so, go on to our tips and tricks.
Red Velvet Cake Tips and Tricks
To make the best cake, you must have the best ingredients, and this is also important when making your home-made cake.
Flour
The underpinning ingredient in any cake recipe is the flour and it should be the best flour for baking.
There are different kinds of flour available in the market that is good for baking but knowing the best flour for baking cake is a different thing.
Choose pastry flour instead of all-purpose or common flour and you will get the extra fluffiness on your cake.
Pastry flour is easy to come along as it is always available in the grocery store or supermarket. You can even order them online.
In case the odds are not in your favor and you cannot find any pastry flour, you can do well with an all-purpose flour. You just need to sift the flour thoroughly. It also good if the flour is sifted because it helps in mixing it easily with the other ingredients.
Cocoa Powder
Prepare two tablespoons of cocoa powder. It is best to use cocoa powder and not chocolate powder for baking your cake. Cocoa powder is the staple type of chocolate used for baking because it has no cocoa butter in it that can affect the texture of the cake. It is suggested to use unsweetened to make the cake taste chocolatey but not too sweet.
Butter or Oil
It is best to butter for your cake and choose the unsalted. However, if you wanted to substitute oil for butter it will also be good.
You need 2/3 cup of butter for your cake but if you will use oil, you will need to add just a half cup of oil in the recipe.
Buttermilk
If you suddenly get the urge of making your own Red Velvet Cake and you found out you are missing some buttermilk, do not fuss because you can still make it without the buttermilk.
Vinegar is used to add tang to the cake as substitute to buttermilk. Simply mix a teaspoon with milk and you now have your homemade buttermilk.
Lemon extract or lemon juice can also be mixed with milk to make a substitute for buttermilk and I prefer lemon than vinegar because it has a good zesty taste.
Frosting
It is nice to look at the frosting layer in a cake, but it is not there just to make it look good.
Typically, creamy cheese frosting is used to layer the cake which adds that subtle cheesy taste and makes you ask for more. However, you can choose what flavor do you like for your frosting.
When preparing your cheese frosting, it needs to be chilled for about ten minutes before adding it on your cake. Remember, it is chilled only to make it a bit firm.
Food Coloring
When all the ingredients are mixed, the chemical reaction gives the cake a somewhat reddish color but if you like it crimson, you can add food coloring to enhance its color. Some opt to use beet powder as a natural food coloring ingredient.
You may not to add any food coloring to the cake, and it will be as delectable as it is.
Also, you can refrigerate the cake before serving. When the Red Velvet Cake is chilled it somehow enhances the flavor.
How to Make Red Velvet Cake Without Buttermilk
As promised, here is the summary of the steps in making your own Red Velvet Cake with no buttermilk.
- Prepare all the ingredients based on the recipe and the other baking materials.
- Mix all the dry ingredients for the cake. It is best if you sifted the flour before mixing.
- Put in all the wet ingredients including eggs to your mix.
- Mix thoroughly. You can use cake mixer if its available.
- Spread the cake batter evenly on your baking pans.
- Bake it for around 20 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees F.
- Remove the baked caked from the oven and let it cool.
- Prepare the ingredients for making the frosting.
- Mix the frosting ingredients thoroughly until it becomes smooth and creamy.
- Spread desired amount of frosting on your cakes.
- Let it sit for a few minutes for the frosting and cake to meld in.
You can now enjoy your home-made Red Velvet Cake. You can also chill it before serving it.
If it is your first time to bake a cake, you probably wonder what to do since we listed the summary. Do not worry. If you need a more detailed list of ingredients and steps in baking, we got it covered for you. Just keep reading.
Cake ingredients:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla
- 2 cups of pastry flour
- 2/3 cup of milk
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup of softened unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon of vinegar
- 2 teaspoons of red food coloring
How to make the cake:
- Prepare a big bowl for mixing the ingredients.
- Mix the pastry flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
- Add milk, butter, eggs, food coloring, vanilla, and vinegar.
- Mix again for about 3 minutes until it perfectly smooth.
- Prepare your cake pans and be sure to grease them.
- Spread the batter on the pans while preheating the oven.
- Bake cake for at least 20 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.
- Check the baked cake by pricking on it with a fork. If the fork has no batter on it, it means it is well-baked.
- Take the cake from the oven and let it cool while preparing the frosting.
Frosting ingredients:
- ½ cup of butter
- 4 cups of powdered sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 8 oz. cream cheese
How to make cream frosting:
- Put all the frosting ingredients in a bowl.
- Mix the frosting ingredients thoroughly until it become creamy and smooth.
You can use a hand mixer to mix the frost but if in case you do not have one, a whisk will do the trick. Just mix it thoroughly to have that smooth frosting that you like.
Related Questions
I am craving for a Red Velvet Cake just after writing this article. I hope you liked our tips and tricks for making your own cake.
Just to give some chunks of information you might want to know.
What is the ideal temperature to bake a cake?
Cakes are usually baked at 350 degrees F or 180 degrees C in a regular oven and the cake is placed in the center shelf of the oven between 30 to 40 minutes. However, in between the suggested time, you can check if the cake is already baked. You can use a cake tester or if you do not have one, you can use a fork or a toothpick. Prick the center of the cake and if the fork or toothpick comes out clean and dry, it means the cake is already well-baked.
