Moistest Red Velvet Cake (Soft For Days!)

Zoha Malik

by Zoha Malik

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Rated 5.00 out of 5

135 Comments
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Finally, a Red Velvet Cake that actually lives up to its name – it feels in your mouth like luxury velvet feels on your skin. It’s the moistest cake you’ll ever have, with a tender, velvety, melt-in-your-mouth crumb that stays soft for days. The secret lies in my simple but game-changing technique: a simmering hot mixture of butter, oil, cocoa powder and water poured directly over the dry ingredients. The cake is made with basic ingredients (no buttermilk!) and slathered in a silky cream cheese frosting. It has a beautiful balanced flavor: slightly tangy with a hint of cocoa and vanilla, and not too sweet. Trust me when I say I’ve never had cake like this.

A slice of very moist and soft red velvet cake with white cream cheese frosting, served on a white plate with a gold fork beside it.

I baked this cake for my son’s three month celebration. It was such a hit! The most critical people said it was a perfect cake, the kids went crazy for it. Absolutely the best red velvet cake I’ve ever made (and had)!

– Wania, ★★★★★

I originally published this recipe in 2024, and although it was already pretty darn great, I’ve now given it an incredible upgrade. I will actually take this recipe to my grave (after passing down to my grandchildren, of course) – and that means a lot coming from someone who’s never fully satisfied! So, if you tried the original version and liked it, wait until you try this one.

My game-changing technique for the moistest texture

Most red velvet cake recipes follow a similar method: cream the fat and sugar, add eggs, alternate wet and dry. It works, but rarely produces anything remarkable.

This recipe takes a completely different, and frankly easier, approach (which, funnily enough, was inspired by my Texas Sheet Cake). A mixture of butter, oil, water, cocoa powder and red food color is brought to a simmer on the stove, then mixed into the dry ingredients. The heat helps break down the starch in flour before the cake even goes into the oven, giving the cake its unusually moist, velvety crumb. In fact, it works so well that you don’t even need buttermilk!

This technique also inspired my Vanilla Velvet Cake, which has the same plush, velvety texture.

A red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and red crumbs on top. A single slice is being lifted from the cake on a white cake stand.

The best red food color

I have tested different food colors for red velvet, including liquid, gel and powder, and gel food color is the clear winner. Specifically, I recommend this red gel food color by Ann Clark. Combined with Dutch processed cocoa powder, it creates the perfect deep red shade in this cake. It’s also extremely pigmented and you need only a small amount, which means it lasts forever. And if you wanna use it again, try my favorite red velvet chocolate chip cookies!

Step by step photos

The detailed recipe is provided in the recipe card at the bottom of this post, but let’s go over the steps with photos to help you visualize everything:

A glass bowl filled with flour and a metal whisk with a red handle sits on a wooden surface, ready for baking preparation
Whisk together the dry ingredients except the cocoa powder to remove any lumps.
A saucepan on a stove contains butter, cocoa powder, oil and water, being heated together
Add the cocoa powder, butter, oil, water and red food color to a saucepan.
A metal saucepan with deep red mixture is being whisked on a stove, seen from above. The sauce appears smooth, and the whisk is partially submerged, swirling the mixture.
Cook and stir until the butter melts. Once the mixture starts to simmer, cook for 1 more minute.
A glass bowl filled with a red liquids being mixed into dry ingredients for red velvet cake
Add the hot mixture to the dry ingredients and whisk gently until just combined.
A glass bowl with two cracked eggs, cake batter, milk, and other baking ingredients being whisked together, viewed from above on a wood cutting board
Add milk combined with vinegar, eggs and vanilla.
A glass bowl filled with glossy red cake batter is being mixed with a metal whisk. The bowl rests on a dark wooden surface.
Gently fold until you have a smooth batter.
Three round cake pans filled with smooth, bright red batter are placed on a wooden cutting board
Divide the batter evenly between 3 8″ pans. Tap the pans on your counter 5 times to release air bubbles.
Three round cake pans filled with freshly baked red velvet cakes, arranged close together on a wooden surface
Bake for ~18 minutes or until the cakes are done.

Make the cream cheese frosting, and frost the cakes once they have cooled down. Then serve and enjoy!

A note on holes

When you trim off the domes from the cakes, you might notice some holes in them. These are created from the fast reaction of baking soda and vinegar, and are completely normal. Don’t worry and proceed – you won’t be able to tell once the cake is assembled and sliced!

A few more tips before you make it

Here are a few important tips to help you perfect this recipe:

  • Weigh the ingredients, especially the flour, for the best results. I love this inexpensive scale from Amazon
  • Use Dutch Processed cocoa powder. It has a deep chocolate flavor so you get the pay-off without needing too much
  • Never over-mix the cake batter. Always whisk slowly and only until the ingredients are combined and you don’t see unmixed lumps
  • Don’t over-bake the cakes. Check with a toothpick around the 18 minute mark, you want it to have light, moist crumbs on it. Over-baking will cause the cake to become dry and crumbly
  • Let the cakes fully cool down before you handle them. They are quite soft and delicate, and might break if handled warm
  • Use full fat block cream cheese for the frosting – this gives you the best results. I always recommend Philadelphia!
  • Bring the cream cheese and butter to room temperature. This will help them come together quickly and easily while still maintaining a spreadable consistency
A three-layer red velvet cake with white cream cheese frosting sits on a white cake stand, with a large slice missing, revealing the cake's rich and moist red layers and smooth icing.
Print
A slice of very moist and soft red velvet cake with white cream cheese frosting, served on a white plate with a gold fork beside it.

Moistest Red Velvet Cake (Soft For Days!)

by Zoha Malik

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 stars from 35 reviews

Unbelievably moist red velvet cake made with a unique hot batter technique for a melt-in-your-mouth texture and beautiful balanced flavor

Yield:12-14 servings

Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
20 mins
Chilling Time:
40 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

Red Velvet Cake:

  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (325g)
  • 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar (330g)
  • 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 10 tbsp unsalted butter (140g)
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil (75g)
  • 3/4 cup water (180g)
  • 2 1/2 tbsp Dutch processed cocoa powder (15g)
  • 1 tbsp red gel food color
  • 3/4 cup whole milk (180g)
  • 5 tsp vinegar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 16 oz cream cheese, room temperature (2 8 oz blocks or 453g)
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (2 sticks or 226g)
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted (360g)

Instructions

Red Velvet Cake:

  1. Pre-heat oven to 325F (conventional, no fan) and line 3 8″ cake pans with parchment paper and oil/butter
  2. In a large bowl, sift in the flour, and add the sugar, baking soda and salt. Whisk the ingredients together thoroughly and ensure there aren’t any lumps
  3. In a saucepan, add the butter, vegetable oil, water, Dutch processed cocoa powder and red gel food color. Place on the stove on medium low heat, and stir until the butter has melted. Once the mixture starts to simmer, cook and stir it for one more minute
  4. Pour the hot liquid mixture onto the dry ingredients from step 2. Use a hand whisk to slowly and gently mix until the ingredients are just combined and no streaks of flour remain. The mixture might look a little split, don’t worry and don’t over mix
  5. In a glass, mix together the whole milk and vinegar. Add the milk and vinegar mixture, the eggs and vanilla bean paste to the cake batter. Slowly and gently fold until the ingredients are just combined. You should have a smooth red cake batter 
  6. Divide the cake batter evenly between the 3 8″ cake pans. I like using a scale to do this so all cakes bake at the exact same time. Tap the pans on your counter hard 3-5 times to release any large air bubbles
  7. Bake in the pre-heated oven for ~18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out with light, moist crumbs on it (no wet batter, but not completely clean either).
  8. Remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in the pans for 15 minutes. Then carefully turn them out and let them fully cool down on wire racks

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  1. Add the room temperature butter, cream cheese, vanilla, salt and sifted powdered sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer. Use the paddle attachment to whisk on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture looks smooth, fluffy and spreadable. Scrape the bottom and edges of the bowl once halfway through. Do not over-mix, as that can cause the frosting to become runny
  2. If the frosting is too soft / runny, refrigerate for a few minutes until it reaches a spreadable consistency

Assembly:

  1. Working one cake layer at time, carefully trim off the dome to level them. You may notice some holes in the cakes – don’t worry, this is totally normal!
  2. Place the first layer on your cake stand or turntable. Slather with a generous amount of the cream cheese frosting and spread it evenly. Repeat until all three layers are stacked on top of each other
  3. Cover the cake with a thin layer of the frosting (crumb coat), spreading it as smoothly as possible. Refrigerate for 15 minutes
  4. Add the remaining frosting and decorate the cake however you like. I make crumbs using the trimmed off cake domes and use them to decorate
  5. Serve & enjoy!

Video Tutorial

Notes

  • Cocoa powder: I strongly recommend using Dutch processed cocoa powder for the best flavor in this cake, but you can also use natural unsweetened cocoa powder if needed
  • Scaling this recipe: If you want to make a smaller version of this cake, you can divide all quantities by 2 and make a 3 layered, 6″ cake instead
  • Make ahead and storage: You can prepare this cake ahead of time and keep it covered at room temperature for up to 1 day, or in the fridge for up to 3 days. If serving from the fridge, first let it come to room temperature for 15-30 minutes so the texture is as soft as it can be! Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge

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Comments

  1. Gina Ryerson

    Hello, can this recipe be turned into cupcakes?

    1. Zoha Malik

      Yes of course!

  2. Farhat Tafannum Hadiqa

    Its really amazing. Thank you.

    1. Zoha Malik

      Thank YOU! <3

  3. Aysha

    For the vinegar is it some specific type we need to use I only have rice vinegar at home rn but since never used it in cakes scared to experiment so wanted to ask you before trying it

    1. Zoha Malik

      I just use plain white vinegar x

  4. Teresa Horobec

    Been trying different red velvet recipes since 2020 for my now soon to be daughter in law’s birthday. This one is the first one that turned out moist! Icing was perfect too. Thanks for this keeper of a recipe.

    1. Zoha Malik

      Wooo! Thank you, Teresa! I am coming up with an even better version now x

  5. Teresa

    I’ve been making red velvet cake every year since 2020 for my (soon to be) daughter in law’s birthday. This is the best recipe yet. Finally, I was able to achieve a moist red velvet cake. And the cream cheese icing was wonderful too. Thank you for this perfect recipe. I must try your lemon velvet cake next!

    1. Zoha Malik

      Oh my gosh, what a kind review! Thank you so much, Teresa! Your daughter in law is lucky to have you

  6. Amma

    Hello Zoha!
    Thanks for the recipe but can I use cake flour. if so, should I omit the cornstarch? because all purpose flour isn’t readily available here.
    Thanks

    1. Zoha Malik

      Hi! Yes, you can replace both all purpose flour and cornstarch (the total amount) with cake flour.

  7. Lise

    Hi Zoha,
    This recipe is fab – thank you, I made it for my niece’s 18th birthday last week.
    I am wanting to adapt this recipe into a vanilla butter cake recipe for an engagement cake next week. Is it adaptable or do you hv a recipe you could suggest?

    1. Zoha Malik

      Hi Lise! I won’t recommend changing this recipe into a vanilla one as every ingredient works together to create the texture and flavor. I do have some vanilla cake recipes on my website too that you can check out – like my https://bakewithzoha.com/victoria-sandwich-cake/! that’s the one I recommend.

      1. Lise

        Thank you!!! Will check it out

  8. Ghalia

    Amazing recipe 🤩 thank you so much ♥️

    1. Zoha Malik

      I am glad you like it!

  9. Saira khan

    This Eid, I followed your red velvet cake recipe and it has quickly become a family favourite. The cake had the perfect balance of sweetness making it very moist and flavourful. I will definitely be making it again next Eid for me and my family to enjoy.

    1. Zoha

      An Eid family favourite — that is truly the most special thing to hear!! 💕 Thank you so much Saira, and Eid Mubarak to you and your family! 🌙

  10. Harshini R

    I love the way you made redvelvet cake
    But insteas of granulated sugar can I add brown sugar ????

    1. Zoha

      Hi there! You can try half and half, but I don’t recommend replacing all the granulated sugar with brown

  11. Romanas

    tobulas tortas,jau kepiau ir dar kepsiu,ačiū už puikų receptą

  12. Romanas Šinkūnass

    labai skanus tortas,tiesiog tobulas

    1. Abinaya Selvam

      Before frosting need to brush the cake with sugar syrup?

      1. Zoha Malik

        No syrup needed!

    2. Shivani

      Hi Zoha, thank you for helping me with the mango lassi cake recipe, really appreciate it. I am also making this cake again 6 inch with 2 layers, could you please let me know if i should divide the full recipe by 4 again and bake in two 6 inches pans? Thank you!

      1. Zoha

        Hi Shivani, yes, that would be best!

  13. Fareeha Iman

    just wanted to ask can we use electric beater to mix all the ingredients?

    1. Zoha

      You can, but just be sure to only mix until combined and not overdo if after adding the dry ingredients

  14. Dianah

    I am excited to try this recipe. I am using Better Batter Original gluten free flour (xanthan gum already added). Any thoughts on how it will perform? Do I need to modify the recipe in any way?

    1. Zoha

      Hi Dianah! unfortunately I am not experienced with gluten free baking, but hopefully someone else can help you here!

  15. Irene

    hi Zoha, can I use 2x 8″ pan instead of 3 with the same amount of ingredients?

    1. Zoha

      Hi Irene! It’s not ideal but yes you can. they will take longer to bake and will likely dome more. I recommend trimming off the domes and dividing each cake into 2 layers so you end up with 4 total layers

  16. Donna

    Amazing red velvet cake! Made it for a gentleman’s 80th birthday at his request. Of all flavors, this was his choice. Seriously I can’t wait for him and his family to eat this cake. I tasted the crumbs from the flattening of the dome process. Oh my goodness! This blows away a red velvet cake I made last year for another young coworker almost exactly a year ago. The cream cheese frosting is also stellar. Thank you Zoha!

    1. Zoha

      AWWWWW you are so kind, thank you so much!!! hope he loved it

  17. Samiha Khair

    Definetly the best RED VELVET CAKE ! Love it ❣️

  18. Delsa Spence

    Can a person use Splenda in place of real sugar?

  19. MzladyMDT

    Hello Zoha,

    I typically only bake cakes with cake flour. Can you tell me how much cake flour I would need? I would normally just add two tablespoons to each cup, however, this recipe calls for cornstarch as well which may affect the conversion since most cakes that I substitute with cake flour only calls all purpose flour.

    1. Zoha

      Hi! Use 3 1/4 cups of cake flour (420g) and no cornstarch 🙂

      1. Donna S.

        Zoha,
        I’ve seen several references to the Best Red Velvet Cake recipe having cornstarch? I don’t see cornstarch listed in the ingredients? What am I missing? I only see all purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, salt, unsalted butter, veg oil, water, cocoa powder, food color, milk, vinegar, eggs, and vanilla. Am I missing part of the recipe ingredients?

        1. Zoha Malik

          Hi Donna! Great question – those comments are for an older version of this recipe. I updated it a couple of months ago and simplified it without cornstarch. You don’t need to worry about it and can follow the recipe as written 🙂

  20. Pere

    Your cake is wonderful.I’m making it upper week’s saturday.Pray it comes out great

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