Description
This Divine Blue Velvet Cake is a vibrant and moist dessert featuring a striking royal blue hue with a hint of cocoa, layered and frosted with a luscious cream cheese frosting. Perfect for special occasions, it combines classic flavors with a visually stunning presentation, making it both a feast for the eyes and the palate.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon royal blue food coloring
- ½ teaspoon violet food coloring (optional, for richer hue)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (as needed for consistency)
Instructions
- Prepare the pans and preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper to ensure easy removal of the cakes.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, unsweetened cocoa powder, and salt until thoroughly combined.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, white vinegar, vanilla extract, royal blue food coloring, and violet food coloring (if using) until the mixture is well combined and smooth.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: Gradually add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, mixing just until the batter is smooth and homogenous. Be careful not to overmix to maintain a tender crumb.
- Bake the cakes: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for 28–32 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes to set, then remove them from the pans and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is vital for frosting adherence without melting.
- Make the frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and unsalted butter together until creamy and smooth. Add vanilla extract and gradually beat in the powdered sugar. Add milk tablespoon by tablespoon until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.
- Assemble the cake: Once the cakes are completely cooled, frost the top of one cake layer, then place the second layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the entire cake evenly, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
- Chill and serve: Chill the assembled cake briefly in the refrigerator to set the frosting, which makes slicing cleaner. Serve and enjoy the bold colors and rich flavors.
Notes
- For cupcakes, reduce baking time to 18–20 minutes and adjust portions accordingly.
- Blue velvet cake pairs beautifully with fresh berries or a drizzle of white chocolate for an extra special touch.
- Ensure all wet ingredients are at room temperature to create a smooth batter and even bake.
- Using the optional violet food coloring enriches the cake’s hue but is not necessary for taste or texture.
- Chilling the cake before serving helps with cleaner slicing and better presentation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 45g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 64g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
