Red Velvet Bundt Cake

And you know what? It’s really simple to make. There are no complicated techniques needed to bake this delicious, tender cake that will delight your friends and family.

Stunningly pretty with its red and white interior, it’s a cake perfect for company with a simple vanilla glaze dripping over its sides.

What to Love About Red Velvet Cake

• Strikingly festive for holidays, parties, or “just because” occasions
• Tender, moist, and utterly delicious with a velvety texture
• Incredibly simple to make with pantry-type ingredients

If you love Bundt cakes, this is an incredibly delicious and fun one to make.

Origins of Red Velvet Cake

It seems to be an age old question, “What is red velvet cake?” and “What is the origins of red velvet cake?” Both of which I’ve spent far too many hours researching… with very little results.

In my Hummingbird Cake recipe, I could point you to the exact origins of the recipe, complete with an image of it’s first publication. I so wish I could do the same for this iconic delight!

I would also love to say the Red Velvet Cake has Victorian origins. That fits my view of this amazingly pretty cake and the era I love to research. Victorian Valentine’s Day Cards come to mind. But I can’t quite pin that one down.

Although The Washington Post says, “Recipes for velvet cake, named to describe its plush texture, started to appear in cookbooks in the late 1800s, though these were sometimes pancakes or yeast-risen shortcakes.”

This would refer to Velvet Cakes that first began appearing in the Victorian era and referred to cakes with a smooth texture, often served for “fancy” occasions. These cakes often included cocoa powder which helped bring a smooth, soft texture.

Some proclaim that Red Velvet Cake is simply a cake of joy. Whether it’s baked for celebrations like Juneteenth, or holidays (like Christmas and Valentine’s Day), the color of red does spark joy.

So from whenever this cake first originated, and from whomever brilliant baker first put it all together, this cake can truly be seen as a cake to celebrate… joy.

Happy baking.

Science behind Red Velvet Cakes

A bit of science: cocoa powder helps break down coarse flour, which then contributes to a softer, more “velvety” texture. Some believe the “red” color is a result of the reaction of that combination, lending a reddish or mahogany color to the batter.

In this Red Velvet Bundt Cake recipe, I’m using a combination of buttermilk and vinegar that will activate the baking soda to create our “velvety” texture.

So armed with that baking science, let’s take a look at all the ingredients you’ll need to bake your own cake of joy.

Red Velvet Bundt Cake Ingredients

Exact ingredient measurements are in the recipe card below.

Here’s what you need for the cake:

• All-purpose flour
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• For leavening: baking powder and baking soda
• Granulated sugar for sweetness
• Unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus a pinch of salt in the batter
• Large eggs: at room temperature
• Buttermilk: at room temperature
• White distilled vinegar
• Vanilla extract
• Red food coloring: you can use either gel or liquid (I’m using gel)

Cream Cheese Filling

• Cream cheese (full fat) at room temperature
• Granulated sugar
• Large egg
• Sour cream
• Vanilla extract

Vanilla Glaze

The vanilla glaze is optional but so incredibly pretty. It’s a simple combination of powdered sugar, mixed with vanilla extract and a couple of tablespoons of water, adjusting to achieve desired consistency. You want a glaze that is thick enough to stand up and coat the cake, but still pourable.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

You will need only a few tools to make this delicious and amazingly easy cake. The first is, of course, a Bundt pan, either a 10-cup capacity or a 12-cup capacity. I’ll give you a couple of links below to my favorite in both sizes.

In this recipe, the sugar is creamed into the butter until it’s light and fluffy. This is best achieved with a electric mixer or stand mixer. Either one works equally well. Other than that, a spatula helps evenly spread the batter into the pan.

Bundt Pans I particularly like:

• Elegant Party Bundt Pan: 10-cup capacity
• Anniversary Bundt Pan: 12-cup capacity

How to Make Red Velvet Bundt Cake

Step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and generously grease a 10-12 cup Bundt pan with nonstick spray that contains flour (like Baker’s Joy). Set aside.

Make the Cream Cheese Filling

• Beat the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and silky. Be sure your ingredients are at room temperature. Set aside.

Make the Red Velvet Cake Batter

• Whisk dry ingredients together and set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, then beat in the buttermilk, vanilla, vinegar, and food coloring, adjusting as necessary to achieve desired color.
• Gradually fold in the dry ingredients.

Assembling the Bundt Cake

• Spoon 2/3 of the batter into the Bundt pan.
• Spread cream cheese filling over the batter, leaving a red border of batter to conceal the filling.
• Top with remaining batter.

Baking the Cake

• Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until done.
• Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a cooling rack.