Dessert,  Recipe

Guest List Red Velvet Cake

When I read the Guest List, I knew almost immediately that I would be baking a wedding cake. Did you know that red velvet gets a natural slight red tint from cocoa powder?? Of course, it’s become standard to add coloring to get the deep velvety red that we know and love.

Recipe inspired by The Guest List, Lisa Foley.
“They cut down, together, her knuckles white around the handle, his hand resting upon hers. The cake cleaves away, exposing its dark red center.”

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Red Velvet Cake

This classic cake recipe is a must to have on hand for any special occasion.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
freeze time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 40 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate, decadent dessert, dessert, red velvet cake
Servings: 12
Calories: 594kcal

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1/2 cup butter unsalted, room temperature
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • 4 eggs SEPARATED, at room temperature
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • red food coloring to desired color
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter unsalted, room temperature
  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 lb confectioners sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F

Cake

  • Cream the butter until smooth and fluffy.
  • Add sugar and mix.
  • Add the vanilla, buttermilk, vinegar and egg YOLKS. Set the egg whites aside. Mix.
  • Add the cocoa powder and mix.
  • Add food coloring until you get the desired color.
  • Stir in flour, salt and baking powder. Set batter aside.
  • In a separate bowl, add the egg whites. Whisk until white and foamy.
  • Fold egg whites into the cake batter.
  • Grease and powder cake pans.
  • I like to use cocoa powder for chocolate cakes.
  • Fill cake tins and bake until a cake tester comes out clean 25-30 minutes.
  • Let cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out of pans onto a cooling rack and cool for one hour.
  • Freeze cakes for 4-5 hours. Take out of freezer right before preparing the frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Cream butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy.
  • Add vanilla and salt.
  • Add Confectioners sugar, one cup at a time.
  • Frost the cake. Admire your amazing work and enjoy!!

Nutrition

Sodium: 473mg | Calcium: 74mg | Vitamin A: 760IU | Sugar: 72g | Fiber: 1g | Potassium: 116mg | Cholesterol: 64mg | Calories: 594kcal | Saturated Fat: 14g | Fat: 23g | Protein: 6g | Carbohydrates: 94g | Iron: 2mg

Have you tried this recipe?? I’d love to hear your feedback. Please comment and rate! Peace & love, jenni


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The Nerdy Gourmet
The Nerdy Gourmet

Hi friends!! I’m Jenni, The Nerdy Gourmet. I love books and I love food. Combining the two with a splash of travel has become my passion. I am a self taught cook/baker and I believe that everyone can cook from scratch! I’m here with recipes and Nerdy Tips to help along the way.  
I review books, mostly ‘read’ via audio, and I create recipes inspired by the story lines. Sometimes if I am deeply moved by a story, I will travel and try my best to experience the book- and bring you along via my blog! I provide all the photographs and content for the Nerdy Gourmet (unless otherwise noted). 

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