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Best Red Velvet Firecracker Cake Recipe with Easy Cream Cheese Frosting

red velvet firecracker cake - featured image
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A moist and vibrant red velvet cake with a silky cream cheese frosting, enhanced with a hint of espresso powder for deeper chocolate notes. Perfect for celebrations and easy to make in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1 ½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-processed recommended)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, room temperature (or 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice, let sit 5 minutes)
  • 1 cup (240ml) vegetable oil, neutral flavor
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons red food coloring (gel food coloring preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
  • 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • Pinch of salt (for frosting)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper.
  2. Sift together the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.
  3. In another bowl, whisk sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, and red food coloring. Add buttermilk and vinegar last, mixing until just combined.
  4. Stir in espresso powder into the wet mixture to deepen chocolate flavor.
  5. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, stirring gently with a rubber spatula until just combined. A few lumps are okay.
  6. Divide batter evenly into prepared pans. Tap gently to release air bubbles.
  7. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.
  9. For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy (3-4 minutes). Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until creamy but not runny.
  10. Assemble cake by placing one layer on a plate, spreading frosting on top, adding second layer, and covering entire cake with remaining frosting. Optionally, sprinkle red velvet crumbs or edible glitter on top.

Notes

Use gel food coloring for vibrant color without thinning batter. Avoid overmixing to keep cake tender. Chill frosting if too soft before spreading. Room temperature ingredients help achieve smooth batter and frosting. For gluten-free, substitute flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free blend. For vegan, use flax eggs, plant-based butter and cream cheese, and plant milk with lemon juice instead of buttermilk.

Nutrition

Keywords: red velvet cake, cream cheese frosting, easy cake recipe, celebration cake, firecracker cake, espresso powder, moist cake

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/best-red-velvet-firecracker-cake-recipe-with-easy-cream-cheese-frosting-guide/