Description
A vibrant, tender purple velvet layer cake crowned with tangy-smooth cream cheese frosting. Moist crumb, subtle cocoa notes, and a showstopping jewel-toned hue make every slice irresistible.
Ingredients
- Cake: All-Purpose Flour, 2 1/2 cups
- Cake: Granulated Sugar, 2 cups
- Cake: Unsalted Butter, softened, 1/2 cup
- Cake: Vegetable Oil, 1/2 cup
- Cake: Large Eggs, 3
- Cake: Buttermilk, 1 cup
- Cake: Purple Gel Food Coloring, 2 teaspoons
- Cake: Natural Cocoa Powder, 2 tablespoons
- Cake: Baking Soda, 1 teaspoon
- Cake: White Vinegar, 1 teaspoon
- Cake: Fine Salt, 1/2 teaspoon
- Cake: Pure Vanilla Extract, 2 teaspoons
- Frosting: Cream Cheese, softened, 16 ounces
- Frosting: Unsalted Butter, softened, 1/2 cup
- Frosting: Powdered Sugar, sifted, 4 cups
- Frosting: Pure Vanilla Extract, 2 teaspoons
Instructions
- Preheat Your Equipment: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 9 inch round cake pans with parchment.
- Combine Ingredients: Whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add oil, vanilla, and purple gel. Mix in dry ingredients alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry. Stir in vinegar.
- Prepare Your Cooking Vessel: Divide batter evenly between pans and smooth the tops.
- Assemble the Dish: Bake 25 to 30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cook to Perfection: Cool 10 minutes in pans, then turn out to a rack and cool completely.
- Finishing Touches: Beat cream cheese and butter until silky. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla. Apply a thin crumb coat to the cooled layers, chill 15 minutes, then finish with a smooth final coat.
- Serve and Enjoy: Slice the cake, admire the purple layers, and serve with berries or a hot drink.
Notes
- Note: Use gel coloring for vivid hue without thinning the batter.
- Bring ingredients to room temperature for a finer crumb and smooth frosting.
- Spoon and level flour to avoid a dense texture.
- Chill frosting briefly if it feels soft, then spread for clean edges.
- Natural color options include blueberry puree or beet powder, shades may vary.
- Bake layers ahead, wrap well, and frost the next day for easier assembly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 cake)
- Calories: 470
- Sugar: 42 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: purple velvet cake, cream cheese frosting, velvet cake, purple cake, buttermilk cake, celebration cake, layer cake