Red is the universal color of love. It’s synonymous with passion, it elicits a craving for desire, and did you know that it’s also been psychologically proven that the color red makes you hungry?
Cake always makes me hungry, but a red cake is scientifically backed to make you love it. That is why everyone wants Red Velvet Cake. Mini Red Velvet Cakes? Even better! More frosting!
3 layers of Mini Red Velvet Cakes and 3 layers of Cream Cheese Frosting!!! Plus 3 exclamation points because the cake is that yummy!
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Plus, when you make Mini Red Velvet Cakes, you can take all the extra cake remnants and make mini red velvet cake balls. Cake balls are great because they store in your freezer for when you need them most.
Mini Red Velvet Cakes
These yummy mini cakes are soft and super moist, a gorgeous deep red color, and offer three layers of the most delicious cream cheese frosting. They are perfect for a Valentine’s Day treat, or for any special occasion to bestow upon someone you love.
Can you imagine getting a three stacked compact red velvet mini cake just for yourself? My kids felt so special when they each got a cake made special just for them!
How to Make Mini Red Velvet Cakes
Red velvet cakes always look so elegant and sophisticated with a deep and rich red color, but the truth is they are no more difficult than a regular cake.
Standard pantry ingredients, and a simple hand mixer!
Cream Cheese Frosting
This is the yummiest frosting you’ve ever had! You’ll want to put it on top of everything!
The addition of lemon juice increases the flavor of the cream cheese and is the secret ingredient you definitely don’t want to leave out!
How to Make Mini Red Velvet Cakes {Video}
Mini Red Velvet Cakes
Equipment
- Sheet Pan
- Hand Mixer
- 3-4" Round Cookie Cutter
- Red Food Coloring Gel
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 cup sunflower oil
- ½ cup butter melted
- 1 cup buttermilk + 1 added tablespoon of vinegar
- 2 eggs
- 1 dollop of Wilton’s red food gel
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
Frosting
- 16 oz. cream cheese
- 2 sticks butter
- 16 oz. package of powdered sugar
- Juice half a lemon
- ¼ cup of milk or heavy cream
Instructions
Cake
- Add oil, butter, milk, eggs, food dye and vanilla
- Mix with beaters until fluffy
- Add dry ingredients
- Stir until combined
- Pour into greased sheet cake pan
- Bake at Fahrenheit 350° 15-17 minutes
- Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature
- Use a 3 -4" round cookie cutter to cut out circles
- Stack circles 2 or 3 high
- Frost between layers and around sides of cake
- Decorate as desired
- Yields 5-6 three layer cakes or 9 two layer cakes
Frosting
- Mix all ingredients together until smooth and spreadable
What Flavor is Red Velvet?
It’s not vanilla and it’s not chocolate.
The amount of cocoa powder in Mini Red Velvet Cakes isn’t discernable enough to qualify it as a chocolate cake. Instead it reacts with the buttermilk to create a totally new flavor.
It’s actually the buttermilk + vinegar in this recipe is what creates the flavor of this cake. A super smooth, almost cheesecake like quality.
Can I Use More than ¼ Cup of Cocoa Powder?
Some recipes only call for a mere teaspoon of cocoa powder, while others go crazy with a whole tablespoon. In my mini red velvet cakes I use ¼ cup because I like my cake to taste more chocolate than vanilla, but honestly, it’s just a preference.
If you use much more than this, you’ll end up with a brown cake instead of red, and you’ll have a chocolate cake instead of red velvet.
How Did Red Velvet Cake Originate?
Some people say it’s the way cocoa powdered was processed back in the 50’s that turned red with the addition of certain ingredients.
Others say that it’s because during World War II sugar rations were low, so people used beets to sweeten cakes instead.
The Waldorf Hotel hotel claims they created it, while the author of Joy of Cooking cookbook included it simply because her customers asked for it.
Is Food Coloring Gel Better Than Food Dye?
Yes, if for no other reason than you don’t have to use two entire bottles of food dye.
Food coloring gel is thick and dark and flavors everything it touches a deep rich color. No mistaking this cake for pink.
More Cakes You’ll Love at Fahrenheit 350°
- Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Orange Caramel Bundt Cake
- Death by Chocolate Cupcakes
- Salted Caramel Cheesecake
Mmm…red velvet is always a hit around here! That cream cheese frosting looks delicious, piled high and ready for licking! 🙂 YuM! I like how you used a good deal of cocoa powder in your cupcake; my sister never understood what "flavor" red velvet is supposed to be because it usually has so little cocoa. Great job!
Everything tastes better with more chocolate! 🙂 These are deeelicious! I love when the sisters put their heads together for special holiday ideas!
Hey, nice! I guess it is kind of near valentines day isn't it…red velvets are quite appropriate. I'll have to give yours a try!
Came over from SITS! I love THAT SONG! I named my little red car after that song. Haha. Also, you are the devil for posting those cupcakes. If there were any possible way to extract them from the screen, I'd do it. : )
Love the name of your blog… I'm making cupcakes this week too… must be a Valentines thing… yours look great… fun decorating!
That videa is soooo cheesy! but it made me laugh. These cupcakes with the delicious cream cheese frosting is the perfect compliment to Valentine's Day!!
mmmm.that guy was soooo turning me on with that gorgeous sweater and fly ear phones!!! I think I might have to go change my panties!!! LOL LOL LOL
That was some funny stuff!!!!
These would be a perfect Valentines treat! So pretty!
They look delicious girly. I'm usually too lazy to make them and just pick up a couple at whole foods. Have you had em'? Delish! I'm not sure how they make their frosting (I think maybe over the stove first) but it's amazing.
Those look delish!