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Blue Velvet Cake

Blue Velvet Cake

Blue velvet cake is a visually striking and flavorful variation of red velvet cake, featuring a soft crumb and subtle cocoa taste with a vibrant blue hue. It's perfect for special occasions and can be customized to fit various dietary needs and flavor preferences.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 29 minutes
Total Time 2 hours

Ingredients
  

For the Cake:

  • ▢ 2 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour
  • ▢ 2 cups granulated sugar
  • ▢ 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
  • ▢ 1 ⅓ cups vegetable oil
  • ▢ 1 cup buttermilk at room temperature
  • ▢ 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • ▢ ¼ cup hot strong coffee
  • ▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • ▢ Food coloring to achieve a blue color – see notes below

For the Cream Cheese Whipped Frosting:

  • ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • ▢ 32 oz cream cheese somewhat softened but still firm
  • ▢ 7 cups confectioner's sugar add an extra cup to stiffen more
  • ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
  • ▢ 2 teaspoons + ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

For the Cake:

  • Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Prepare three 9-inch round cake pans by greasing them generously with your preferred nonstick method, such as nonstick spray and parchment paper, for easy release.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the sifted flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt, mixing on low speed. Gradually add the oil and buttermilk, continuing to mix.
  • Increase the speed to medium-low and add the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is well incorporated before adding the next. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Slowly add the coffee, vanilla extract, vinegar, and food coloring. Scrape down the bowl again and mix the batter until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
  • Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans and bake for 20 to 27 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cake layer comes out clean. Avoid overbaking.
  • Allow the cake layers to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto wire racks. Let the cakes cool completely to room temperature. Lightly cover the cakes with foil or plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out.

For the Cream Cheese Whipped Frosting:

  • Place the butter and cream cheese in the bowl of your stand mixer and beat on high speed until the mixture begins to thicken and fluff.
  • Lower the mixer speed and gradually add the confectioner's sugar. Once all the sugar is incorporated, increase the speed back to high and continue whipping.
  • Add the salt and vanilla extract and whip until the frosting is smooth and well combined.

To Assemble:

  • Once the cake layers have cooled completely, place one layer on a serving plate. Spread ⅓ of the frosting over the top of the first layer. Add the second cake layer and spread with another ⅓ of the frosting. Top with the final layer, placing it bottom-side up, and cover with the remaining frosting. Optionally, frost the sides of the cake as well.
  • Serve at room temperature. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer.

Notes

The cake layers can be quite delicate, so it’s a good idea to refrigerate them for 20 to 30 minutes to help firm them up, making them easier to work with when frosting.
Food Coloring
When it comes to achieving the perfect blue color, unlike red velvet, you can’t simply grab a bottle of blue food coloring from the grocery store. Standard food coloring won’t provide the same vibrant saturation and intensity. To get the ideal color, some mixing is required, and using high-quality food coloring is essential.
Some bakers combine a few drops of black and red food coloring to achieve a blue hue. For this cake, a mixture of 2 teaspoons of Sky Blue gel food coloring and 1/8 teaspoon of Violet gel food coloring was used to create the perfect blue. Feel free to experiment with different ratios to get the exact shade you want, as the brown tint from the cocoa powder can make it harder to achieve the desired color.
Storing Leftover Blue Velvet Cake
Leftover cake should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator because of the cream cheese frosting.
The cake can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To enjoy it later, simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
To ensure the frosting color is consistent, use a rubber spatula to gently fold the cream cheese frosting onto itself until the color is evenly distributed.