White velvet cake (recipe) + color variations | Sugar Geek Show (2024)

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White velvet cake is a soft, delicate cake with a hint of buttermilk and vanilla

White velvet cake (recipe) + color variations | Sugar Geek Show (1)

White velvet cake is red velvet's pretty little sister. Red velvet cake has been around for ages and probably one of the most popular cake flavors of all time. But not everyone want's to eat red food coloring or maybe they have special dietary requirements that don't allow them to eat red food dye. Whatever the reason, options are always good.

A lot of people wonder if you can just leave out the red food color and get white velvet and the answer is yes, kinda. You also need to leave out the cocoa powder.All the things that make red velvet cake delicious can be left in.

sidenote... the more I spell the word "velvet" the weirder it looks... velvet. velvet VELVET. Starts to look wrong.

But anyway...

What is white velvet cake?

White velvet cake is basically red velvet without the red. It's a buttermilk cake base that results in a VERY soft, fluffy and moist cake. If you leave out all the color and the cocoa powder you have yourself a nice white velvet cake. Neat huh. The buttermilk gives this southern inspired cake it's rich and velvety texture.

Traditional red velvet cake has a little bit of cocoa powder in it. Some will tell you that red velvet is actually chocolate cake (wrong) or that it's just white cake with red food color added (so wrong). The cocoa powder does add a little bit of flavor to the cake but not enough to call it chocolate so when you leave it out, it doesn't affect the flavor that much.

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What's so great about white velvet?

So one of the BEST things about this recipe, in my opinion, is the texture. The crumb is soooo soft and well... velvety! I love how it looks when you cut it. Soft and pillowy. It's like magic!

What Is Buttermilk?

Buttermilk is basically fermented milk that has gone sour. I know it sounds weird but it actually tastes amazing in baked goods. The tanginess in buttermilkadds a great flavor and the acidity in buttermilk actually breaks down gluten so baked goods are more tender than if you used regular milk.

I mean, there's a reason recipes like "buttermilk pancakes" and "buttermilk" biscuits always seem better than just... pancakes. Ya know?

Don't have any buttermilk? You can make it! Add 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar to 1 cup of regular milk, stir and let it sit for about 10 minutes. You'll see the milk begin to thicken and curdle. Voila. Homemade buttermilk.

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How does white velvet cake taste like?

White velvet cake tastes so amazing BECAUSE of the buttermilk! It just adds a little tang and zip that for some reason your tastebuds just love.

The crumb is super fine like mywhite cake recipe or my vanilla cake recipe and is definitely a great cake for flavor to just bake up for a special occasion.

What frosting goes with white velvet cake?

The traditional frosting that goes with velvet cake is ermine frosting. Ermine frosting is made by cooking sugar with a bit of flour and then whipping it into softened butter.

Ermine frosting is super creamy, not too sweet and tastes amazing with white velvet cake. In my opinion it tastes very similar to a swiss-meringue buttercream but without the eggs so it's a nice alternative if you have an egg allergy.

White velvet cake (recipe) + color variations | Sugar Geek Show (4)

How do you make blue velvet cake?

To make blue velvet cake, simply add in1 oz of electric blue food color (for a light blue cake) or royal blue food color (for darker blue) to the base white velvet recipe.

For a more natural blue, add 1-2 teaspoon of natural cocoa powder ( not dutched. I like Hershey's special dark) The cocoa powder will tone down the bright blue just a little so it's not so VIVID and make a nice natural blue. Or if you want a really bright blue you can leave the cocoa powder out.

Blue velvet is a great cake for gender reveals, birthday cakes or just because blue velvet is awesome.

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Can you can make velvet cake with different colors?

Yes! If you want a different color of velvet cake then simply replace the food color with any other color you like. You can do a white velvet rainbow, ombre or go with neon. The color possibilities are endless!

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I made this lovely green velvet cake for st patricks day! I added in the cocoa powder for a more natural shade of green and used 1 oz of leaf green americolor food color gel.

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What about black velvet cake?

Ok so TECHNICALLY I have another recipe calledblack velvet cakethat does not use this velvet cake base. Why? Because it's really a chocolate cake. It doesn't have any buttermilk in it, vinegar or food coloring! So why even bother calling it black velvet?

Well it's got a nice velvet-y texture. In the future I may experiment further with a true black velvet recipe working from the base velvet recipe but upping the cocoa powder. Too many cake ideas, so little time.

Related Recipes

Rainbow Cake
Green Velvet Cake
Pink Velvet Cake
Black Velvet Cake
Red Velvet Cake

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Note: measurements are estimated based off the vanilla cake recipe using standard US cake pans and sizes. Measurements used are for 2" tall cake pans only. Your results may vary. Do not overfill cake pans above manufacturer's recommended guidelines.

Recipe

White velvet cake (recipe) + color variations | Sugar Geek Show (8)

White velvet buttermilk cake recipe

White velvet cake gets it's flavor and velvety texture from buttermilk. A moist, tender cake that is great for any special occasion. This recipe makes two 8" round cakes about 2" tall. Serves 24

Bake at 335F for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out cleanly.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 cups

Calories: 208kcal

Author: Elizabeth Marek

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer

  • Whisk Attachment

  • Paddle Attachment

Ingredients

White Velvet Cake Ingredients

  • 14 oz cake flour
  • 13 oz granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 5 oz egg whites room temperature
  • 4 oz vegetable oil
  • 10 oz buttermilk room temperature or slightly warm
  • 6 oz butter unsalted and softened
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla

Ermine Frosting Ingredients

  • 14 oz granulated sugar
  • 3 oz flour
  • 16 oz whole milk
  • 16 oz unsalted butter room temperature
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • NOTE: It is SUPER IMPORTANT that all the room temperature ingredients listed above are room temperature and measured by weight so that the ingredients mix and incorporate correctly.

    Heat oven to 335º F/168º C — 350º F/177º C. I tend to use lower setting to prevent my cakes from getting too dark on the outside before the inside is done baking.

  • Prepare two 8"x2" (or three 6") cake pans (with a little leftover batter) with cake goop or preferred pan spray. Fill your pans about ¾ of the way full of batter.

  • Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of .a stand mixer with paddle attachment. Mix 10 seconds to combine.

  • Combine ½ cup of the milk and the oil together and set aside.

  • Combine the remaining milk, egg whites and vanilla together, whisk to break up the eggs and set aside.

  • Add your softened butter to the dry ingredients and mix on low until mixture resembles a coarse sand (about 30 seconds). Add in your milk/oil mixture and let mix until dry ingredients are moistened and then bump up to med (setting 4 on my kitchenaid) and let mix for 2 minutes to develop the cakes structure. If you don't let your cake mix on this step your cake could collapse.

  • Scrape your bowl and then reduce speed to low. Add in your egg white mixture in three batches, letting the batter mix for 15 seconds between additions.

  • Scrape down the sides again to make sure everything has incorporated then pour into prepared pans. Bake 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out cleanly but the cake has not begun to shrink yet from the sides of the pan.

    IMMEDIATELY TAP PAN FIRMLY on countertop once to release the steam from the cake. This stops the cake from shrinking.

  • Let cakes cool for 10 minutes inside the pan before flipping them out. The cake will shrink a bit and that is normal. Flip onto a cooling rack and let cool fully. I chill my cakes before handling or you can wrap them in plastic wrap and freeze them to trap moisture in the cake. Thaw on the countertop while still wrapped before frosting.

Ermine Frosting Instructions

  • Whisk together your flour and sugar in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Cook for about 2 minutes to toast the flour.

  • Slowly add in your milk, whisk to combine and bring your heat to medium-high. Whisk continuously until mixture is thickened and pudding like. Cover with plastic wrap and let cool.

  • Add your butter to the bowl of your stand mixer and whisk on high until light and fluffy. Slowly add in your cooled flour mixture one spoon at a time as you whip. Incorporating slowly insures a smooth buttercream.

  • Add in your vanilla and salt until everything is creamy and then you can frost your cooled cake.

Video

Notes

IMPORTANT: Make sure all your ingredients are at room temp and you're using a scale to measure. Substituting ingredients may cause this recipe to fail. (see notes at the bottom of the recipe)

Important Things To Note Before You Start

1. Bring all your ingredients to room temperature or even a little warm (eggs, buttermilk, butter, etc) to ensure your batter does not break or curdle.

2. Use a scale to weigh your ingredients (including liquids) unless otherwise instructed (Tablespoons, teaspoons, pinch etc). Metric measurements are available in the recipe card. Scaled ingredients are much more accurate than using cups and help ensure the success of your recipe.

3. Practice Mise en Place (everything in it's place). Measure out your ingredients ahead of time and have them ready before you start mixing to reduce the chances of accidentally leaving something out.

4. Chill your cakes before frosting and filling. You can cover a frosted and chilled cake in fondant if you wish. This cake is also great for stacking. I always keep my cakes chilled in the refrigerator before delivery for easy transporting.

5. If the recipe calls for specific ingredients like cake flour, replacing it with all purpose flour and cornstarch is not recommended unless specified in the recipe that it’s ok. Substituting ingredients may cause this recipe to fail.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 208kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 60mg | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 335IU | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

White velvet cake (recipe) + color variations | Sugar Geek Show (2024)

FAQs

What flavor is blue velvet? ›

The flavor of blue velvet cake is the same as a red velvet cake—fluffy vanilla cake with a hint of chocolate slathered in tangy cream cheese frosting. It is easy to make a blue velvet cake from scratch with a blend of cocoa powder, vinegar, buttermilk, and bright blue food coloring.

Can you change the color of red velvet cake? ›

Can you can make velvet cake with different colors? Yes! If you want a different color of velvet cake then simply replace the food color with any other color you like.

What is white velvet cake made of? ›

Buttermilk and cake flour make a white velvet cake soft and tender. It is all white because it is made with only the egg whites. Using the reverse creaming method gives it its velvety texture. It is made with both butter and oil to stay moist.

What colour is red velvet? ›

By nature, Red Velvet cake sponge is intended to be a vibrant, deep shade of red and this requires artificial food colouring. Some manufacturers have reverted to natural-only food colourings and these unfortunately will not give the correct depth of colour.

What Flavour is purple velvet? ›

The newest colour trending, Purple Velvet is the perfect all-purpose cake mix with a distinctive berry taste profile. Made with natural colour, it has a dense and moist cake texture suitable for various finished applications like muffins, barcakes, marble cakes,layered cakes and many more.

What flavor is green velvet? ›

What does green velvet cake taste like? Green velvet cake is actually just red velvet cake, the only difference is the color of the food coloring! The taste is sweet with a slightly tangy flavor from the buttermilk.

Why did my red velvet cake not turn red? ›

If you're finding that your red velvet cake is turning out more brown than red, you may want to consider adjusting the amount of cocoa powder and red food coloring in your recipe. You could reduce the amount of cocoa powder or increase the amount of red food coloring to achieve a more vibrant red color.

Why does my red velvet cake not look red? ›

The trick to using our Red Velvet Color when baking cakes and cupcakes is to lower the pH. Some ways to do this is by substituting baking powder in place of baking soda, using a natural non-alkalized cocoa powder, adding more white vinegar or buttermilk to your red velvet recipe, to achieve a bright red color.

Can you put food coloring in white cake mix? ›

Add 3 to 5 drops of food coloring to the cake mix and mix. Check the color for the desired shade and add more food coloring if necessary. The cake is baked to a lighter color than the dough. For example, if you want a light pink cake, add red color to the dough for the white cake until it turns dark pink.

Why do you put white vinegar in red velvet cake? ›

Red velvet cake contains baking powder and baking soda to leaven or raise, the height of the batter. ... Although most red velvet cake recipes contain acidic ingredients such as buttermilk and cocoa, the addition of vinegar provides just a little extra acid to ensure the baking soda can do its best rising work.

What is special about velvet cake? ›

The cocoa gave the cakes a velvety texture and feel. When bakers added vinegar, baking soda, or buttermilk to their recipes to tenderize the cakes, the acid in those ingredients reacted with the cocoa, which was not Dutch-processed, to give the cakes a red tint. That color became a signature of velvet cakes.

What is the difference between white and red velvet cake? ›

The primary differences are in their color and flavor: The omission of food coloring and cocoa powder in white velvet cake sets it apart from its brighter, more chocolate-flavored counterpart.

What color is white velvet? ›

Velvet White is a beautiful white solid with a silky smooth texture. It is slightly brighter than Satin White and White Supermatte.

What flavor is pink velvet? ›

what flavor is pink velvet? I like to think of pink velvet cake as red velvet's posh younger cousin. It has a very mild chocolate flavor with a moist, soft and tender crumb.

What is the color code for velvet? ›

HEX color code is #902C3E and the RGB is 144, 44, 62.

Does blue velvet cake taste the same as red velvet? ›

The result is that while the cakes may taste pretty similar, they have very distinctive appearances. It's not just the food coloring that's different, however. To help bring out the coloring agents, both cakes call for additional ingredients.

What does velvet flavor taste like? ›

Red velvet is a term used to describe a flavor that's a mix of cocoa and vanilla, often available in baked cookies, cakes, and cupcakes.

What is the guy huffing in Blue Velvet? ›

In "Blue Velvet," Frank Booth, portrayed by Dennis Hopper, is shown using a gas mask and inhaling a substance referred to as "amyl nitrite" or "poppers." However, it's important to note that amyl nitrite is not a laughing gas in the traditional sense; it's a volatile liquid that produces a short-lived psychoactive ...

Is Blue Velvet different than red velvet? ›

Red velvet cake is bright red, while blue velvet cake has a blue Cookie Monster hue. Red velvet typically adds buttermilk and vinegar, while blue velvet calls for a small amount of white vinegar and sometimes a bit of almond extract to enhance the flavor.

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