Why You’ll Love This Recipe
The Purple Velvet Cake combines the same velvety smooth texture and flavor you love from classic red velvet, but with a fun and vibrant twist. The cake is rich, moist, and perfectly sweet, while the cream cheese frosting adds a tangy contrast that brings everything together. The deep purple color not only makes it visually striking but also adds a touch of creativity to your dessert spread. It’s the perfect cake for any special occasion or a fun treat to make any day feel like a celebration!
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons purple food coloring
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Milk (if needed, to adjust frosting consistency)
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Combine wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the sugar, vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, and purple food coloring until the mixture is well combined.
- Combine mixtures: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring until smooth and lump-free.
- Divide batter: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
- Bake: Place the pans in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool cakes: Once baked, remove the cakes from the oven and let them cool in their pans for about 20 minutes. Then, transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
- Prepare frosting: While the cakes are cooling, make the cream cheese frosting. Beat together the softened cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until the frosting is light, fluffy, and spreadable. If the frosting is too thick, add milk a tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
- Assemble the cake: Once the cakes have completely cooled, place one layer on a serving platter. Spread a generous layer of frosting on top, then place the second layer on top. Frost the top and sides of the entire cake.
- Decorate: You can decorate the cake with edible flowers, sprinkles, or any other decorative items you prefer to give it a personal touch.
- Serve: Slice, serve, and enjoy your beautiful, delicious Purple Velvet Cake!
Servings and Timing
- Servings: 12 servings
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
Variations
- Add-ins: You can mix in some chocolate chips, nuts, or even a bit of orange zest to add an extra flavor layer to the cake.
- Dye-Free Version: If you’d prefer a more natural purple color, you can substitute the food coloring with a natural purple powder (like acai powder), though the color may be lighter.
- Vegan Option: Use dairy-free butter, vegan cream cheese, and plant-based milk to make this cake vegan-friendly.
- Cupcakes: Instead of a layered cake, you can turn this recipe into cupcakes. Just divide the batter into cupcake liners and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Storage/Reheating
- Storing: Store leftover cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If the weather is warm, refrigerate the cake to preserve freshness.
- Freezing: This cake freezes beautifully! Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw it at room temperature before serving.
- Reheating: If you prefer your cake warm, pop a slice in the microwave for a few seconds or warm it in the oven at 300°F for 10 minutes.
FAQs
Can I use regular food coloring instead of purple food coloring?
Yes, if you don’t have purple food coloring, you can mix red and blue food coloring to create a similar shade of purple. Just adjust the amount until you achieve your desired color.
Can I make the cream cheese frosting ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the frosting ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to use, let it come to room temperature and whisk it to restore its creamy texture.
Can I make this cake without buttermilk?
If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute it with 1 cup of milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Let it sit for 5 minutes to mimic the acidity of buttermilk.
How can I make the cake more decadent?
For extra richness, you can drizzle a bit of melted chocolate over the frosting or add chocolate ganache in between the cake layers.
Can I turn this into a layered cake?
Yes! Simply bake the cake in multiple pans and layer them with frosting in between, creating a taller and more decadent dessert.
Conclusion
This Purple Velvet Cake is a stunning and delicious addition to any celebration. With its rich texture, vibrant color, and the perfect balance of sweet and creamy flavors, it’s sure to steal the show at your next gathering. Whether it’s a birthday, holiday, or just a special treat, this cake will impress your guests and leave everyone asking for the recipe!
Purple Velvet Cake: The Ultimate Amazing Recipe for Celebrations
Purple Velvet Cake is a vibrant twist on the classic red velvet cake, made with rich, moist cake layers, a creamy cream cheese frosting, and a stunning purple hue. It’s perfect for any celebration, adding a fun and delicious touch to your dessert table.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons purple food coloring
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Milk (if needed, to adjust frosting consistency)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
- Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
- In another bowl, whisk together the sugar, vegetable oil, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, and purple food coloring until smooth.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring until well combined.
- Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cake pans.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes in the pans for 20 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Add milk as needed to reach the desired consistency.
- Once the cakes are completely cooled, place one layer on a serving platter and spread frosting on top. Add the second layer and frost the top and sides of the entire cake.
- Decorate as desired and serve immediately.
Notes
Store the cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate if the weather is warm.
If you don’t have buttermilk, mix 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes.
This cake freezes well! Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 35g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg