Purple Velvet Cake Recipe: A Dreamy Twist on a Classic Dessert

Nestled in the world of decadent desserts, a purple velvet cake brings unexpected whimsy to your baking adventure.

Soft lavender hues transform classic red velvet into a magical culinary experience.

Delicate crumbs promise a luxurious texture that melts on your tongue.

Vibrant colors and rich cream cheese frosting create a stunning centerpiece for any celebration.

Unexpected ingredients blend seamlessly to craft this remarkable treat.

Professional bakers and kitchen novices alike can master this delightful recipe with ease.

You will fall in love with every gorgeous slice of this enchanting dessert.

FAQs

• What gives Purple Velvet Cake its unique color?

The vibrant purple color comes from adding purple food coloring to the cake batter. Unlike traditional red velvet cake, this version uses purple dye to create its distinctive and eye-catching hue.

• Is buttermilk essential for this recipe?

Yes, buttermilk is crucial for the cake’s texture. It helps create a tender, moist crumb and adds a subtle tangy flavor that’s characteristic of velvet cakes. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding vinegar to regular milk.

• Why does the recipe include vinegar?

Vinegar reacts with the baking soda to help the cake rise and create a lighter, softer texture. It also enhances the cake’s tenderness and contributes to the classic velvet cake chemistry that makes the dessert so unique.

• Can I make this cake without an electric mixer?

While an electric mixer makes mixing easier, you can use a whisk and some elbow grease. Just be sure to mix thoroughly to incorporate all ingredients evenly and avoid lumps in the batter.

Why Purple Velvet Cake Pops on Any Occasion

• Unleash Stunning Color: Dive into a visually striking purple velvet cake that transforms ordinary dessert into a showstopping centerpiece with its vibrant, eye-catching hue.
• Craft with Ease: Perfect for bakers of all skill levels, this recipe offers straightforward steps and simple ingredients, ensuring even novice home cooks can create a professional-looking dessert.
• Crowd-Pleasing Delight: Guaranteed to wow friends and family, this cake combines classic velvet cake texture with a unique purple twist that sparks conversation and delights taste buds at gatherings, potlucks, and special celebrations.
• Creamy Comfort Finish: Topped with luxurious cream cheese frosting, this cake delivers a rich, smooth topping that perfectly complements the tender cake layers, creating an irresistible sweet experience.

Purple Velvet Cake Ingredients

• Flour: Fine base for a soft cake texture.
• Sugar: Sweetens the cake deeply.
• Cocoa Powder: Adds rich chocolate undertone.
• Oil: Ensures moisture in the cake.
• Buttermilk: Creates tender crumb.

• Purple Food Coloring: Provides signature vibrant purple color.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm background flavor.
• White Vinegar: Helps activate baking chemistry.

• Eggs: Binds ingredients together.
• Baking Soda: Helps cake rise and become fluffy.
• Salt: Balances overall sweetness.

• Cream Cheese: Creates tangy, smooth frosting base.
• Butter: Adds richness to frosting.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and stabilizes frosting.

Purple Velvet Cake Baking Process

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Baking Pans

Warm up the oven to 350°F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with butter and dust with flour to prevent sticking.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Granulated sugar
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Cocoa powder

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

• Vegetable oil
• Buttermilk
• Eggs
• Purple food coloring
• White vinegar
• Vanilla extract

Step 4: Create Cake Batter

Pour the sifted dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Mix thoroughly until the batter becomes silky and uniform in color.

Step 5: Bake the Cake

Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.

Step 6: Cool the Cake Layers

Remove pans from the oven and let them rest on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully remove cakes from pans and allow them to cool completely.

Step 7: Whip Up Cream Cheese Frosting

• Cream cheese
• Butter
• Vanilla extract

Mix until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, starting on low speed. Increase to high speed and whip until light and fluffy.

Step 8: Frost and Serve

Once the cake layers are completely cool, generously spread the cream cheese frosting between layers and all over the cake. Slice and enjoy your stunning purple velvet creation!

Velvet Cake Tips That Highlight That Bold Purple Finish

• Color Control: Use gel food coloring for deeper, richer purple hue without affecting batter consistency.
• Buttermilk Boost: Swap buttermilk with regular milk mixed with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice for similar tangy texture.
• Room Temperature Trick: Ensure eggs, butter, and cream cheese are at room temperature for smoother mixing and better frosting texture.
• Avoid Overmixing: Gently combine wet and dry ingredients to prevent tough, dense cake – mix just until ingredients are incorporated.
• Cool Completely: Let cake layers cool entirely before frosting to prevent melting and sliding of cream cheese topping.

Store Purple Velvet Cake with Style

• Store the frosted cake in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Keep it away from strong-smelling foods to prevent flavor absorption.
• Wrap the entire unfrosted cake layers tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and frost before serving.
• Cut individual slices, wrap separately in plastic wrap, and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Thaw at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before enjoying.
• Warm refrigerated cake slices in the microwave for 10-15 seconds on low power to maintain moisture. For best texture, let the cake sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving.

Best Matches for Purple Velvet Cake

• Savor Creamy Contrasts: Pair this rich purple velvet cake with a chilled glass of dessert wine that balances its sweetness.
• Complementary Beverage Bliss: A smooth port wine or moscato will elegantly enhance the cake's velvety texture and cream cheese frosting.
• Flavor-Boosting Side Companions: Fresh berries like raspberries or blackberries provide a tart counterpoint to the cake's sweet profile, adding brightness and complexity.
• Artisan Coffee Companion: A robust espresso or dark roast coffee cuts through the cake's richness, creating a delightful palate-cleansing experience that highlights the dessert's delicate flavors.

Purple Velvet Cake Style Swaps

• Gluten-Free Purple Velvet Cake: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the same texture and flavor for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Vegan Purple Velvet Cake: Substitute eggs with flax eggs, use plant-based milk instead of buttermilk, and swap cream cheese frosting with a vegan cream cheese alternative made from cashews or tofu.
• Low-Sugar Purple Velvet Cake: Use stevia or monk fruit sweetener in place of sugar, and opt for a sugar-free cream cheese frosting using cream cheese and a sugar substitute.
• Dairy-Free Purple Cake: Replace buttermilk with almond or coconut milk, use dairy-free margarine in the frosting, and select a dairy-free cream cheese substitute for a completely allergen-friendly version.

Purple Velvet Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Purple passion meets culinary artistry in this mesmerizing Purple Velvet Cake, blending rich cocoa with stunning violet hues. Delicate layers promise an unforgettable dessert experience you’ll savor with pure delight.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake Dry Ingredients:

• 2.5 cups (595 milliliters) all-purpose flour
• 1.5 cups (300 grams) sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder

Cake Wet Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups (355 milliliters) vegetable oil
• 1 cup (240 milliliters) buttermilk, room temperature
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon purple food coloring

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:

• 1 pound (454 grams) cream cheese, softened
• 2 sticks (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups (480 grams) sifted confectioners sugar

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven and prepare two 9-inch round cake pans by lightly greasing and dusting with flour to prevent sticking.
2. Meticulously sift the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder – into a medium mixing bowl, ensuring a lump-free mixture.
3. Utilize a handheld electric mixer to gently blend the liquid components: oil, buttermilk, eggs, vibrant purple food coloring, white vinegar, and pure vanilla extract in a separate large bowl.
4. Gradually incorporate the sifted dry ingredients into the liquid mixture, mixing until a smooth, uniform purple batter forms without overmixing.
5. Carefully distribute the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans, using a spatula to ensure equal distribution.
6. Slide the pans into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the cake’s center – it should emerge clean with no raw batter.
7. Once baked, remove the cakes from the oven and let them rest on a wire rack for 10 minutes to stabilize.
8. Gently extract the cakes from their pans and allow them to cool completely to room temperature.
9. Prepare the cream cheese frosting by beating cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until silky smooth.
10. Gradually add powdered sugar, initially mixing on low speed, then increasing to high to create a light, fluffy frosting.
11. Once the cakes have cooled entirely, generously apply the cream cheese frosting between layers and across the entire cake surface.

Notes

• Swap natural food coloring like beet juice or butterfly pea flower powder for vivid purple color without artificial additives.
• Ensure ingredients are room temperature for smoother batter and more even cake texture.
• Replace buttermilk with dairy-free alternatives like almond milk mixed with apple cider vinegar for vegan version.
• For gluten-free adaptation, substitute all-purpose flour with a reliable gluten-free flour blend and add xanthan gum for better structure.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 610
• Sugar: 59 g
• Sodium: 480 mg
• Fat: 36 g
• Saturated Fat: 18 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 66 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg