Red Velvet Cheesecake

Content… What Is It? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Decadent Cake Recipes to Try Conclusion

What Is Red Velvet Cheesecake?

Every Southern grandma has her version of red velvet cake, but I’ve worked with this recipe until I’m ecstatic with the results. My Immafied version is a 2-in-1 cake with layers of red velvet cake and plain cheesecake covered in a luscious cream cheese frosting. You can call it red velvet cheesecake as long as you both have the red velvet and cheesecake part. The presentation is really up to you. 😁

Recipe Ingredients

This elegant cheesecake does take a bit of effort since you’re making two kinds of cake. Don’t worry, though, because it only involves mixing and baking. Advanced decorating skills are not required, and most of the ingredients are pantry staples.

Red Velvet Cake Layer

1. Cake Flour – I used cake flour for a soft, light, yet sturdy cake base. However, you can use all-purpose flour that is well-sifted.
2. Cocoa Powder – For a richly decadent, you can’t beat chocolate. Unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder is the way to go, but you can use any unsweetened cocoa powder if you don’t have it. I won’t tell. 😉
3. Butter and Sugar – Creaming these two guys together gives this cake its buttery, rich sweetness.
4. Eggs – Besides acting as a binder, they also add a rich flavor to our cake.
5. Sour Cream and Buttermilk – They activate the baking soda, giving more body to our cake and making it softer and moist. Plus, the acidity adds a pleasant tang. You can make homemade buttermilk if you don’t have any on hand.
6. Vinegar – It intensifies the red color but doesn’t affect the taste. Yay!
7. Red Food Coloring – This classic ingredient makes red velvet cake what it is.

Cheesecake Layer

1. Cream Cheese and Sour Cream – Our yummy cheesecake base. Don’t you just love that creamy goodness with a bit of tang?
2. Eggs and All-Purpose Flour – They will give structure to our cheesecake to make it firm.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. Cream Cheese, Butter, and Powdered Sugar – Combining these three will give you a spreadable and stable frosting, perfect for our red velvet cheesecake cake.

How to Make Red Velvet Cheesecake

The Cake

• Combine Dry Ingredients – Combine flour, salt, and cocoa powder in a medium bowl. Set aside. (Photos 1-2)
• Combine Wet Ingredients – Cream the butter and sugar at high speed in a stand mixer for 4 minutes or so until it’s fluffy and looks white. Then add in the sour cream and mix for another minute. Follow with the oil, and mix for another minute. (Photo 3)
• Add the Eggs – Add in eggs, one at a time, beating the mixture well between each addition. (Photo 4)
• More Liquid – Next, pour in the buttermilk, vinegar, and vanilla, and thoroughly mix. (Photo 5)
• Food Coloring – Add food coloring until the desired color has been reached.
• Combine the Dry and Wet – Slowly add the flour mixture to the batter. Stir the baking soda and water, then gently fold it into the cake batter. Scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl. (Photo 6-8)
• Bake at 350℉/177℃ for about 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.
• Cool – Let the cakes sit in their pans for about 10- 15 minutes. Gently place the cakes on a wire rack and invert, lifting off the pan.
• Refrigerate – Once the cakes have completely cooled, wrap them in plastic paper and place the cake in the refrigerator for at least an hour or preferably overnight. It makes it so much easier to apply the frosting.

The Cheesecake

• Beat Cream Cheese and Sugar – In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar until fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Add sour cream and beat for about a minute. (Photos 9-10)
• Mix – Add eggs, one at a time, beating the mixture well between each addition. Next, add flour, salt, and vanilla and mix until fully combined. (You could also make it even more spectacular by adding a touch of red food coloring.) (Photo 11-13)
• Bain-Marie – Pour the batter into the prepared springform pan; wrap the springform pan in two layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil or save your foil and place the springform pan in a slightly larger pan filled with 1 inch of hot water. (Photo 14)
• Bake – Place the cheesecake into the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes until the edges set and the center jiggles slightly. (Photo 15)
• Chill – Remove the cheesecake from the oven, let it cool to room temperature, then transfer it to the refrigerator to cool completely. It should chill to firm up for at least 8 hours before assembling.

Assembly

• Make Frosting – In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Next, add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until combined. (Photo 16)
• Even the Top of the Cake to Level – Trim and level the two red velvet cake layers with a long knife. Then set aside the slices you cut off, reserving them to crumble for the garnish.
• Layer the Red Velvet Cake and Cheesecake – Place one red velvet cake on a cake platter, then add a small amount of cream cheese frosting to the center of the cake and thinly spread it out using an offset spatula. Then top with the cheesecake, pressing down firmly, spread another thin cheese frosting layer on the cheesecake, and top with the second red velvet cake.
• Frost the Cake – Cover the entire cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting. (Photo 17)
• Garnish and Decorate – Garnish with red velvet cake crumbs and design cake as desired before serving. (Photo 18)

Recipe Variations

1. Cake Swap – You could make this with your favorite pound cake instead of red velvet cake, and you’ll still have a classic Southern dessert. Doesn’t this sound scrumptious with a strawberry pound cake?
2. Red Velvet Cheesecake Filling – Simply add about three tablespoons of cocoa powder and a few teaspoons of red food color to the cheesecake, and you’re in for a double red velvet cheesecake delight.
3. Optional Toppings – You should try it with drizzles of caramel or chocolate sauce on top for added lushness. Crushed, shaved, or chopped chocolates and nuts also make an appealing decoration.

Tips and Tricks

1. No cake flour? Take one cup of all-purpose flour, level, remove two tablespoons, and add two tablespoons of corn starch. Sift together before using.
2. The bain-marie method (water bath) prevents cracks when baking cheesecake.
3. Freezing the cheesecake layer makes for easier assembling. Don’t worry because it freezes well and thaws quickly.
4. Make sure to use the same cake pan size for the cake and cheesecake layers so you can stack them nicely.
5. I suggest putting at least two wooden or plastic cake dowels about 1½-2″ from the center for a more stable cake.
6. Always use room-temperature eggs for the best texture.
7. Don’t overmix or overbake the cake or cheesecake. The cheesecake layer may come out jiggly, but it’s okay because it will firm up once cooled.

Make-Ahead Instructions

I recommend baking the cake and cheesecake layer at least a day ahead since they both need to be chilled before assembling. Wrap the red velvet cake tightly with a cling wrap before storing it in the fridge to keep it moist.

You can freeze both the cake and cheesecake layers for two months. Once frozen, wrap it tightly with a cling wrap, then put it inside a heavy-duty resealable bag before storing it in the freezer. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight for quick and easy assembling.

Make the cream cheese frosting, assemble, and decorate on the day of serving. If you decide to make the frosting the day before, let it come to room temperature so it’s easier to frost the cake.

Serving and Storage Instructions

You can serve this fancy dessert at room temperature or chilled. Although I prefer mine cold because I like it firm and it reminds me of ice cream. Yum! But if you want it at room temperature, take it out from the fridge and let it sit on the countertop for about 30 minutes before serving.

You can store leftover red velvet cheesecake in an airtight container, and it will keep in the fridge for 5 days or 2 months in the freezer.

FAQs

What to Serve with Red Velvet Cheesecake

Nothing beats a steaming cup of coffee with dessert. But for a fancier and sophisticated dessert experience, why don’t you serve this stunning red velvet cake with cheesecake with the following cocktails below?

1. Strawberry Margarita
2. Peach Bellini
3. Coquito
4. Tropical Sangria
5. Mai Tai

More Decadent Cake Recipes to Try

1. Chocolate Guinness Cake
2. Blue Velvet Cake
3. Caramel Cake
4. Pecan Pie Cheesecake
5. Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

Conclusion

Red Velvet Cheesecake is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. What special occasion would you love to wow your guests with this creation? Please let me know. 😉