Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake Recipe

Introduction

This Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake is a stunning dessert that combines the rich creaminess of cheesecake with the classic red velvet cake layers. It’s perfect for special occasions or whenever you want an impressive treat that tastes as good as it looks.

The image shows a three-layer cake on a white marbled surface. The bottom and top layers are dark red with a soft and crumbly texture, while the middle layer is a thick, creamy white cheesecake. Thin layers of white frosting separate each cake layer. The outside of the cake is covered in smooth white frosting, decorated on the top edge with swirls of white cream and sprinkled with red crumbs. The cake is placed on a white plate with some red crumbs scattered around its base. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 24 ounces (678g) cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup (207g) sugar
  • 3 tablespoons (24g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (230g) sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 ½ cups (325g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (414g) sugar
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 teaspoons (9g) natural unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
  • ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons white vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons red food coloring
  • 1 cup (240ml) hot water
  • 16 ounces (452g) cream cheese, room temperature
  • ¾ cup (168g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 8 cups (920g) powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300°F (148°C). Line the entire inside of a 9-inch (23cm) cake pan with aluminum foil, pressing it flat to ease removal later.
  2. Step 2: In a large mixer bowl, blend 24 ounces cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, and 3 tablespoons flour on low speed until combined, scraping down the sides.
  3. Step 3: Mix in 1 cup sour cream and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Step 4: Add 3 eggs one at a time, mixing slowly and scraping the bowl after each addition.
  5. Step 5: Pour cheesecake batter into the prepared pan. Place this pan inside a larger pan and add warm water halfway up the cake pan sides. Bake for 1 hour.
  6. Step 6: Turn off the oven, keep cheesecake inside with the door closed for 30 minutes, then open the door slightly and cool for another 30 minutes.
  7. Step 7: Remove from oven and water bath, then chill cheesecake in the fridge for 4-5 hours until firm.
  8. Step 8: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Line two 9-inch cake pans with parchment paper and grease the sides.
  9. Step 9: In a large bowl, combine 2 ½ cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, 4 teaspoons cocoa, and 1 teaspoon salt.
  10. Step 10: In another bowl, mix 1 cup buttermilk, ½ cup vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons white vinegar, and 4 teaspoons red food coloring.
  11. Step 11: Add wet ingredients to dry and beat until smooth. Slowly mix in 1 cup hot water, scraping bowl as needed.
  12. Step 12: Divide batter evenly between pans and bake 23-26 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
  13. Step 13: Cool cakes in pans for 3-5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
  14. Step 14: For frosting, beat 16 ounces cream cheese and ¾ cup butter until smooth. Add half the powdered sugar, then vanilla extract, beating well.
  15. Step 15: Add remaining powdered sugar and beat until you achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency.
  16. Step 16: Trim domes from cake tops and save crumbs for decorating. If very moist, dry crumbs in a 200°F oven for 15-20 minutes.
  17. Step 17: Place one cake layer on a serving plate, spread about 1 cup frosting over it.
  18. Step 18: Use foil to lift cheesecake from the pan, remove foil, and place cheesecake on cake layer.
  19. Step 19: Spread 1 cup frosting over cheesecake, then add second cake layer. Trim edges if layers don’t align.
  20. Step 20: Frost the outside of the cake smoothly, pipe decorative shells on the top edge, and press crumbs onto the sides and top.
  21. Step 21: Store cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy within 3-4 days.

Tips & Variations

  • Using room-temperature ingredients ensures a smooth, crack-free cheesecake and moist cake layers.
  • If you don’t have buttermilk, substitute with milk plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar, let sit 5 minutes.
  • For a sharper cream cheese flavor, chill the baked cheesecake overnight before assembling the cake.
  • Try decorating the cake with fresh berries or edible flowers for an elegant touch.

Storage

Keep the cake refrigerated in an airtight container to maintain freshness and moisture. It is best enjoyed within 3-4 days. When ready to serve, remove the cake from the fridge 20-30 minutes beforehand for optimal texture. Leftover cake can be frozen for up to one month; thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

How to Serve

A slice of red velvet cake with three visible layers sits on a white plate with delicate edges on a white marbled surface. The bottom and top layers are deep red and fluffy, with red crumbs scattered on the plate. Between these is a thick, creamy white layer of frosting or cream cheese filling. Another thin layer of white frosting is on top, sprinkled with red velvet crumbs and decorated with small swirls of white frosting near the upper edge. In the background, a larger cake with similar layers and decorations is slightly blurred. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this cake ahead of time?

Yes, you can bake the cake layers and cheesecake a day in advance and refrigerate them. Assemble and frost the cake the day you plan to serve for the best taste and texture.

Why does the cheesecake need a water bath?

The water bath helps the cheesecake bake evenly and prevents cracking by providing gentle, moist heat during baking.

Print

Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake Recipe

This luscious Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake features a rich and creamy cheesecake layer sandwiched between two moist red velvet cake layers, all covered in smooth cream cheese frosting and decorated with cake crumbs for added texture and visual appeal. Perfect for special occasions, this cake combines the classic flavors of red velvet with a decadent cheesecake center for an indulgent dessert experience.

  • Author: Elena
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 26 minutes
  • Total Time: 6 hours 6 minutes
  • Yield: 1216 servings 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale

Cheesecake

  • 24 ounces (678g) cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 1 cup (207g) sugar
  • 3 tablespoons (24g) all purpose flour
  • 1 cup (230g) sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs (room temperature)

Red Velvet Cake

  • 2 ½ cups (325g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (414g) sugar
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 teaspoons (9g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
  • ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons white vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons red food coloring
  • 1 cup (240ml) hot water

Frosting

  • 16 ounces (452g) cream cheese (room temperature)
  • ¾ cup (168g) unsalted butter (room temperature)
  • 8 cups (920g) powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Make the cheesecake: Preheat the oven to 300°F (148°C). Line the entire inside of a 9-inch cake pan with aluminum foil, pressing it flat against the pan. In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese, sugar, and flour on low speed until combined to minimize air incorporation and prevent cracks. Scrape the bowl sides. Add sour cream and vanilla extract, mixing on low until incorporated. Add eggs one at a time, mixing slowly and scraping bowl sides after each. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  2. Bake the cheesecake: Place the cheesecake pan inside a larger pan and fill the outer pan with warm water halfway up the sides of the cheesecake pan. Bake for 1 hour. Then turn off the oven, keep the door closed, and leave cheesecake inside for 30 minutes. Crack open the oven door slightly and leave the cheesecake for another 30 minutes to cool slowly.
  3. Chill the cheesecake: Remove cheesecake from water bath and oven, then chill in the refrigerator for 4-5 hours until firm.
  4. Make the red velvet cake layers: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Line and grease two 9-inch cake pans. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt. In another bowl, combine buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, eggs, vinegar, and red food coloring. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well. Slowly add hot water while mixing on low speed. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans.
  5. Bake the cake layers: Bake for 23-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let cool for 3-5 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a cooling rack.
  6. Make the frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add half of the powdered sugar and beat until combined and smooth. Add vanilla extract and mix well. Add remaining powdered sugar and beat to desired consistency.
  7. Prepare cake domes: Use a serrated knife to trim domes from cake tops. Break domes into crumbs for decoration. If too moist, dry crumbs in a 200°F (93°C) oven for 15-20 minutes.
  8. Assemble the cake: Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread 1 cup frosting evenly on top. Use aluminum foil to lift the cheesecake out of its pan, remove foil, and place cheesecake on the first cake layer. Spread another cup of frosting on cheesecake, then add the second cake layer. Trim sides if they don’t align.
  9. Frost and decorate: Frost the outside of the cake smoothly. Pipe decorative shells around the top edge using a piping tip. Immediately press cake crumbs onto sides and top for decoration.
  10. Store: Keep the cake refrigerated in an airtight container. It is best enjoyed within 3-4 days.

Notes

  • Using low mixer speed when blending cheesecake batter minimizes air and reduces cracking.
  • Water bath baking for cheesecake prevents cracking and ensures even cooking.
  • Slow cooling inside the oven helps prevent cheesecake cracks.
  • Ensure all eggs and dairy products are at room temperature for better mixing and texture.
  • Drying cake crumbs before decorating helps them stick better to the frosting.
  • Remove cake domes to create level layers for easier stacking and frosting.
  • Store cake refrigerated and consume within 3-4 days for best freshness.

Keywords: Red velvet cake, cheesecake cake, cream cheese frosting, layered cake, dessert, baked cheesecake, red velvet dessert

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