Grandma’s Red Velvet Cake

My Grandma’s Red Velvet Cake recipe (from scratch) was handed down to me 45 years ago and has been a delicious family favorite ever since!

For the past several years, red velvet cakes have been all the rage, and that makes me happy. For me personally, red velvet cakes are a part of my heritage. My Grandma Grace in Texas made them, then gave her recipe to my mom (her daughter-in-law), who then gave me Grandma’s recipe over 45 years ago. Talk about handing down traditions! Grandma’s red velvet cake has always been special to me, because my mom made them for our birthdays when I was growing up. Guess what? I loved them then as much then as I do now.

There’s just something about seeing that gorgeous red color in each slice that flood my heart with so many wonderful memories! A lot of red velvet cakes nowadays top the cake with cream cheese frosting, but my Grandma’s recipe uses a fluffy white frosting (without cream cheese). It takes just a bit longer to make the frosting, but that’s part of the charm! Plus, it’s delicious! Today I want to share my recipe for Grandma’s red velvet cake with you, and hope you will enjoy it, too. Here’s how to make it:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare the Cake Batter

Using an electric mixer or stand mixer, cream together granulated sugar and vegetable shortening until well combined. Add the red food coloring and two eggs. Continue mixing until the batter is deep red in color and creamy in texture.

In a separate bowl, SIFT together flour, salt and cocoa powder. Add these dry ingredients to the batter, and beat on low speed until the flour mixture has been fully incorporated.

Mix buttermilk and baking soda together in a separate bowl, and fold them into the batter. Next, add the vanilla extract and vinegar to the batter and stir until combined. This is the batter for Grandma’s red velvet cake.

Bake Grandma’s Red Velvet Cake

Now it’s time to bake the cake. Generously grease and flour two 9″ round cake pans OR a 13×9″ baking pan on the bottom and sides, and then pour the batter into the pan(s). If using two round cake pans, evenly divide the batter between them.

Bake in a preheated 350°F. oven (on middle rack) for approximately 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the top of the cake comes out clean. Once done, transfer the cake pans to a wire rack to cool.

Make The Frosting For The Cake

While the cake is baking, you can make the fluffy white frosting for the finished cake. Mix milk, cornstarch and salt in a saucepan. Cook this on low heat, stirring often until the mixture thickens. Remove the pan from the heat, and set it aside to cool.

In a separate bowl, (or stand mixer bowl) place vegetable shortening, butter, granulated sugar, and part of the powdered sugar (2/3 cup). Beat these ingredients really well for 15 minutes (yes… 15 minutes!). When done, the sugar will have dissolved and no longer be “grainy”, and the mixture should be light and fluffy in texture. Add vanilla extract and the cooled, thickened milk mixture. Beat well, then add the remaining cup of powdered sugar, and mix well, until combined. This is your fluffy white frosting.

Frosting the Cake

If you baked this in a 13×9″ baking pan, you are ready to frost the cake (in the pan), once it has cooled completely. If you are using two round cake pans, you will need to remove them from the pans (by inverting pan upside down), once they have cooled completely. Place one layer onto a serving plate, and frost the top.

Lay the second cake layer on top of the frosting. Continue to frost the cake on top and and on all sides. Garnish or decorate the frosted cake any way you wish once fully frosted. This time I went simple, as you can tell from the photos below.

Time For A Slice of Grandma’s Red Velvet Cake!

All that is left to do is cut a nice big slice of Grandma’s red velvet cake, grab a fork, and dig in! The fluffy white frosting is a nice, light touch that contrasts well with the beautiful red hue of the cake. Grandma’s red velvet cake is so yummy, moist, and RED! Sure hope you enjoy it, too!

Thank you for stopping by today. I really hope you have the opportunity to make this delicious dessert for those you love. Please come back again soon for more recipes. Have a wonderful day.

Looking For More CAKE Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have quite a few cake recipes you’re gonna love, including:

• Mom’s EASY Chocolate Cake
• Hummingbird Cake
• Mom’s Lemon Jello Cake
• Apple Cider Bundt Cake

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Original recipe source: my Grandma, Grace B.

5 from 3 votes

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Grandma's Red Velvet Cake

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

45 mins

 

My Grandma's Red Velvet Cake recipe (from scratch) was handed down to me 45 years ago and has been a delicious family favorite ever since!

Category: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Grandma's red velvet cake

Servings: 12

Calories Per Serving: 545 kcal

Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Ingredients

For Cake:

• ½ cup vegetable shortening
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 ounces red food color
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (for baking)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 Tablespoon white vinegar

For Frosting:

• 1 cup milk
• 1½ Tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 pinch salt
• ½ cup vegetable shortening
• ½ cup butter , softened
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• 1⅔ cups powdered sugar , divided use
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease and flour two 9" round cake pans or one 13"x9" baking pan on bottom and sides.

2. Using electric mixer or stand mixer, cream together granulated sugar and vegetable shortening until well combined. Add red food coloring and eggs. Continue mixing until batter is deep red in color and creamy in texture.

3. In separate bowl, SIFT together flour, salt and cocoa powder. Add this mixture to the batter; beat on low speed until fully incorporated. Mix buttermilk and baking soda together in a separate bowl; fold them into batter. Add vanilla and vinegar; stir until combined.

4. Pour batter into prepared pan(s). If using two round cake pans, evenly divide batter between them. Bake at 350°F. (on middle rack) for approximately 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into top of the cake comes out clean. Transfer pan(s) to a wire rack to cool.

Make Frosting While Cake Is Baking:

1. Mix milk, cornstarch and salt in medium saucepan. Cook on low heat, stirring often until mixture thickens. Remove pan from heat; set aside to cool. In a separate bowl, (or stand mixer bowl) place shortening, butter, granulated sugar, and 2/3 cup of powdered sugar. Beat really well for 15 minutes (yes... 15 minutes!). When done, sugar will have dissolved and no longer be "grainy"; frosting should be light/fluffy in texture. Add vanilla extract and cooled, thickened milk mixture. Beat well, then add remaining cup of powdered sugar, and mix well, until combined.

Frost Cake After It Cools Completely:

1. If using a 13x9" baking pan, frost the cake (still in the pan), once it has cooled completely. If using two round cake pans, remove them from the pans (by inverting pan upside down), once they have cooled completely. Place one layer onto a serving plate, and frost the top. Lay the second cake layer on top of the frosting. Continue to frost the cake on the top and and side. Once cake is completely frosted, decorate it any way you want. Slice and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Grandma's Red Velvet Cake

Amount Per Serving (1 slice (1/12th of total))

Calories 545 Calories from Fat 243

% Daily Value*

Fat 27g42%

Saturated Fat 10g63%

Trans Fat 3g

Cholesterol 55mg18%

Sodium 400mg17%

Potassium 110mg3%

Carbohydrates 72g24%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 55g61%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 353IU7%

Calcium 60mg6%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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