Blue Velvet Cake Recipe
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Baby showers are so fun, aren’t they? You ooh and aah over the cutest baby clothes in pastel shades, ogle over the new-fangled baby gear and how much it has changed since your baby showers, and then play shower games that can get just a wee bit crazy when they involve guessing how many inches around the pregnant belly is. They also always have a mighty impressive spread of food.
Cake is always a favorite part of any shower and I wanted it to have a surprise inside when you cut it.
Unexpected, vibrant, and perfect for a little boy.
Blue Velvet Cake has all of the great taste of the more traditional Red Velvet Cake, but with such a fun twist that everyone will remember it.
Blue Velvet Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup (92 g) shortening
- 1 ½ cups (297 g) sugar
- 2 large (100 g) eggs
- 1 ounce (28 g) royal blue gel paste food color
- 2 drops (0.2 g) violet gel paste food color
- 2 tablespoons (10.5 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 ¼ cups (270 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 scant teaspoon (2.6 g) kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon (4.7 g) vanilla extract
- 1 cup (227 g) buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon (6 g) baking soda
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) distilled white vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease and flour 3 8-inch round cake pans.
- Cream Crisco and sugar together until light and fluffy, about three minutes. Add eggs one at a time, completely incorporating after each addition.
- In a small bowl, make a paste of food coloring and cocoa powder and add to mixture.
- Stir together flour and salt in a separate medium bowl, set aside.
- Pour buttermilk and vanilla into a measuring cup, set aside.
- Alternately, add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture into Crisco/sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Reduce speed of mixer and stir in baking soda, making sure incorporated into batter. Then, stir in the vinegar, taking care not to beat hard or over mix.
- Distribute cake batter evenly into the three cake pans. Bake for 25 minutes or until cakes have gently pulled away from the edges of the cake pans and a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.. You can follow my tips for how to tell when your cake is done.
- Cool cake thoroughly before frosting.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Notes: I used Americolor Soft Gel Paste in Royal Blue and Violet. You may also want to try a natural-based food coloring.
Robyn hello! this is beautiful. my question is. how would this recipe differ for a wedding cake
Thank you for your recipe. I made it last night, but made a mistake with the leavening. So I am trying again today because I’m trying to make a 4th of July cake. Its in the oven now. Should it cool completely in the pan or take it out after a certain amount of time to cool on a cooling rack? Thanks again!
I like to allow it to cool in the pans for just a few minutes and then turn out and cool on cooling racks until completely cooled before frosting.
I think this would be pretty cool for 4th of July. Add some red decorations on top.
or have a red, white and blue 3 layer cake (each layer a different color)… Wow! It would be a head turner! 🙂
Hi Robyn! I love how you made this wonderful cake blue instead of classic red, how sweet?!
I have a question Robyn, and my first question is:
1.) Do I have to use Crisco; can I just use butter or margarine instead?
2.) Do I really have to use buttermilk or vinegar?
3.) Which coca do you prefer? What about Nesquik? Or a chocolate coca powder that you can use for chocolate sauce?
4.) Can I ask just use baking powder instead of baking soda without any baking issues?
↪THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, ROBYN!!! 🙂
{{{5 STARS}}}
Hi Robyn! I love how you made this wonderful cake blue instead of classic red, how sweet?!
I have a question Robyn, and my first question is:
1.) Do I have to use Crisco; can I just use butter or margarine instead?
2.) Do I really have to use buttermilk or vinegar?
3.) Which coca do you prefer? What about Nesquik? Or a chocolate coca powder that you can use for chocolate sauce?
↪THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, ROBYN!!! 🙂
{{{5 STARS}}}
Reminds me of the Air Force colors… Popped right out at me!
Hi, I just wanted to thank you for the recipe . using bit to make cupcakes for police week 🙂
LOVE the look! Has anyone made this yet? Does the flavor live up to the elegant look???
I just made this beautiful cake it was so vibrant in color, & my whole family loved it.
Its almost gone & they wanna know when I’m making another lol 🙂
My son wants this cake for his birthday.. “Soda” is that soda pop or baking soda? Thanks in advance 😀
Hi Gena,
It is baking soda. Happy birthday to your son!!!
Have you tried using navy blue colour for this recipe?
Hi Pamela,
I’ve not tried navy blue for this cake as I was going for a brighter blue color, but I would love to see photos if you do.