Natural Red Velvet Cake Recipe
This natural red velvet cake recipe pairs pint-sized naturally dyed beetroot powder cake layers with a light and airy whipped cream cheese frosting. It’s the perfect mini cake to share with a loved one!
This post was originally published on 1 February 2019 and updated on 5 February 2021.
A mini red velvet cake naturally coloured with beetroot powder
I’m going to let you in on a little secret. This natural red velvet cake recipe almost didn’t happen.
My idea for a naturally-dyed red velvet cake for two, while a brilliant one in theory (who wants to eat a cake with an entire bottle of red food dye in it?), presented a few problems that I hadn’t anticipated:
The beetroot powder I was using to dye the cake layers oxidised to a not-so-pretty brown when baked. When I tried to remedy this by leaving out baking powder and using egg to give the cake some rise, the texture became gummy.
For a week I was stuck with either lovely and fluffy brown cake layers or deformed, dense omelette-cakes. Neither of which I could reasonably hand over to you, call it a natural red velvet cake, and be proud.
I made SEVEN cakes before I finally cracked (literally and mentally) the combination needed to produce the vibrant beauty you see before you.
This natural red velvet cake recipe is perfect. The layers taste exactly like you’d expect a regular red velvet cake to taste – slightly tangy from the buttermilk, moist, and buttery with a hint of both chocolate and vanilla. It’s the classic can’t-describe-it taste that you crave when eating red velvet cake.
Only this natural version doesn’t contain any refined sugars or artificial food dyes – it’s naturally coloured with beetroot! Paired with the (powdered sugar free!) whipped cream cheese frosting, I really can’t imagine a better combination.
Ingredients in this natural red velvet cake recipe
There are some very specific ingredients, amounts, and methods used to make this natural red velvet cake recipe. It’s very important that nothing is left out or substituted or the resulting cake will likely not work. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cake flour: While you can make this cake with plain flour, I find that cake flour gives the sponge a lighter, fluffier texture. I would highly recommend using cake flour for this recipe. You can make your own using this method.
- Raw cane caster sugar: To keep this cake refined sugar free, we’re using raw cane sugar ground down to its finest form, caster. I usually opt for Billington’s.
- Cacao powder: Red velvet cake recipes typically contain a small amount of cocoa or cacao to react with the acidic ingredients in the cake. This reaction causes a delicious maroon colour that is further enhanced by food colouring (or beetroot powder, in this case)
- Baking powder: A dash of baking powder keeps the cake from becoming gummy and dense. Do not be tempted to use more than specified in the recipe otherwise the beetroot will oxidise and turn brown.
- Beetroot powder: To colour this red velvet cake naturally, I opted for beetroot powder. Discover more about its role in this recipe below.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds a lovely flavour profile to the cake without being too overpowering.
- Apple cider vinegar: Vinegar helps keep the beetroot powder from oxidising during the baking process. I use apple cider vinegar because I love the flavour, but regular distilled white vinegar would also work.
- Buttermilk: For that classic red velvet cake tang (and to add another acidic ingredient to keep the colour bright), buttermilk is a must. If you don’t have any on hand, you can make your own homemade buttermilk.
- Egg whites: Whipped egg whites give the cake it’s lovely light and fluffy texture. This part cannot be skipped or the cake will not rise.
How to make natural red velvet cake with beetroot powder
There are a few ways to naturally colour a red velvet cake, but my preferred method is using beetroot powder.
Beetroot powder is created from dehydrated or dried fresh beets that have been ground into a powder. It’s super versatile and subtly sweet, so it’s perfect for
Two important things to note about using beetroot powder in this natural red velvet cake:
- The beetroot powder will
oxidise . Because we aren’t using a normal amount of baking powder, we’re also going to use an extra egg white and whip them into stiff peaks. The air in the whipped egg whites will help the cake rise and keep the sponge light.
Watch the recipe video
More of a visual learner? Me too! Check out how I make this Natural Red Velvet Cake here:
Why do you put vinegar in red velvet cake?
There are two main reasons why we use vinegar in red velvet cake recipes: to prevent oxidisation and retain the lovely red colour and to add some tang, which is a classic flavour profile in red velvet cake.
Oxidisation & Colour
In a typical red velvet cake recipe, vinegar is used to oxidise the cacao or cocoa powder in the recipe and turn the cake a lovely natural maroon colour. In this recipe, the extra acid helps neutralise the effect of the oxidisation process on the beetroot powder, ensuring that it keeps its colour throughout the baking process.
Flavour
Classically, red velvet cakes have a slight tang to them to balance out the richness of the fat and sweet frosting. This is usually achieved through the use of buttermilk or sour cream as well as a bit of vinegar.
Tips for making this recipe perfectly
- Do not substitute ingredients in this recipe. While I’m all for experimentation, I guarantee that this particular red velvet cake recipe will not turn out if you start substituting ingredients.
- Grease and flour your tin. Since egg whites are the main rising agent in this cake, they require a little bit of help to climb the sides of the cake tin. The flour provides extra surface for the cake to grab on to and prevents it from sticking when you turn it out.
- Whip your egg whites. It might seem a bit of a faff to whip the egg whites before adding them to the cake batter, but trust me (and test cake number 4) when I say that this step is crucial to achieving a fluffy crumb. The extra air in the whites replaces the baking soda normally used to lift the cake.
Looking for more natural cake recipes?
Black Forest Cake
Coffee Layer Cake
Chocolate Sheet Cake
Mandarin Orange Cake
Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cake
Apricot Upside Down Cake
Carrot Cake
Mini Lemon Lavender Cakes
Apple Chai Cake
White Chocolate Raspberry Ripple Cake
If you make this recipe, let me know by snapping a picture and tagging me on Instagram @naturallysweet_kitchen. I love seeing your creations and sharing them in my Stories. Or let me know you love this Natural Red Velvet Cake recipe by leaving a comment and rating below!
Natural Red Velvet Cake Recipe
This natural red velvet cake recipe pairs mini naturally dyed beetroot powder cake layers with a light and airy whipped cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cake
- 100 g cake flour
- 100 g raw cane caster sugar
- ½ tbsp cacao powder
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tbsp + 1 tsp beetroot powder, divided
- 1 large egg yolk room temperature
- 90 ml cold-pressed rapeseed oil
- 60 ml buttermilk room temperature
- ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 large egg whites room temperature
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
- 150 ml cold double cream
- 80 ml agave syrup
- ⅛ tsp fine sea salt
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 250 g cold cream cheese, cubed
Method
Red Velvet Cake
Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF) and grease, line, and flour a 15 cm (6 inch) round cake tin.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the cake flour, cane sugar, cacao powder, baking powder, salt, and 1 tablespoon of the beetroot powder until well combined. Set aside.
To a large bowl add the egg yolk, vanilla, rapeseed oil, vinegar, and buttermilk. Whisk well to combine and set aside.
Pour the egg whites into a very clean bowl and whip them on high speed using a hand mixer until they reach soft peaks. Dust over the remaining teaspoon of beetroot powder and then continue whipping the whites until they reach stiff peaks. Set aside.
Add one half of the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients and whisk to combine. Then add the remaining half of the dry ingredients and whisk until all the flour disappears and you have a smooth, thick batter.
Take a small spoonful of the whipped egg whites (about 2 tablespoons) and add it to the batter. Mix the two together to loosen the batter slightly. You do not need to be super gentle at this point.
Add the remaining egg whites to the batter and very gently fold them into the batter until all the egg whites are incorporated and the batter is smooth, light, and voluminous. This will take some time so be patient and go slowly.
Pour the batter into the prepared tin and jiggle the tin gently to smooth the top. Bake the cake for 28-32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted at the centre comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached.
Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 5-7 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
Prepare a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Pour the cream, agave, salt, and vanilla into the bowl of the mixer and set it whipping on a medium-high speed. Bring the mixture to medium peaks and then reduce the speed to medium-low.
Start adding the cream cheese, one cube at a time, to the frosting while the mixer is running. After all the cheese has been added, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Turn the mixer up to a high speed and whip the frosting until it’s smooth and fluffy.
Cover and refrigerate the frosting until you’re ready to use it.
Assembly
Once the cake is completely cool, trim off any excess dome from the top and reserve the scraps for decoration.
Slice the cake horizontally into two equal layers. Place one layer of cake on a cake stand or serving plate. Top with 1/2 cup of frosting and spread evenly. Repeat with the remaining layer and apply a thin coat of frosting all over the cake. Chill for 20 minutes.
Use the remaining frosting to frost the cake and do a rustic swirl on the sides and top with a small offset spatula if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Recipe Video
Notes
This cake is best eaten the day it is served. It will keep in the refrigerator, but note that the beetroot may dye the frosting pink if left over 8 hours.
Your determination has certainly paid off in an amazing looking cake. Gotta try this one! Thanks.
HA! I hope so! My colleagues sure seemed to enjoy it and the colour turned out lovely, so I’ll take that as a win. Hope you enjoy!
Can you substitute the rapeseed oil for butter? Would it still turn out good and with the right color. I’m so glad I found your recipe. My daughter loves red velvet, but can’t have food coloring due to her ADHD. So this recipe is a God send I’m so excited to make it for her 15ht Birthday.
Hi Amanda! (Awesome name, btw ;)) I would definitely use an oil for the fat in this cake. The cake is supported by egg white for most of the leavening, so I fear that the butter will weigh it down and cause it to be really dense. If you don’t have rapeseed, you can use any neutral oil. Canola or vegetable would work well! I hope that helps and that your daughter loves her birthday cake!
I tried this cake twice, measured everything correctly, but the color still comes out brown. The cake is light and delicious, just not red.
Hi Alexis! Thanks for your comment and I’m glad you like the flavour and texture of the cake! I’m so sorry the colour didn’t turn out twice for you – I can understand how that would be frustrating! I tested this recipe several times before I settled on the version you see here, which has worked multiple times for me. It’s very important that the method and measures, especially of the acidic ingredients like buttermilk and vinegar, are followed exactly for it to work. If you followed everything to a T, my suggestion would be to try adding 1/4 – 1/2 tsp of cream of tartar when you whisk the dry ingredients – this can help with the oxidisation. Good luck! Let me know if you try again!
How big a cake tin do you use?
Hi AB! The cake tin size is listed in the first step of the recipe method – for this cake, I use one 6-inch (15 cm) cake tin. Hope you love the cake!
Can u share an eggless version of this cake as I dont eat eggs. TIA
Hi Astha! Unfortunately, I don’t think this cake will work without the eggs. They’re an integral part to creating the texture and structure of the cake, so I really can’t imagine any substitutes would work here. You could try searching for “vegan red velvet cake” recipes on Google. I’m sure there are loads of egg-free versions! 🙂
Baked this cake for my birthday and it was an absolute hit! So moist and tasty. Thank you for doing what you do
I’m so glad to come across your post!
My kid with a Halloween birthday wants a blood red velvet cake for her birthday. But my kid with a Christmas birthday can’t eat red food dye. My first RVC experiment with beetroot powder was super tasty — and super brown. Thank you for all of your cake testing; I’m excited to try your recipe!
What is the reason for the apple cider vinegar? Would regular distilled vinegar be okay?
Also, I’m not sure I can get rapeseed oil and hope that Canola Oil is an okay substitute.
For whatever it’s worth, I used the NY Times recipe. I put 4 tsp of beetroot powder in it, still brown. If you have ideas on why that happened please let me know. (I made 2/3 of this recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016333-beet-red-velvet-cake, with a beetroot powder substitution). It seems like 4 tsp should have been PLENTY to make the cake red, so I’m thinking that the acid was off in some way? I noticed your comment to adding cream of tartar to the dry ingredients. I have some that I can add to my next RVC experiment. Of course I’ll try your recipe “as is” before tinkering with it — I just want to have ideas on hand because her birthday is just around the corner. 🙂
Thanks again!
Hi Nicole! Thanks for your comment. The apple cider vinegar is there to keep the beetroot powder from oxidising (that’s why it can turn brown when baked). I like the mild taste of apple cider vinegar and I haven’t tried it with regular vinegar, but it should work fine. Canola oil will also work as a sub for the rapeseed. And yes! Some people have had more success using cream of tartar in the dry ingredients, so it can’t hurt! 🙂 Do let me know how it goes for you and happy birthday to your little one! x
What can i use instead of double cream?
Hi Audrone! Unfortunately this frosting won’t work with a substitute for the double cream here, but I do have another cream cheese frosting here that doesn’t use double cream. Maybe you can give that one a go instead! Happy baking!
Hello! What other oil can I use, is vegetable/olive ok?
Thank you!
Hi Justy! Any neutral tasting oil will work here. So vegetable will be fine! I wouldn’t use olive as it has a very strong flavour. Hope you enjoy the cake!
Hello this recipe looks delicious! Can I make it oil free? Or at least can I use only about 2 tbsp of oil?
Hi Sem! So I haven’t tried making this recipe oil-free, and to be honest, I’m not sure how good it would taste without the oil. The fat is there to keep the cake moist, tender, and fluffy. Without it, you’ll get a completely different texture (possibly quite gummy). I really wouldn’t recommend it. 🙂
Your RVC looks absolutely delicious. I’m going to make it but I’m unsure as to what “cake flour” is. Can I use all-purpose flour? Thanks a lot.
Hi Fatima! Cake flour is flour that’s been more finely milled than all-purpose flour. It’s softer, lighter, has a lower protein count, and produces a fluffier crumb than regular AP flour. You can get it in any regular grocery store. I recommend using cake flour for this recipe because I found that AP flour made the cake a bit denser. If you can’t find cake flour, you can make your own using this tutorial here. Hope that helps and I hope you love the cake!
I’ve been hunting for a recipe like this, where the red velvet cake actually stays red without dye! My only issue is I need to make…well, a lot more cake at once. I need to make enough batter to fill two 9 inch round pans. I can find the math to convert a recipe from a 6 inch to a 9 inch pan easily enough, and then I suppose I would simply double that amount to make it fit into two, right…? But I’m not a very experienced baker and I worry about the effects of multiplying all of the ingredients by so much! Is there anything I should be watching out for? Thank you for your help!
Hi Melete! I’m so happy you’re going to try this red velvet cake. I haven’t tried converting this recipe to suit larger baking tins, unfortunately, so I can’t be 100% sure it will work. However, if you were going to attempt, I would 4x the recipe to fit two 9-inch pans. I don’t think you’d need to change anything about the methodology. Just keep an eye on them when they’re baking as they might need a little longer in the oven. And I would recommend using cake strips if you have them! Hope that helps. Let me know how you get on! 🙂
Thank you for your response! I went ahead and made it with the increased ingredients, and unfortunately the cake turned out more of an orangey-brown color with a pinkish tint to it than red. Darn! Well, it was worth a shot. At least the cake still tasted great. Might try it again in the future but without changing the size of the recipe, just to see if I have better luck.
Ah no! I’m sorry the colour didn’t turn out as expected. Some folks have had luck adding a bit of cream of tartar in with the dry ingredients. Perhaps that might be something to try next time! I’m glad you loved the flavour!
This cake got the tick from my family. 2 days old and it was still just as tasty. The colour was more of a brown with red spots (I’d made my own beetroot powder) but I hadn’t tried the cream of tartar trick. Will give it a go, as I have to get it made for my daughter’s birthday.
Hey WS! I’m so glad you loved this red velvet cake! I’m sorry the colour didn’t work out quite right for you – hopefully the cream of tartar will work!
Hi Amanda! I just found your RVC recipe. I bought some beetroot powder a few months ago and put it in the fridge since I didn’t know when I’d try to make a cake using it. I didn’t realize cake layers could turn brown until I read your information! Ack! I know it was very disheartening to see the color change when you were making all those cakes, but kudos to you for persevering to get it right. I live in the US where cups are used instead of millilitres and grams. I have no tools that measure by this method, so could you translate the grams and millilitres to cups, please? I would appreciate it SO, SO much. I can hardly wait to make this cake! Also, thank you for sharing your recipe.
Hugs & blessings, Linda in Georgia
Hi Linda! I’m so glad you found the post so informative and helpful! It was a looooong testing process, haha. Unfortunately, I don’t have direct conversions from weights to volume measure, but I can recommend this online converter here. I use it frequently and it’s the most accurate one I can find. Though I do recommend purchasing a set of scales for future! They’re very cheap to buy and a much, much more accurate way to measure – you’ll find your bakes will turn out more successfully! Hope that helps. 🙂
I love this red velvet cake recipe, Baked this cake for my husband. So moist and tasty. Thank you for doing what you do
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a review x
I made this yesterday and am really happy with the result! The texture was tender, yet had good structure, creating nice, clean slices. The cake baked very evenly and did not dome on top, which made it easier to frost.
I followed the recipe almost exactly, but swapped the buttermilk for homemade dairy-free buttermilk (non-dairy whole milk + lemon juice), and used avocado oil in place of rapeseed. I also made the cake flour by sifting together flour and cornstarch as you mentioned in the recipe, and I think it worked well.
Mine didn’t come out as vibrant as the photo, but I think that is partially due to the pink color of my beet powder. It looks more like a reddish mauve color.
Since I didn’t have the correct pan size, I used a slightly larger pan, baked it for less time (~23 minutes or so), and left it as a single layer.
For the frosting, I combined dairy-free cream cheese and butter with powdered sugar and vanilla extract to taste.
Prepping/measuring the ingredients did take a bit of time (especially since I had to make the cake flour and buttermilk), but I think it was worth it, and I see myself making this again!
Thank you so much for your lovely review, Liz! I’m so glad you enjoyed this red velvet cake!
Hello!
Thank you for this recipe; I’ve just made it and it’s very good! The instructions say to add the beetroot powder to the dry ingredients which resulted in incomplete dissolving when mixed with the wet ingredients. Next time—there will be a next time! I’ll add it to the wet ingredients and see if that helps.
I can’t speak to the frosting you have posted because there is no way I would use anything other than a beautiful ermine frosting (traditional, cooked flour/milk) on an RVC. 😁 Thanks again for an alternative to the red dye #40 or whatever that poison is we’ve been using in this cake for too long! Thanks also for answering others’ questions—I had some of the same and your answers really helped. I’ll definitely try more of your recipes, Amanda!
I’m so glad to hear you had success and enjoyed this red velvet cake, Dava! Totally get wanting to have ermine frosting on it. My naturally sweetened vanilla buttercream is actually an ermine frosting, and it’s my favourite! Might be a good sub for next time? Cheers!
Hi Amanda, thank you for sharing this recipe. I followed this to the T and ensured all measurements were precise. At 15mins to go in baking it started to turn brown. I also used 1/4 teaspoon of cream of Tartar based on your comments above. What do you think is causing the colour change half way through baking?
Hi Phebe, I’m sorry you had some trouble with the colour! It might be the brand of beetroot powder that you used. I’ve only tested it with the brand I linked in the blog post, but others have said that’s been an issue for them. It could also be your vinegar. You could try using distilled white vinegar instead of apple cider. And you could try adding up to 1/2 tsp cream of tartar as well. I’m truly sorry you’re having difficulty, but hopefully one of these switches will work.