This red velvet loaf cake recipe is soft, tender, and baked in a loaf pan. It's topped with the best cream cheese frosting and red food coloring is used to create that classic red velvet cake look!
This red velvet loaf is a perfect treat to make for Valentine's Day. Whether you're looking for something sweet to share with your family or significant other, this recipe is perfect and makes just the right amount!
The cake is super moist and you can taste both the chocolate and vanilla flavors with every bite.
Looking for more red velvet recipes? Then check out these: red velvet donuts, red velvet crinkle cookies, and red velvet cupcakes.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's super easy to make and decorate.
- The red color is vibrant and bright.
- It's a perfect size for two people to share.
- It's topped with a delicious cream cheese icing.
- The red velvet batter comes together in one bowl; no electric mixer required!
As a self-taught baker, I love simple and easy cake recipes, and this is another one I'm excited for you to try!
I took inspiration from my mini red velvet cake recipe, but this one is even easier to bake and decorate!
Ingredients Needed
Here are some notes on the ingredients we'll be using. For the full ingredients list, look at the recipe card below.
- Flour: I used all purpose flour.
- Cocoa Powder: Just a small amount of cocoa powder is needed.
- Oil: Use either vegetable oil or canola. This helps the cake to turn out really moist.
- Buttermilk: Adds tanginess and creaminess. This is a typical ingredient used in most red velvet recipes.
- Vinegar: Using white vinegar is a necessary ingredient in this cake.
- Red Food Coloring: My favorite food coloring to use is Wilton's red food gel. It works so well!
- Cream Cheese: Be sure to use the brick-style cream cheese and not the one from a tub.
Instructions
Here are the step by step instructions on how to make this red velvet loaf cake.
Step 1: Dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Step 2: Wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of red food gel until thoroughly combined.
Step 3: Combine the ingredients. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and whisk just until combined.
Step 4: Bake. Pour the red batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 38-45 minutes.
Cool in the pan for 30 minutes before transferring the cake over to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
In a large bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream together the cream cheese and butter on high speed until light and creamy.
Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and mix on low speed until combined.
Increase the speed to high and beat for an additional 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
Use an offset spatula or rubber spatula to spread the frosting over the cooled cake. Feel free to decorate with some festive Valentine's Day sprinkles like I did!
Storage Tips
Keep any leftover slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
You could also cover the whole bread pan with plastic wrap to help keep the cake fresh.
Expert Baking Tips
- Bread Pan: Line your 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, creating "handles" that hang over the sides. Then spray the pan with non-stick spray.
- Measuring Flour: To help ensure you don’t add extra flour, follow these three simple steps: 1) Fluff up the flour using a fork. 2) Spoon the flour into your measuring cup. 3) Scrape a knife across the top of the measuring cup to level out the flour.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Any ingredient that needs to be at room temperature should be taken out of the refrigerator at least 1 hour before you want to bake. Do not skip this step! It's super important so that the ingredients can incorporate properly.
- Food Coloring: I recommend using red gel food coloring over a liquid kind. You don't have to use as much and the red color is much brighter and deeper.
Recipe FAQs
I have never had it, but I know Starbucks' has red velvet swirls throughout their loaf cake. This recipe is purely all red velvet!
Red velvet is kind of a mixture between an easy classic chocolate cake and a vanilla cake. You'll taste subtle hints of both flavors. And since it also includes vinegar and buttermilk, you'll taste some tang as well.
Technically no, but I strongly encourage it. If you don't have any, you can easily make your own by combining a ½ cup of milk and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes before using. If you really don't want to use it, use whole milk.
Although I have not tried this, you certainly can! Just note that the bake time will be shorter. Also, be careful to not overfill the loaf pans.
If you made this recipe, please leave a comment and star rating below. I love hearing from you! Also, please tag me on Instagram and check out my Pinterest for even more recipe ideas.
It brings me so much joy to see you make my recipes. 🙂
Happy Baking!
More Valentine's Day Recipes
📖 Recipe
Red Velvet Loaf Cake
Equipment
- 9x5-Inch Bread Pan
- Mixing Bowls
- Parchment paper
- Electric Stand Mixer
Ingredients:
Red Velvet Loaf
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup sugar
- ¾ cup vegetable oil (or canola)
- ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons distilled white vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons red food gel
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces block-style cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Red Velvet Loaf
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x5-inch bread pan with parchment paper, creating "handles" that hang over the sides. Then spray the pan with non-stick spray.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, oil, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of red food gel until thoroughly combined.*If using gel food coloring you'll only need 1 teaspoon, if using liquid you'll need 2 teaspoons.
- Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and whisk just until combined (be careful to not overmix). Once combined, pour the batter into the prepared bread pan.
- Bake for 38-45 minutes, using a toothpick to check for doneness (the toothpick should come out clean). Cool for 30 minutes in the pan and then use the parchment paper "handles" to remove the cake. Cool completely.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In the bowl of an electric stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream together the cream cheese and butter on high speed until light and creamy (2-3 minutes). Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and mix on low speed until combined (30 seconds).
- Increase the speed to high and beat for an additional 1-2 minutes until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the icing over the cooled bread, slice, and serve.
- Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Notes:
- Bread Pan: Line your 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, creating "handles" that hang over the sides. Then spray the pan with non-stick spray.
- Measuring Flour: To help ensure you don’t add extra flour, follow these three simple steps: 1) Fluff up the flour using a fork. 2) Spoon the flour into your measuring cup. 3) Scrape a knife across the top of the measuring cup to level out the flour.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Any ingredient that needs to be at room temperature should be taken out of the refrigerator at least 1 hour before you want to bake. Do not skip this step! It's super important so that the ingredients can incorporate properly.
- Food Coloring: I recommend using red gel food coloring over a liquid kind. You don't have to use as much and the red color is much brighter and deeper.
I love red velvet desserts, and this loaf cake makes it super simple to have an easy dessert in under 1 hour!