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    Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

    Naked Red Velvet Cake

    Published: Feb 17, 2022 · Modified: May 20, 2025 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    Naked red velvet cake simplifies the classic dessert we all know and love. Layers of red velvet cake and cream cheese frosting come together for a delicious, naked treat.

    naked red velvet cake on plate

    I love naked cakes! They have just the right amount of frosting. A little between the layers is all you really need to get the perfect ratio, in my opinion.

    Red Velvet Naked Cake

    This was inspired by my naked chocolate cake recipe on this site and marked the perfect dessert to enjoy after my hearty Salisbury steak and gravy dinner.

    Ingredients

    As a from-scratch recipe, this one has a few ingredients, but they're all very simple. In fact, you probably have most of them in your kitchen right now.

    For the Red Velvet Cake

    • Softened butter
    • Sugar
    • Eggs
    • Sour cream
    • Milk
    • Liquid or gel red food coloring
    • Vanilla
    • Flour
    • Cocoa powder
    • Salt
    • Baking soda

    For the Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Softened cream cheese
    • Softened butter
    • Sour cream
    • Powdered sugar
    • Vanilla

    See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.

    Instructions

    There are several steps to this recipe, but when you break them all down, you'll see that it's an incredibly simple recipe to make.

    Step 1: Prep

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and set out the butter and cream cheese to soften. Measure out your ingredients. Coat three 8-inch round pans with nonstick spray and coat them with flour. Set them aside.

    Step 2: Combine the Wet Cake Ingredients

    Cream softened butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. Then, beat in the eggs. Finally, mix in sour cream, milk, food coloring, and vanilla.

    Step 3: Combine the Dry Cake Ingredients

    In another bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt until combined.

    Step 4: Mix the Batter

    Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix until blended. Then, split the batter between the three cake pans.

    Step 5: Bake and Cool

    Bake for 24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cakes comes out clean. Remove the cakes and allow them to cool in the pans for 15 minutes before flipping them out onto your work surface.

    Step 6: Make the Frosting

    Beat the cream cheese, butter, and sour cream in a large mixing bowl until combined. Next, add the powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth and creamy.

    Step 7: Assemble the Cake

    Place one of the cakes on a serving dish and cover it with ⅓ of the frosting. Repeat until all layers are completed, ending with a top layer of frosting.

    Hint: Always be sure to spray AND flour your pans to keep the cakes from sticking.

    Closeup shot of slice of naked red velvet cake on plate

    Substitutions

    Don't have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this red velvet naked cake.

    • Cake Flour - Cake flour works very well in this recipe.
    • Yogurt - If you don't have sour cream, plain yogurt works very well.
    • Unsweetened Chocolate - If you don't have cocoa, simply use melted unsweetened chocolate at 1 ounce of chocolate per 3 tablespoons of cocoa.

    Variations

    Want to personalize this naked red velvet cake recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

    • Cayenne Pepper - Add a dash of cayenne pepper. It won't make the cake hot, but it will accentuate the flavor.
    • Coffee - For an even deeper flavor, try adding a bit of strong coffee to the cake batter.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this Red Velvet Cheesecake Cookies or this Banana Pudding Cake.

    Equipment

    All the equipment needed for this recipe is basic kitchen stuff.

    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • Mixing bowls
    • Spoon
    • Round cake pans
    • Spatula

    Storage

    This cake will keep for about 3 days in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months.

    Open-air freeze the cake, then wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap and again in foil.

    Tips

    Although this is an easy recipe, there are some tips that will help make it even better. These are simple tips but they make a big difference.

    • Fully soften your butter and cream cheese.
    • Beat your frosting thoroughly to get it light and fluffy.
    • If you have a hand mixer, it makes things easier.
    Closeup shot of naked red velvet cake on plate with more cake in background

    More Chocolate Recipes

    Do you like chocolate? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

    • Hot Chocolate Ice Cream
    • Air Fryer Peanut Butter Swirl Cake
    • Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

    FAQ

    Do you have questions about naked red velvet cake? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about red velvet naked cake.

    What is a naked cake?

    A naked cake is a layer cake consisting of layers of cake with frosting in between but no outer frosting.

    Why is it called a naked cake?

    Because it's completely or almost bare on the outside, allowing the whole world to see what's typically underneath the frosting on the outside.

    How long is red velvet cake good?

    It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

    How do you freeze red velvet cake?

    Open-air freeze the cake. Then, wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap and then again in foil.

    How do you defrost frozen cake?

    Leave it in the refrigerator overnight.

    Naked Red Velvet Cake Video

    YouTube video

    Naked Red Velvet Cake

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    Naked Red Velvet Cake with icing.

    Naked Red Velvet Cake

    Karin and Ken
    Naked red velvet cake bares it all for the world to see. It features layers of red velvet cake and cream cheese frosting and is so easy.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 24 minutes mins
    Additional Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 458 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Cake Ingredients

    • 2 sticks butter softened
    • 2 cups sugar
    • 4 large eggs
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • ½ cup milk
    • 1 oz. liquid red food coloring or 1 tablespoon gel red food coloring
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla
    • 2 ½ cups flour
    • ½ cup cocoa powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda

    Frosting Ingredients

    • 1 brick (8oz) cream cheese, softened
    • 4 tablespoons butter, softened
    • 2 teaspoon sour cream
    • 3 ½ cups icing or powdered sugar
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Get out and measure your ingredients.
      Overhead photo of all the ingredients needed to make naked red velvet cake.

    Cake Directions

    • Preheat oven to 350ºF.
    • Prepare three 8-inch round cake pans by spraying them with cooking spray and coating them with a fine layer of flour. Set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
      Butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Mix.
    • Beat in eggs.
      Four eggs added to the large mixing bowl. Mix.
    • Mix in sour cream, milk, food coloring, and vanilla.
      Add sour cream, milk, food coloring, and vanilla to the large mixing bowl and mix.
    • Blend flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
      Add flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt to the large mixing bowl.
    • Once blended, add to egg mixture and blend until incorporated.
      All ingredients thoroughly mixed in a large mixing bowl.
    • Split batter between prepared round cake pans.
      Split batter into three identical cake pans.
    • Bake @ 350°F for 24 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
      Cake layers baked in the oven for 24 minutes at 350 Fahrenheit.
    • Allow cakes to cool 15 minutes before flipping them onto your work surface.
    • Allow to cool completely

    Frosting Directions

    • Beat cream cheese, butter and sour cream in bowl.
      Mix cream cheese, butter and sour cream in a bowl.
    • Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
      Adding powdered sugar and vanilla to the bowl.

    Assembly Directions

    • Place a layer of cake on a serving platter.
      First layer of cake placed on a serving platter.
    • Cover with ⅓ of frosting.
      First layer of cake covered in one third of the frosting.
    • Add another layer of cake followed by another layer of frosting.
      Second layer of cake added to the top of the frosting.
    • Add the final layer of cake with the remaining frosting on top.
      all three layers of cake and frosting added.
    • Slice.
      A slice of naked red valvet cake on a spatula.
    • Serve.
    • Enjoy every bite!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 458kcalCarbohydrates: 85gProtein: 9gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 353mgPotassium: 224mgFiber: 3gSugar: 52gVitamin A: 347IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 78mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword Naked Red Velvet Cake
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    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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