Purple velvet cake is a stunning twist on the classic red velvet cake, offering a vibrant, eye-catching color that’s perfect for any celebration. Whether you’re planning a birthday party, wedding, or special event, this cake is sure to steal the spotlight. The rich, moist texture of purple velvet cake combined with its signature cream cheese frosting makes it an irresistible treat. In this recipe, we’ll guide you step-by-step to create the best purple velvet cake, ensuring that every bite is as delicious as it is beautiful. Get ready to wow your guests with this showstopping dessert that’s not only delicious but also fun to make!
What You Will Find:
Key Ingredients for the Best Purple Velvet Cake
The Essentials
The core ingredients are crucial for a tender and flavorful purple velvet cake:
- Flour: Use all-purpose flour for structure. Be sure to measure it correctly to avoid a dense cake.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness and moisture, ensuring a soft texture.
- Butter: Unsalted butter contributes to richness and moisture.
- Eggs: Eggs bind the ingredients and provide structure, giving the cake its light texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds depth to the flavor, balancing the sweetness.
Purple Food Coloring
The right color is key to a beautiful purple velvet cake:
- Gel Food Coloring: Use gel food coloring for a deep, vibrant color without altering the batter’s texture.
- Mixing: Start with a small amount, adding more gradually until you reach the perfect shade. A mix of red and blue food coloring works best.
- Consistency: Gently fold the coloring into the batter to avoid streaks and preserve the cake’s texture.
Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream cheese frosting is the ideal topping for purple velvet cake:
- Flavor Balance: Its tangy flavor balances the sweetness of the cake, creating a harmonious taste.
- Texture: Smooth and velvety, it complements the soft crumb of the cake.
- Decorating: Perfect for piping and decorating, giving your cake a beautiful finish.
How to Make Purple Velvet Cake from Scratch
Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing the Cake Batter
- Prepare ingredients: Ensure butter, eggs, and cream cheese are at room temperature for smoother mixing.
- Cream butter and sugar: Beat softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. This incorporates air into the batter, which is crucial for a light texture.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then mix in the vanilla extract.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution and to prevent clumps.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients and buttermilk alternately to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix gently to avoid overworking the batter.
- Add food coloring: Slowly add purple food coloring to the batter until you achieve the desired shade. Mix evenly for a consistent color.
- Mix gently: Fold the batter until just combined to avoid overmixing, which could make the cake dense.
Tips for Making a Moist Purple Velvet Cake
- Use buttermilk: Buttermilk contributes to moisture and helps activate the baking soda, ensuring a light texture.
- Don’t overmix: Stir just enough to combine ingredients. Overmixing incorporates too much air, making the cake dense.
- Add oil: Adding a small amount of oil can increase moisture, keeping the cake soft and tender.
- Use room temperature ingredients: Room-temperature butter, eggs, and buttermilk mix more evenly, leading to a smoother batter and better texture.
- Measure flour correctly: Too much flour can dry out the cake. Fluff the flour with a spoon, then level it off for accurate measurement.
Baking and Cooling the Cake Layers
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and allow it to fully preheat before baking.
- Prepare the pans: Grease and flour the cake pans, or line them with parchment paper to ensure the cakes don’t stick.
- Fill the pans: Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans, smoothing the tops. Tap the pans gently to remove air bubbles.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Avoid opening the oven door frequently to prevent uneven baking.
- Cool the cakes: Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10-15 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Frost after cooling: Allow the cakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent the icing from melting.
Decorating Your Purple Velvet Cake for a Celebration
Easy Cake Decorating Ideas for a Stunning Presentation
Decorating a cake doesn’t have to be complicated to be beautiful. Here are some easy yet effective ideas to make your purple velvet cake look stunning:
- Simple piping designs: Use a piping bag with a star or round tip to create borders around the cake edges or simple rosettes on top. This adds a touch of elegance without much effort.
- Naked cake effect: For a rustic and chic look, apply frosting sparingly to the sides of the cake, letting the layers peek through. This style is trendy and perfect for a more casual celebration.
- Fresh flowers or herbs: Fresh flowers like lavender or edible herbs like mint can bring a natural, refreshing look to your cake. Just make sure the flowers are food-safe and non-toxic.
- Sprinkles or edible glitter: Add a touch of sparkle with edible glitter or colorful sprinkles to match the purple hue of the cake. This adds a festive vibe, especially for celebrations.
Add a Cream Cheese Frosting Finish
A smooth and creamy frosting finish is essential for a flawless purple velvet cake. Here’s how to get the perfect application:
- Chill the cake layers: Before frosting, make sure the cake layers are completely cool. If the layers are too warm, the frosting can melt, leading to a messy finish.
- Apply a crumb coat: Start by applying a thin layer of cream cheese frosting all over the cake. This seals in any loose crumbs, ensuring a clean, smooth finish when you apply the final layer of frosting. Chill the cake for 15-20 minutes after this step to set the crumb coat.
- Smooth the frosting: Use an offset spatula or a bench scraper to smooth the cream cheese frosting over the cake. Gently spread the frosting from the top down the sides for an even layer. If you prefer a flawless, shiny finish, you can dip the spatula in warm water before smoothing.
- Create decorative edges: For added elegance, pipe a decorative border at the base and top of the cake with a star-shaped piping tip. You can also pipe small rosettes or swirls for a more intricate design.
Use Edible Decorations to Enhance the Cake’s Appearance
Edible decorations can take your purple velvet cake to the next level. Here are some ideas:
- Edible flowers: Fresh edible flowers like pansies, violets, or orchids can add a touch of beauty and color to the cake. Arrange them on top or around the cake for a natural, elegant look.
- Candied fruits or berries: Candied fruits or fresh berries such as raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries complement the purple color of the cake and add a pop of color and texture.
- Chocolate shavings: Dark or white chocolate shavings can add a sophisticated, rich touch to the cake. Sprinkle them on top or along the sides for an appealing contrast with the purple cake.
- Colored sugar or sprinkles: If you want a playful look, sprinkle colored sugar or glitter over the frosting to enhance the cake’s visual appeal. You can choose a color that complements or contrasts with the purple hue of the cake.
- Fondant decorations: For more intricate designs, you can use fondant to create shapes like hearts, flowers, or even personalized messages. Roll out fondant thinly and cut out desired shapes to place on the cake.
Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Purple Velvet Cake
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Baking Velvet Cake
- Overmixing the batter: Velvet cakes rely on a light and tender texture, so overmixing the batter can lead to a dense and tough cake. Mix until the ingredients are just combined to maintain fluffiness.
- Not using room-temperature ingredients: Cold butter, eggs, and cream cheese can cause the batter to curdle or not mix properly, affecting the cake’s texture. Always ensure ingredients are at room temperature for smooth mixing.
- Using the wrong type of flour: Velvet cakes are best made with all-purpose flour, not cake flour or self-rising flour. Self-rising flour can alter the texture of the cake, while cake flour may make it too soft.
- Under or overbaking: Baking for the wrong amount of time can cause the cake to be too dry or too gooey. Always test with a toothpick and adjust baking time based on the size of your pans.
- Not cooling the cake properly: Cutting into the cake while it’s still warm can cause the layers to fall apart or the frosting to melt. Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to achieve the best result.
- Using too much food coloring: While purple is the star of the show, using too much food coloring can affect the taste and texture of your cake. Add color gradually until you reach the desired shade.
How to Store Leftover Purple Velvet Cake
- Cool the cake completely: Before storing any leftover cake, make sure it’s completely cooled. Placing warm cake in the fridge can cause it to become soggy or dry out.
- Wrap the cake: To preserve freshness, wrap individual slices or the whole cake tightly with plastic wrap. You can also use an airtight container to prevent the cake from drying out.
- Refrigerate: Since purple velvet cake contains cream cheese frosting, it needs to be stored in the fridge to prevent the frosting from spoiling. Keep it refrigerated for up to 4-5 days.
- Freeze for longer storage: If you have a lot of leftover cake, freezing is a great option. Wrap slices or the whole cake in plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil. Place in a freezer-safe bag or container. The cake can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight before serving.
- Serve at room temperature: For the best taste, take the cake out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors and texture to come back to life, especially the cream cheese frosting.
Customizing Your Purple Velvet Cake for Different Celebrations
- For birthdays: Personalize your purple velvet cake with a themed design. For example, you could create colorful sprinkles, fondant shapes, or a fun birthday message on top.
- For weddings: Opt for an elegant look with smooth cream cheese frosting, piped floral designs, and silver or gold edible beads. You can also incorporate white flowers or a more neutral color palette for a classy vibe.
- For holidays: Customize the cake’s appearance by adding seasonal decorations. For example, for Halloween, use orange and black sprinkles or fondant pumpkins, while for Christmas, add holly leaves or edible snowflakes.
- For baby showers: If it’s a gender reveal, you can create a “reveal” cake by adding blue or pink filling inside. Top the cake with pastel-colored frosting or fondant shapes like baby booties or bottles.
- For casual gatherings: Keep things simple with a rustic design, like a naked cake effect, where the cake layers show through the frosting, or a simple border of piped frosting.
- For themed events: If you’re hosting a specific event, like a purple-themed party, accentuate the color of the cake with complementary decorations. Use purple flowers, sprinkles, or colored sugar to match the theme.
These tips will help you avoid common mistakes, store your leftover cake properly, and customize your purple velvet cake to suit any occasion.
Final Thoughts
Purple velvet cake is a delicious twist on the classic velvet cake, offering rich flavor and a stunning look perfect for any celebration. With smooth cream cheese frosting and customizable decorations, this cake can be tailored for birthdays, weddings, or casual get-togethers. Avoid common mistakes and store leftovers properly to keep it fresh and memorable.
If you enjoy fruity flavors, try our Strawberry Sheet Cake for another crowd-pleasing treat. Its light, refreshing taste adds variety to your cake options for any occasion.
FAQs About Purple Velvet Cake
Can I make purple velvet cake without food coloring?
Yes, you can make a natural version by using purple ingredients like purple sweet potatoes or beetroot juice, although the color may not be as vibrant. These ingredients can also add a slight variation in flavor.
Can I use a different frosting instead of cream cheese frosting?
While cream cheese frosting pairs wonderfully with velvet cakes, you can use buttercream, whipped cream, or mascarpone frosting if you prefer. However, cream cheese frosting adds a unique tang that complements the rich flavor of the purple velvet cake.
How do I know when my purple velvet cake is done baking?
To test if your cake is done, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached, the cake is ready. If the toothpick comes out with wet batter, continue baking and check every 5 minutes.
Can I freeze purple velvet cake?
Yes, you can freeze both the cake and frosting. Wrap the cake layers tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. For best results, thaw the cake in the fridge overnight before serving.
How can I make my purple velvet cake extra moist?
To keep your cake moist, use buttermilk in the batter, avoid overmixing, and ensure the cake layers are completely cooled before frosting. You can also add a small amount of oil to the batter for additional moisture.
How should I store leftover purple velvet cake?
Leftover purple velvet cake should be stored in the fridge, especially if it’s frosted with cream cheese frosting. Wrap the cake in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. It will stay fresh for up to 4-5 days. For longer storage, freeze the cake.
Purple Velvet Cake
This Purple Velvet Cake is the perfect balance of rich, moist texture and beautiful visual appeal, making it an ideal treat for celebrations or special occasions. With a smooth cream cheese frosting and vibrant purple hue, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon purple food coloring or more for a deeper color
- ½ teaspoon salt
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk optional for smooth consistency
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
Prepare the Cake Batter:
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Gradually add the buttermilk and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
- Add the dry ingredients in batches, mixing until just combined.
- Stir in the purple food coloring until you achieve the desired shade.
Bake the Cake:
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
- Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, and beat until fluffy.
- Stir in the vanilla extract. Add milk if needed for a smoother consistency.
Assemble the Cake:
- Once the cakes have cooled, spread a layer of cream cheese frosting on top of one cake layer. Place the second layer on top and frost the entire cake.
Decorate and Serve:
- Optionally, decorate with edible flowers, sprinkles, or any decorations of your choice. Serve and enjoy your stunning purple velvet cake!
Notes
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugars: 30g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
- Sodium: 250mg
- Potassium: 100mg
- Calcium: 60mg
- Iron: 1.5mg