My love of red velvet cake goes back as far as I can remember, which on a good day is age 4 or 5, on a bad day, I’m lucky if I remember the details of yesterday. Recently I was chatting with my friend, Elijah, and while discussing red velvet funnel cake he mentioned that there’s a secret to Southern Red Velvet Cake. I love learning secrets so I used my charm asked him to share the recipe and that prompted this foray into the art of baking Real Southern Red Velvet Cake, or in my case cupcakes. For those of you stuck on the red velvet funnel cake, and I don’t judge you, check out the link. Upon learning about the new level of funnel cake luvin’, I promptly added the red velvet version to the top of my Fork List. Yes, my Fork List, rather than a Bucket List I have a Fork List. All the dishes, desserts and delicacies that have not yet tantalized my taste buds. Food is central to the human experience; be it while traveling discovering new lands and cultures, enjoying traditions with family and friends, or trying something new from afar. I don’t live anywhere near the South, however, I can kick back on my patio with a cupcake and sweet tea, er glass of Bordeaux and pretend the little bugs flying by my flood lights are lightening bugs. Before I share the recipe I thought I’d pass on a few notes from this special kinda pretty.
~If you decide to make cupcakes rather than a cake, half if not quarter the recipe for the cream cheese frosting, unless you want a few pounds of the fluffy indulgence in your fridge.
~Don’t mix the frosting with the wisk attachment on your mixer, it might break, instead use the regular beaters. This is all hypothetical of course.
~The recipe uses pureed beets. Pureed is defined as: to rub through a strainer or process food in a blender, just throwing that out there ;)
~Finally, a Fred Batterfinger Spatula really does help with the dairy queen tops on your cupcakes…just sayin’.
So, now that you all have learned about tasty funnel cakes and my mishaps wise words, I’ll leave you with a good photo for what I look like while baking…

Haha, that got your attention didn’t it? No, I’m not P!nk, however, red heels do help with making divine red velvet cake, at least that makes sense in my head. Pink’s new song Try is a good motto while making this Real Southern Red Velvet Cake with pureed beets. To me, Red Velvet Cake is a Truth About Love. Happy baking y’all!
Real Southern Red Velvet Cake
¾ c. pureed beets
½ c. oil
¼ c. milk
1 tsp. plain yogurt
½ tsp. balsamic vinegar
2 eggs
¾ c. flour
⅔ c. sugar
½ c. cocoa
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together all of the dry ingredients and set aside.
Blend the wet ingredients until uniform.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until combined.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick in the center of the center comes out clean.
Cool before icing.
Cream Cheese Frosting
3 blocks cream cheese (8 oz each)
2 sticks unsalted butter
¼ tsp. salt
16 oz confectioner’s sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Cream together the cream cheese and butter at room temperature.
Add the salt and sugar and whip until light and fluffy.
Stir in the vanilla. Frost your cooled cake and sprinkle sides with chopped pecans for garnish if desired.
Tagged: baking, cooking, elijah, recipes, Red Velvet Cake
Now this was a yummy post, the pics, the description and Pink was the perfect touch. Thanks for sharing!
The cupcakes were delicious, thanks for stopping by Brigitte!
j had my first red velvet cake when I moved to Atlanta in 95. I’ve since returned to L.A. and it’s just not the same. One last word regarding your cupcakes: Hmmm !
Lol, I think the new Red Velvet recipes use red dye. I have to say, this recipe is delicious, the beets provide not only the deep red but end up imparting such a moist texture. Thanks for stopping by, renaissance man :)
OMGosh honey. You have sure struck a place where I live and have consumed many a Red Velvet Cake!!! It’s my absolute favorite and I make one about twice a year.
I’ve never seen a recipe with the beets though, I suppose they add texture as well as nutrition and color?
Funny anecdote: My son always requests Red Velvet for his BD cake and one year he asked for an armadillo one. ala Steel Magnolias LOL (I kid you not!)
Love this post. Warm regards, Dawne, a transplanted Texan xo
I remember the bleeding armadillo! That part always cracked me up. With this recipe, the thing is you don’t even taste the beets. It’s not like carrot cake where the carrots are part of the texture, the beets just blend into the mix. The cocoa flavor is far more dominant, but the color is quite beautiful. Thanks for stopping by Dawne :)
I love that you have a fork list, Kristy. I think I’m going to have to start one of my own! These cupcakes look amazing. I’m definitely adding them to my arsenal of cupcake recipes. Thanks!
Go for it! I have to admit a Japadog is on my Fork List ;) The cupcakes are very good but if you do make them, trust me in that quartering the frosting recipe is a must.