This crimson velvet cheesecake is a decadent, layered dessert with creamy do-it-yourself cheesecake sandwiched between smooth crimson velvet cake and smothered with cream cheese frosting.
After I shut my eyes and consider the final word two-in-one dessert, I’m picturing crimson velvet cheesecake! This recipe is impressed by the Cheesecake Manufacturing facility (the authority on decadent cheesecakes, IYKYK). I made this copycat model with double layers of my best red velvet cake and straightforward baked cheesecake, frosted with the creamiest cream cheese frosting.
Each chew has the proper steadiness of candy and tangy, wealthy and creamy, smooth cake and velvety cheesecake. This crimson velvet cheesecake can be good for Valentine’s Day or a birthday celebration.
Why This Crimson Velvet Cheesecake Is THAT Good
Spectacular however simple. Don’t let the layers intimidate you. Crimson velvet cheesecake is a cinch to make and even faster to stack, and I’ll share my ideas for achievement. You’ll be slicing into your masterpiece very quickly.
Two flavors in a single dessert. You might have wealthy, silky, tangy cheesecake and the refined chocolatey taste of crimson velvet in a single cake!
Adaptable. I make each cake layers from scratch. Relying on how a lot time you’ve got (and the quantity of effort you wish to put into your cake), you can also make a semi-homemade model with a crimson velvet cake combine as an alternative.
Cake substances.Cheesecake substances.
What You’ll Want
This cake recipe consists of a crimson velvet sponge layer, creamy cheesecake layer, and frosting. The neat factor these parts have in widespread is that all of them depend on a handful of particular, but simple, pantry substances to return out good.
Let’s go over what you’ll want with some notes. Scroll to the printable recipe card for the whole substances, quantities, and recipe particulars.
For the Crimson Velvet Cake Layers
Dry Components – Sugar, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
Cocoa Powder – Pure, unsweetened cocoa powder is the basic alternative for crimson velvet cake recipes.
Oil – Select a neutral-flavored vegetable oil, like canola or comparable.
Eggs and Vanilla – Take these out of the fridge so they arrive to room temperature.
Vinegar – Only a small quantity of white vinegar. The response between the vinegar, buttermilk, and pure cocoa powder in conventional crimson velvet cake is what gave it its signature reddish coloration. We’re including meals coloring to this recipe, however the vinegar nonetheless performs a job in making the cake additional tender.
Crimson Meals Coloring – Gel meals colours are stronger, and also you gained’t want as a lot for a deep, crimson cake.
Buttermilk – Should you don’t have buttermilk within the fridge, save your self the journey to the shop and make a homemade buttermilk substitute as an alternative. Merely mix 1 scant cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice, let it sit for five minutes, then stir and add it to the batter as directed.
For the Cheesecake Layers
Cream Cheese – The type that is available in blocks, delivered to room temperature. Full-fat cream cheese yields the creamiest cheesecake.
Bitter Cream – Should you don’t have bitter cream, Greek yogurt or plain yogurt are good substitutes.
Eggs – Evenly beat the eggs earlier than you start.
Sugar and Flour – Granulated sugar and all-purpose flour work greatest right here for a persistently easy cheesecake.
Which Frosting Ought to I Use?
I borrowed the straightforward cream cheese frosting from my carrot cake recipe to frost this cake. I assumed the sweet-tangy flavors complemented the crimson velvet cake and cheesecake layers with out being overly candy or buttery.
How you can Make Crimson Velvet Cheesecake (Step-By-Step)
Right here’s an summary of what to anticipate when making this show-stopping crimson velvet cheesecake recipe. You should definitely scroll to the recipe card for the printable directions.
First, Bake the Crimson Velvet Cake
Combine the cake batter.Bake, then cool.
Combine the batter. Mix the dry substances for the cake, then add the moist substances. Add the meals coloring earlier than mixing within the vinegar and buttermilk.
Bake. Afterward, divide the cake between two greased and lined 8-inch spherical pans. Bake the truffles at 350ºF for 30-35 minutes.
Cool. Depart them to chill within the pan for 10 minutes earlier than eradicating the truffles. They’ll want to chill fully and chill within the fridge in a single day together with the cheesecake layers.
Make the Cheesecake
Decrease the oven temperature to 300ºF. You should utilize the identical pans you used to bake your cake layers to bake the cheesecakes, simply clear them out and re-line them.
Put together a water tub. Add about ½ inch of water to a roasting pan giant sufficient to suit each spherical pans (or, use two water baths). Place the water tub(s) into the oven when you combine the cheesecake batter.
Combine the cheesecake filling.Bake, cool, and refrigerate.
Make the cheesecake filling. Beat cream cheese with sugar, then add the bitter cream, adopted by the eggs and vanilla. Fold within the flour by hand. Once more, divide the batter between the 2 pans.
Bake. Bake your cheesecake layers within the water tub for 25 minutes, till they’re principally set with a bit jiggle within the center.
Cool step by step. At this level, swap off the oven and go away the cheesecakes to chill inside with the door cracked. You’ll be able to go away them in there for a number of hours, so long as it takes to return to room temperature (a trick I picked up from my mother-in-law).
Chill. Run a knife across the edges of the cheesecakes earlier than overlaying the pans and putting them into the fridge to relax with the truffles in a single day. After chilling, the cheesecake ought to pop proper out in the event you invert it. If it’s a bit caught, place the underside of the pan in a sizzling water tub and use a spatula to assist it loosen gently.
How you can Assemble and Frost the Cake
Whip the cream cheese frosting.Frost the primary cake layer.
Make the frosting. This time, cream butter and cream cheese collectively, then add the vanilla. Slowly add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, after which whip the frosting for five minutes in order that it’s fluffy. After, knock the underside of the bowl towards the counter to launch any air bubbles. In the meantime, use a vegetable peeler to shave white chocolate curls from a bar (these can go into the fridge when you stack your cake).
Frost the primary layer. If wanted, degree the crimson velvet cake layers. Beginning with the primary layer, unfold about ¾ cup of frosting over the cake, proper to the sides.
Add the cheesecake layer.Repeat, then chill the cake.
Stack the cake. Add the primary cheesecake layer fastidiously on prime, and unfold that with extra frosting earlier than including the second cake layer. You would possibly discover the layers are slipping a bit, however don’t panic. Transfer the assembled cake to the fridge for an hour, and the frosting ought to set. Hold the remaining frosting chilled when you’re at it.
Frost the cake. Use the leftover frosting to cowl the highest and sides of the chilled cake.
Shave white chocolate curls.Frost and embellish the cake.
How you can Adorn Crimson Velvet Cheesecake
I wish to shave chocolate curls from a white chocolate bar to press into the frosting to embellish. You could be as artistic as you’d like, and alter up the decorations relying on the event. Drizzle the cake with pourable chocolate ganache, or add contemporary strawberries on prime. Should you’ve leveled your truffles, crumble up the crimson cake trimmings to sprinkle over the cake as a garnish.
Steadily Requested Questions
Can I exploit a boxed cake combine?
Completely. Should you’re utilizing a crimson velvet cake combine as a shortcut for the cake layers, you’ll want to decide up the substances listed on the field that you simply’ll have to make the cake.
Is it attainable to organize this cake upfront?
Sure! You’ll want to organize the cheesecake the day earlier than, so it has time to relax within the fridge in a single day. You may as well bake the truffles as much as 2 days forward. Another choice is to freeze the cake and cheesecake layers till you’re able to thaw and assemble. See beneath.
Professional Ideas and Variations
Measure the flour accurately. An excessive amount of flour ends in a dry, crumbly cake. Ensure that to measure utilizing a kitchen scale. Should you don’t have one, use the spoon and sweep methodology, the place you spoon the flour from the bag into the measuring cup and degree it off afterward to keep away from overmeasuring.
Don’t overmix the cake batter. After you’ve added the flour, take care to not overmix the batter. Overmixing can result in a dense cake and cheesecake.
Cool the cheesecakes step by step. This step is essential because it prevents sinking and cracking. Sudden temperature adjustments could cause the cheesecake to crack (that is additionally why it’s essential to not open the oven prematurely!). After baking, crack the door, and go away the cheesecake within the oven for at the least an hour, or till it’s cooled.
Make a double-chocolate model. Chocoholics, I see you! Swap the basic cheesecake layers with chocolate cheesecake as an alternative. You’ll be able to even frost the cake with my chocolate cream cheese frosting, on this case.
How you can Retailer
Refrigerate. Retailer leftover cake in an hermetic container, like a cake provider, within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
Freeze. At any time when attainable, freeze the cake layers earlier than assembling and frosting. Wrap the cheesecakes tightly within the pans and double-wrap the crimson velvet cake layers in plastic wrap. Freeze for as much as 2 months and thaw the layers within the fridge earlier than constructing the cake.
This crimson velvet cheesecake is a decadent mash-up of two desserts, with double layers of creamy do-it-yourself cheesecake and smooth crimson velvet cake, smothered with cream cheese frosting.
For the Crimson Velvet Cake:
2 1/2 cups all function flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 cup impartial oil (like vegetable or canola)
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray two 8-inch spherical pans with nonstick spray and line the bottoms of the pans with parchment rounds.
Mix the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt within the bowl of a stand mixer. Combine on low velocity till it’s mixed.
Add the oil, eggs, and vanilla. Combine till the dry substances are simply included.
Add the meals coloring.
Mix the vinegar with the buttermilk. With the mixer on low velocity, pour within the buttermilk combination. As soon as it has all been added, improve the mixer velocity to medium-low and beat for one minute.
Divide the cake batter evenly between the 2 ready pans.
Bake within the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or till a toothpick inserted within the heart comes out clear.
Take away from the oven and funky within the pan for 10 minutes earlier than turning the truffles out onto a wire rack to chill fully.
As soon as cooled, wrap the truffles in plastic wrap to retailer in a single day whereas the cheesecake layers chill.
For the Cheesecake:
Cut back the oven to 300ºF. Clear the pans used for the cake layers, then spray them with nonstick spray and line them with contemporary parchment paper.
Place a big roasting pan with ½” of water within the oven when you’re mixing the cheesecake. Ensure that the pan is giant sufficient to suit each spherical pans, or use two pans of water.
Add the cream cheese and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium velocity till easy.
Add within the bitter cream and beat once more for 30 seconds or till mixed. Scrape down the bowl.
Add the eggs and vanilla and blend on low velocity till simply mixed.
Stir within the flour by hand with a rubber spatula.
Divide the batter evenly between the ready cake pans.
Place the cheesecake pans within the water tub and bake for 25 minutes or till the sides are set and the middle is simply barely jiggly. Flip the oven off and crack the door. Let the cheesecake calm down contained in the oven.
As soon as cooled, take away the cheesecakes from the oven and run a knife across the fringe of the pan. Cowl the pans with aluminum foil and refrigerate in a single day.
As soon as the cheesecakes are chilled, you must be capable to flip them out onto a cooling rack. In the event that they stick, run the underside of the pan beneath sizzling water, then use a spatula to softly carry one edge from the underside of the pan. The cheesecake ought to simply launch as soon as the suction to the underside of the pan is launched.
For the Frosting:
Mix the cream cheese and butter within the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat on medium velocity till easy. Scrape down the bowl.
Add within the vanilla extract.
With the mixer on low velocity, add 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time. As soon as all the sugar has been added, improve the velocity of the mixer and beat for about 5 minutes till mild and fluffy. Knock out any air bubbles earlier than frosting to get a easy end.
To Assemble the Cake:
Use a vegetable peeler to chop white chocolate curls if utilizing white chocolate. Place them within the fridge when you assemble the cake.
In case your cake layers have domed tops, degree them off with a serrated knife. Place one layer of crimson velvet cake in your serving plate. Add about 3/4 cup of frosting on prime of the cake and unfold it to the sides.
Prime the frosting with one layer of cheesecake.
Unfold one other 3/4 cup of frosting on prime of the cheesecake layer.
Add one other layer of cake. Then repeat a layer of frosting and the second layer of cheesecake.
The layers could really feel like they’re sliding round a bit as a result of the frosting doesn’t persist with the cheesecake very properly. Place the entire cake within the fridge, uncovered, for at the least an hour to set the frosting. Ensure that to refrigerate the remaining frosting when you’re ready.
As soon as chilled, cowl the surface of the cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting.
Gently cowl the perimeters of the cake with the white chocolate curls or white chocolate chips. Don’t press too exhausting or your curls will break.
Notes
Retailer hermetic within the fridge for as much as 5 days for greatest freshness.
