Small Red Velvet Cake with Mini Hearts
This small red velvet cake with mini hearts is perfect for one or two! Moist, vibrant layers with whipped cream cheese frosting make it an adorable treat for Valentine’s Day or sweet celebrations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 1 small 6-inch cake (about 4–6 slices)
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Red Velvet Cake
¼ cup butter, softened
¾ cup white sugar
⅓ cup vegetable oil
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1½ tsp white vinegar
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup buttermilk, room temperature
1½ tsp red gel food coloring
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
5 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
1½ cups heavy whipping cream
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line two 6-inch cake pans with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Add the sugar and beat for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
Mix in vegetable oil, egg, vanilla extract, and vinegar. Beat until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and beat until combined. Pour in the buttermilk, mix well, then add remaining dry ingredients.
Beat in the red gel food coloring until evenly colored.
Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake for 22–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.
For the frosting, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. In another bowl, whip heavy cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.
Reserve about ½ cup frosting and tint it red. Frost the cake and pipe mini hearts on top, or decorate as desired.
Notes
Make sure cakes are fully cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
Gel food coloring gives vibrant color without thinning the batter.
Find it online: https://elladishes.com/small-red-velvet-cake-with-mini-hearts/
