Published: Updated: by Alison Andrews This post may contain affiliate links
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This vegan red velvet cake is rich, moist, vibrantly red and topped with a delicious tangy lemon buttercream frosting.
Red velvet cake is not just cake dyed red. It’s a lot more than that.
It’s a mix of subtle flavors: vanilla, chocolate, buttermilk. All these flavors are represented gorgeously, and subtly.
It’s like you can’t quite put your finger on it, is that vanilla I’m tasting? Oh wait no, it’s chocolate.
Paired with a tangy lemon buttercream frosting this is a cake to remember!
Perfectly moist, dreamy and decadent, not to mention absolutely gorgeous with that glorious red color.
This cake is ideal for birthdays or other special occasions and it definitely stands out from the crowd.
It’s also really versatile and can be adapted for different size cake pans.
And if you love red velvet then also check out our vegan red velvet cupcakes and vegan red velvet cookies. You’ll also love our vegan blue velvet cake and vegan blue velvet cupcakes.
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make This Cake:
Ingredient Notes
- Red gel food color – our favorite brand is Americolor Super Red. Gels are much more concentrated than liquid food colors, so you can use much less and still get a very rich vibrant color.
- White vinegar – distilled white vinegar does two things in this cake recipe. It reacts with the baking soda and the acid in the vegan buttermilk and causes the cake to rise. It also helps to strengthen the color.
- Canola oil – can be switched for vegetable oil if you prefer.
- Vegan buttermilk – we make a homemade vegan buttermilk by mixing lemon juice and soy milk. You can also make vegan buttermilk with almond milk but I prefer soy milk as it creates a thicker, richer buttermilk.
How To Make Vegan Red Velvet Cake
You will find full instructions and measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a summary of the process to go along with the process photos.
- Sift all purpose flour and cocoa powder into a mixing bowl and add the sugar, baking soda and salt. Mix together.
- Prepare the vegan buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to a measuring jug and then adding soy milk up to the 1 cup (240ml) line. Let it curdle into buttermilk.
- Add the vegan buttermilk, oil, vinegar, vanilla extract and red gel food color and mix it into a batter. Don’t overmix.
- Divide the batter between three 6-inch round cake pans (sprayed with non-stick spray and lined with circles of parchment paper along the bottom) and smooth down.
- Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the cakes comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for a few minutes and then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
- If your cakes have domes, then use a sharp knife to level them.
- When the cakes are completely cooled, frost and decorate.
The Frosting
We used our vegan lemon buttercream frosting recipe to frost this cake. The tangy lemon is a perfect complement to the flavor of red velvet.
A more common pairing for red velvet is a cream cheese frosting and our vegan cream cheese frosting also works great.
About That Color!
A note about the color. I used red food dye.
Initially we made this cake with a liquid red food color but have since switched to a red gel color (Americolor is our favorite brand) and it works wonderfully and is confirmed to be cruelty free.
From my research it seems that most red food dye is vegan these days. The non-vegan ingredients – cochineal or carmine – are not usually seen anymore.
I did try using beet juice to dye previous versions of this cake, and…. I did not manage to make that work – to put it nicely.
It was the worst I have ever made and the whole thing went straight into trash, to put it more bluntly.
First off – it tasted like beets! Yum. Or rather, not yum at all!
All that and the red color did not hold.
The chemical reactions that take place while baking stripped that red color right out of it and it was a not terribly appealing shade of reddish brown. But way more brown than red.
I’ve heard of beets being used successfully but it might be out of my purview, so red food dye it is!
Red food dye enabled this cake to come out beautifully, with the color holding absolutely perfectly.
Baker’s Tips
- Weigh your flour or spoon and level. If you have a food scale then I highly recommend weighing out the flour for perfect accuracy. If you don’t have a food scale, then spoon and level the flour. Spoon it into your measuring cup and level off the top with the back of a knife. Don’t pack it into the cup and don’t scoop the flour.
- Don’t overmix the batter. Overmixing the batter can result in a dense cake. Mix it with a spoon or a hand whisk (don’t use a stand mixer) and mix it until just mixed.
- Don’t let the batter sit for too long before baking. As soon as your batter is mixed, divide it between your cake pans and then bake right away. Don’t let it stand too long or it can affect the rise.
- Level the cakes. If the cakes have domed on top then it’s best to level them with a sharp knife. If I’m making a two layer cake I seldom do it, but for a three layer cake it helps to level them. Serious Eats have a great tutorial on how to level cakes with a knife.
Recipe FAQ
What flavor is red velvet?
The flavor of vegan red velvet cake is a gorgeous blend of vanilla and chocolate, with a hint of tanginess from the vegan buttermilk.
Can you make this cake gluten-free?
For a gluten-free red velvet cake try a gluten free all purpose baking blend to replace the regular flour, in the same quantity. We like Bob’s Red Mill brand.
Can you make cupcakes from this recipe?
This recipe makes a perfect 12 cupcakes! Bake for 20 minutes. Or just check out our vegan red velvet cupcakes.
Storing and Freezing
Keep it covered at room temperature where it will stay fresh for a few days (3-4) or keep it covered in the fridge where it will stay good for up to a week.
It is also freezer friendly for up to 3 months.
More Vegan Cake Recipes
- Vegan White Cake
- Vegan Banana Cake
- Vegan Carrot Cake
- Vegan Vanilla Cake
- Easy Vegan Chocolate Cake
- Vegan Lemon Cake
Did you make this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!
Vegan Red Velvet Cake
This vegan red velvet cake is rich, moist, vibrantly red and topped with a delicious tangy lemon buttercream frosting.
4.92 from 123 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Cakes, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 446kcal
Author: Alison Andrews
Ingredients
For the Red Velvet Cake:
- 2 cups All Purpose Flour (250g)
- 1 Tablespoon Cocoa Powder Unsweetened
- 1 cup White Granulated Sugar (200g)
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Vegan Buttermilk (240ml) 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice + Soy Milk up to the 1 cup (240ml) line
- ½ cup Canola Oil (120ml) or Vegetable Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Distilled White Vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1 teaspoon Red Gel Food Color
For the Frosting:
- 4 cups Powdered Sugar (480g)
- ½ cup Vegan Butter (112g)
- 2 teaspoons Lemon Extract
- 2-3 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Spray three 6-inch cake pans (*see notes for different pan sizes) with non-stick spray and line the bottoms with circles of parchment paper.
Sift all purpose flour and cocoa powder into a mixing bowl and add the sugar, baking soda and salt. Mix together.
Prepare the vegan buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to a measuring jug and then adding soy milk up to the 1 cup (240ml) line. Let it curdle into buttermilk.
Add the vegan buttermilk, oil, vinegar, vanilla extract and red gel food color and mix it into a batter. Don't overmix.
Divide the batter between the three prepared cake pans.
Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the cakes comes out clean.
Let the cakes cool in the pans for a few minutes and then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
While the cakes are cooling, add the powdered sugar, vegan butter, lemon extract and 2 tablespoons lemon juice to the bowl of your stand mixer and starting at slow speed gradually increase speed until the frosting is thick and smooth. If needed add more lemon juice (see notes*).
If your cakes have domes, then use a sharp knife to level them.
When the cakes are completely cooled, frost and decorate.
Notes
- Measure the flour correctly using the spoon and level method – spoon the flour into a measuring cup and then level off the top with a knife – don’t scoop it and don’t pack the flour into the cup. Alternatively weigh it on a food scale.
- Vegan buttermilk can also be made with almond milk. Other non-dairy milks may not curdle as well as soy or almond milk but could still be used.
- Red gel food color. We used Americolor brand and highly recommend it.
- Level the cakes. If the cakes have domed on top then it’s best to level them with a sharp knife. If I’m making a two layer cake I seldom do it, but for a three layer cake it helps to level them.
- Frosting – the amount of lemon juice you need for your frosting will depend on the brand of vegan butter you use. Stick style vegan butter has a much lower water content than a soft tub style vegan butter. Only use as much lemon juice as you need to get a thick but spreadable frosting.
- Baking pan sizes. This cake can adapt as follows:
- Three 6-inch round cake pans – bake for 20 minutes
- Two 7-inch round cake pans – bake for 25 minutes
- Two 8-inch round cake pans – bake for 20 minutes
- One 9-inch round cake pan – bake for 30 minutes
- One 9×9 square cake pan – bake for 25 minutes
- Cupcakes – This recipe makes a perfect 12 cupcakes. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Gluten-Free – if you’d like to make this cake gluten-free then I recommend using a gluten free all purpose baking blend to replace the regular flour.
- Storing and freezing – store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. The frosted or unfrosted cake is freezer friendly for up to 3 months.
- This recipe has been updated with new photos and lots of extra tips, but the recipe itself is the same.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Serve | Calories: 446kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 260mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 437IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Rate it & leave your feedback in the comments section below, or tag @lovingitvegan on Instagram and hashtag #lovingitvegan
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About the Author
Hi I'm Alison Andrews, I'm the voice and cook behind Loving It Vegan. I love making delicious vegan food and creating vegan versions of all your old favorites, so that you’ll never feel like you’re missing out. Find out more about me here.
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Paige saysHi! I used a 9 inch cake pan and the cake turned out I very very thin and caved in slightly. Any advice?
Reply
- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
Hi Paige, did you divide the batter into 2 or three pans or bake only 1 x 9inch cake pan? (please see notes at the bottom of the recipe card) This recipe will only be enough for 1 x 9inch cake pan. If you would want to do multiple, you would need to double the recipe.
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- C says
Hello, this recipe looks very tasty. I want to use it to make cupcakes (easier to share in the office). Any words of warning I should consider? Thanks 🙂
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- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
Hi C! We have a separate recipe for vegan red velvet cupcakes that has all the advice you need! 🙂
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- Shaf says
The cake is divine but when I bake it, the top looks like it is undercooked even though the skewer comes out clean. I have tried it several times with the same results. The only thing different I did was to reduce the sugar.
What could be doing wrong?Reply
- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
Hi Shaf. Not sure what went wrong as this has never happened to us before. How much sugar did you reduce?
Reply
- Shaf says
I reduced it to 140g which was sweet enough for our taste
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- Christin says
This is the best ever !!!
Would you happen to know how much I’d need to make a 9 x 13 sheet cake ?Do I do this recipe twice ?? Thanks !
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- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
Thanks Christin! Yes you can double the recipe for a 9 x 13inch sheet cake.
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- bonnie says
This recipe turned out very nice. I used almond milk since I can’t get plain soymilk here.
I thought this recipe would work because the ingredients reminded me of chocolate crazy cake and I was correct, great recipe, very delicious.One note: I accidentally added baking powder, realised my mistake then added baking soda as well. So I can say that if you accidentally did that too then it will be fine. I might just make it that way from now on though.
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- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
That’s great Bonnie! Thanks so much for your great review!
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- Tània says
Hi! I’m unable to find distilled vinegar in Spain, can I use another vinegar?
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- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
Yes, you can also use apple cider vinegar!
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- Yamini says
How much of the red coloring should be used if I only have liquid coloring?
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- Monika says
Hello, the recipe is great. Easy and the cake tastes great. I only have a problem with the color – it’s never as beautifully red as yours. My not brown with a touch of red! I baked 20 cakes and tried 20 colors from different manufacturers. What is the magic for the color red? Thank you. Monika
Reply
- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
Hi Monika. Not sure what food coloring you used, but our favorite gel food coloring brand is Americolor Super Red. Gels are much more concentrated than liquid food colors, so you can use much less and still get a very rich vibrant color.
Reply
- ghazaal says
hello . can i use vanilla powder instead of vanilla extract? if yes how much ?
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- Carolyn says
Can I substitute agave for sugar? If so, what are the equivalent measurements?
Reply
- Nadine Van Zyl says
No, unfortunately agave won’t work as a substitute because it is too wet of a ingredient.
Reply
- Holly Kirk says
Can other non-dairy milk be used instead of soy?
Reply
- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
Yes you can!
- Abby says
My cakes barely rised!!! pretty thin disks unfortunately 🙁 happens a lot with vegan recipes 🙁 I didn’t put them in immediately, but I also didn’t dilly dally too long before putting them in!! tried not to over mix either!!!!
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- DebarahL says
Yes! The absolute bestest! Thanks for your creative cooking recipes and this one tops the list.
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- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
Thanks so much for your review!
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- Hannah says
I used this recipe for my contribution to an event at work, but tried it out on my team first. Everyone who tried it agreed that you are a genius for pairing lemon frosting with red velvet cake! Rave reviews all around, so thank you so much!
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- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
So glad you enjoyed the frosting pairing! And thank you for your amazing review!
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- Janice Queen says
I’m new to vegan baking and this cake came out perfect. It was moist and decadent. I will definitely make this again. Before making this cake, please read the article, every step and additional notes the author explains so well; she definitely knows what she is talking about.
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- Nadine @ Loving It Vegan says
Thank you so much for your kind words! 🙂
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- Rebecca says
Hey! I’m a huge fan of your recipes and am constantly referring your page to friends. I am thinking of ways to adapt this recipe into a Guiness Green Velvet layer in my St. Patrick’s Day Pie-Cake-En (turning out to be quite the undertaking). How would you recommend incorporating the Guiness into this recipe? I don’t think it would be wise to sub out all of the milk, but I definitely want the stout flavor to come through without having a soup of a cake. HALP!!
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