Green Velvet Cake (Printable)

Vibrant emerald layers with subtle cocoa flavor topped with creamy frosting for festive occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cake Batter

01 - 2½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
03 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
04 - ½ teaspoon salt
05 - 1½ cups granulated sugar
06 - 1 cup vegetable oil
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
09 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
10 - 1 teaspoon white vinegar
11 - 1–1½ tablespoons green gel food coloring

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

12 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
13 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
14 - 3½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
16 - Pinch of salt

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, beat sugar and oil until combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
04 - Stir in buttermilk, vanilla extract, vinegar, and green food coloring. Whisk until mixture is evenly green.
05 - Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients in two batches, mixing just until incorporated.
06 - Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans.
07 - Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn them out onto wire racks and let cool completely.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat until light and creamy.
10 - Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread frosting over the top. Place second layer on top and frost the entire cake.
11 - Decorate with green sprinkles or crumbs from trimmed cake edges if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cocoa undertone creates this sophisticated depth that people never expect from something so vibrantly colored
  • That cream cheese frosting is tangy and lush enough to make you accidentally eat three slices while nobody is watching
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients absolutely matter here, especially the cream cheese and butter for the frosting
  • Overmixing the batter will make your cake tough, so stop as soon as the flour disappears
03 -
  • Whack your cake pans on the counter once before baking to release any large air bubbles
  • Sprinkle a little green sanding sugar on top for extra sparkle and texture contrast

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