Pink Velvet Cake with Raspberry Buttercream

Pink Velvet Cake with Raspberry Buttercream – Tender pink velvet cake with raspberry buttercream and fresh raspberries.

After a successful red velvet bake off last year, I thought it would be fun to do another “velvet” cake for Valentine’s this year. But, instead of red, I went with pink velvet!

Unlike a traditional red velvet cake, however, my pink velvet cake isn’t chocolate based. Instead, I went with a vanilla based and used the idea of a “velvet” as part of the texture. I mean, look at those cake layers! So tender and velvety!

Pink Velvet Cake

The base of this cake is from my favorite vanilla cake I used in my Marshmallow Moon Cake. It’s so tender and flavorful. All I did different was add some pink food gel by Americolor. You don’t need to add much color when you use the food gels because the color is so concentrated. I only add two drops. Also, it’s super important to add the food coloring to the batter when you’re blending the butter and sugar. You run the risk of over-mixing your batter if you add the food coloring at the end.

Raspberry Buttercream

For the frosting, I thought it would be fun to do something less traditional for a “velvet” cake, which usually gets paired with a cream cheese frosting or a vanilla buttercream. I went with a raspberry buttercream, using LorAnn Oils Raspberry Emulsion. The emulsion is clear, so I added a little food coloring gel to the frosting as well. Again, just a drop or two is all you need.

Hope you love this Pink Velvet cake as much as I do! This would definitely make a great Valentine’s Day cake too. Follow me on Instagram @cakebycourtney for more tips and tricks on all things cake! And if you like this cake, you might enjoy some of these as well:

• The Best Raspberry Cream Cupcakes
• Red Velvet Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze

Pink Velvet Cake with Raspberry Buttercream

4.72 from 14 votes

Tender pink velvet cake layers with raspberry buttercream and fresh raspberries.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  

For the Cake

• 1 cup 2 sticks (226 g) unsalted butter room temperature
• 6 tablespoons (81.75 g) canola oil
• 1 teaspoon (5.6 g) salt
• 2 1/4 cups (450 g) granulated sugar
• 7 large egg whites room temperature
• 3 cups plus 4 tablespoons (373.75 g) cake flour
• 2 teaspoons (8 g) baking powder
• 1 cup (240 g) sour cream, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon (4.2 g) pure vanilla extract
• Pink food gel I used Soft Pink by Americolor

For the Buttercream

• 2 cups (452 g) unsalted butter slightly chilled
• 6 cups (750 g) powdered sugar measured and then sifted
• 6 teaspoons (25.2 g) LorAnn Oils Raspberry Emulsion
• 4 tablespoons (57.75 g) heavy whipping cream
• Pink food gel optional
• *This buttercream recipe makes enough to fill and cover your cake. If you want to add additional piping you’ll want to make an extra 1/2 batch.
• Garnish
• Fresh raspberries

Instructions

 

For the Cake

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare three 8-inch round cake pans or four 6-inch pans with non-stick spray, parchment paper rounds, and another coat of non-sick spray. Set aside.
• In a medium size bowl, sift the cake flour and baking powder. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, canola oil, salt and sugar on high until fluffy and smooth, about 5 minutes. Add two drops of the pink food gel and vanilla. Mix well.
• Add the egg whites, one at a time to the bowl and beat on medium until well incorporated.
• Turn the mixer on low and add 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture until fully incorporated. Then add half of the sour cream and blend well, followed by another 1/3 of the flour, the second half of the sour cream and the final 1/3 of flour. Mix until incorporated.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix on low for another 10 to 20 seconds.
• Pour the cake batter evenly between the three pans (about 16 to 17 ounces of batter in each 8-inch pan or 12 ounces in each 6-inch) and bake about 23-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean or with just a few crumbs. Make sure not to over bake.
• Remove cake from the oven and let cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto cooling racks.

For the Buttercream

• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter on medium-high speed for about two minutes.
• With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the sifted powdered sugar until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue to mix for another minute.
• Add the heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time. Once the cream is incorporated, add the raspberry emulsion and increase the speed to medium-high and beat the frosting for five minutes. It should get lighter in texture and color.
• Add food coloring, if desired.
• Before frosting your cake, make sure to mix the frosting by hand with a wooden spoon to push out the air pockets. 

Assembly

• Level each of the cake layers, if needed. Spread a small amount of frosting on a cake board to help hold the cake in place.
• Place the first cake layer, bottom-side down, in the center of the cake board. Using an offset palette knife, spread about 2/3 cup frosting evenly across the cake layer. If using fresh raspberries, press about 1/2 cup raspberries into the frosting. 
• Place the second cake layer on top of the raspberries and repeat step 2.
• Place the final cake layer, bottom-side up, on top of the second layer and give the cake an even crumb coat, making sure to fill in uneven areas of the cake to create an even foundation for your main frosting.
• Freeze the cake for 10 minutes to set the crumb coat.
• Continue to frost the cake after the crumb coat is set.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Cake

Keyword: Chocolate Raspberry Swiss Roll, Pink Velvet Cake, Valentine's Cake