Description
Red velvet cake in a jar delights dessert enthusiasts with its compact charm. Layers of crimson cake and cream cheese frosting create a portable sweet experience you’ll savor to the last delicious spoonful.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
- 1 cup (240 ml) vegetable oil
- 2 ½ cups (300 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) red food coloring
- 1 tsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 oz (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups (360 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 6–8 small mason jars (8 oz each)
- Crushed red velvet cake crumbs for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, lightly greasing the surface to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Components: Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt in a mixing bowl until completely smooth and lump-free, creating a uniform dry base.
- Combine Liquid Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, blend buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, white vinegar, and red food coloring until the mixture reaches a vibrant, consistent texture.
- Create Batter: Gently fold dry ingredients into liquid mixture, stirring minimally to maintain a light, airy consistency without overmixing, which could result in a dense cake.
- Bake and Test: Pour batter evenly into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Verify doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean with no raw batter attached.
- Cool and Assemble: Remove cake from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. Once at room temperature, slice into pieces and layer in jars with your chosen frosting or cream, creating a delightful layered dessert.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry and wet ingredients to maintain cake’s light, fluffy texture; overmixing leads to dense, tough cake.
- Color Intensity Control: Adjust red food coloring quantity for desired vibrant red shade; less coloring works for natural, subtle color.
- Moisture Retention Trick: Cool cake completely before layering to prevent frosting melting and maintain structural integrity of jar dessert.
- Temperature Precision: Use room temperature ingredients like eggs and buttermilk to ensure even mixing and consistent cake texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 to 9
- Calories: 354
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 48 mg