Name: Red Velvet Sheet Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 cup salted butter (softened ); 1 cup water; 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda; 2 large eggs (slightly beaten); 1/2 cup buttermilk; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 1/2 tablespoons red food coloring or 2 teaspoons red food gel ((the gel is more concentrated)); Valentine's Day sprinkles; 6 ounces cream cheese (softened ); 1/2 cup salted butter (softened); 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 1/2-3 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 2-4 tablespoons buttermilk

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Red Velvet Sheet Cake is moist, super soft, and an easy cake for Valentine’s Day. Made in a sheet pan for easy serving, and swirled with a fluffy cream cheese buttercream frosting. Perfect for feeding a crowd or bringing to a party!

PIN this moist Red Velvet Sheet Cake recipe to try later!

Red Velvet Sheet Cake

Red Velvet Sheet Cake is made with an old-fashioned red velvet cake batter and topped with a silky smooth cream cheese buttercream frosting. The tanginess from the frosting compliments the mild chocolate flavor of the cake and will be a crowd-pleaser anywhere you bring it.

This easy recipe and takes about an hour to make from start to finish and it’s made with simple ingredients. With a velvety cake texture and creamy frosting on top, it’s perfect for Valentine’s day, holidays, birthdays, or any time you’re craving red velvet cake.

Sheet cakes are one of the easiest cakes to bake. My favorite part is that we get to bake, frost, and serve the cake in the same pan. You don’t have to worry about the hassle of making this single layer cake look perfect and you can decorate it any way that you want. Also, clean up is a breeze!

If you love red velvet, other treats to try are my Red Velvet Cookies and Red Velvet Truffles.

Slice of Valentine's day cake with sprinkles.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy red velvet cake recipe: This cake couldn’t be easier since it’s made in a sheet pan and stays in the sheet pan until you serve it. It’s easy to bake, assemble, and decorate.

Portable: Since this is made in a sheet pan, you can easily transfer it any where. Cover it loosely with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.

Feeds a crowd: You can feed up to 16 people so this makes a great dessert for a party or holiday.

Valentine’s Day treat: Celebrate Valentine’s Day by making this for a party, potluck, or make it for your loved ones.

Moist cake: The combination of the buttermilk and melted butter mixture helps create a moist texture and fluffy cake that will melt in your mouth.

Cake cute into squares with Valentine's day sprinkles.

key ingredients

Buttermilk: We use 1/2 cup of buttermilk to help balance out the sweet flavors and gives the cake a rich and buttery flavor without being over powering.
Granulated sugar: Used to make the cake sweet.
Vanilla extract: Enhances all the flavors. I love using vanilla bean paste to maximize the flavors.
Salted butter: If you use unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the recipe.
Eggs: We use two large eggs at room temperature. This will help bind the batter together.
Flour: All-purpose flour works great, but you can also use whole wheat flour. Just note the flavor will be slightly different. Always spoon and level flour when measuring it. Be sure not to scoop it out of the bag using the measuring cup. This way, you won’t accidentally measure out too much.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: Adds the chocolate flavor and helps deepen the red color.
Baking soda: Used as a leavening agent.
Red food coloring: Gives the traditional red velvet cake color. Use either food coloring or food gel coloring, the gel is more concentrated.
Valentine’s Day sprinkles: This is optional, but makes a colorful and fun addition to the cake! Of course, you can use any type of sprinkles you would like.

Ingredients to make Red Velvet Sheet Cake.

how to make red velvet sheet cake

Prepare sheet pan: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease or line a half sheet pan with an edge with parchment paper (12×17 jelly roll pan).

Melt butter: In a medium pot or saucepan on medium heat, melt butter. Add water and cocoa powder and bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Stirring frequently.

Mix dry ingredients together: In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, and baking soda with a whisk.

Add the melted butter mixture to dry ingredients: Stir until barely combined with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula.

Add remaining wet ingredients: Add the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and food coloring. Stir until combined and be sure not to over-mix. Let the batter sit for 10 minutes.

Bake cake: Pour the cake batter into the prepared sheet pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or just until the center is set. Be sure not to over bake. Let cake cool.

how to make cream cheese frosting

Beat cream cheese and butter: In a large bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until fluffy and no lumps remain.

Add powdered sugar: Turn the mixer on low and beat in 2 cups of powdered sugar until combined. Add in the vanilla extract. Mix again.

Make fluffy frosting: Add the remaining powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until consistency is achieved. The frosting should be smooth, fluffy, and not too thick. If the frosting is too thick, add more milk, if it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.

Decorate cake with frosting and sprinkles: Swirl cooled cake with frosting and add Valentine’s Day sprinkles. Cut into squares and enjoy!

pro tips & variations

Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature. This will ensure a smooth and velvety batter and the ingredients will incorporate easily.
Make sure not to over-bake the cake. Every oven is different, so the bake times will be different.
Topping ideas: Rainbow sprinkles, Valentine’s Day candy hearts, chocolate hearts, sweetheart candy, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, fresh berries, or mini marshmallows.
Cake topping options: The cream cheese frosting is our favorite but you can also keep it simple by leaving the cake plain or dust with powdered sugar. Other frostings to use are chocolate frosting, vanilla frosting, buttercream frosting, or your favorite canned frosting.
Extra colorful: Add pink or red food coloring to the frosting to make this Valentine’s Day cake extra festive and colorful.

what is red velvet?

Red velvet is a popular flavor during Valentine’s day because it’s made with a vanilla cake base, cocoa powder, red food coloring and often buttermilk or vinegar to offset the sweet flavor. The chocolate flavor in the cake is very subtle and has far less chocolate flavor than a chocolate cake does.

how to make homemade buttermilk

If you don’t have buttermilk at home or need a buttermilk substitute- don’t panic. You can easily make it from scratch! Simply pour 1/2 cup of regular milk (this could be whole milk or low-fat milk) into a liquid measuring cup and add 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Stir together and let the milk sit for 10 minutes or until it starts to curdle.

leftovers & storage

Leftovers: Store leftover cake in an airtight container or cover baking sheet with foil or plastic wrap. Store in a cool area for 2-3 days, then transfer to the refrigerator and store for 2 more days. The cake will start to dry out once it’s stored in the refrigerator.

Freeze: You can freeze unfrosted cake by wrapping the cooled unfrosted cake with plastic wrap, including the sheet pan, or cut into individual slices and wrap each slice, and then place in a heavy-duty ziplock bag or cover with aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrost: To defrost the unfrosted cake, let the cake thaw completely before frosting. Place cake in the refrigerator to sit overnight or sit out in the counter for at least 3 hours. Make frosting and enjoy.