Four luxuriously velvety layers hidden under smooth dark chocolate ganache. This is red velvet cake heaven, my friend!
This cake makes me happy!
The color, the chocolate, the layers, the filling… EVERYTHING about this cake is on point!
It’s ginormous, by the way, if you can’t tell from the photos. But I’m not complaining! I’m just warning you. You might just gain 10lbs for just looking at it. Don’t you worry though. I ate that thing and I’m telling ya, IT’S WORTH IT! ?
It’s labor of love.
No, it’s not difficult. It’s just a lot. I don’t know if that makes sense!
I doubled my all time favorite red velvet cupcake recipe and baked in 2 heart-shaped cake pans, equivalent to 9-inch round cake pan. I get lots of amazing feedbacks on that recipe. My 9 year old reader from UK loved the cupcakes and made them all by herself for her school competition! Another reader raved how fluffy and light the cupcakes turned out! Yes, you love it, I love it, we all love it.
Once the cakes are baked, each one is sliced horizontally and generously filled with cream cheese frosting. Speaking of cream cheese frosting, a lot of people said that they get runny frosting. And to be honest, I’ve had that happen to me when I used generic brand cream cheese. (<- That’s what happens when you send your husband for grocery without specifying the details! It’s all about details!)
Here’s what happened… I was making 150 cupcakes for a friends’ wedding, and imagine me in the kitchen with a bowl (pretty big bowl too!) full of soupy frosting! I was about to cry, because I was running out of time, and I had no idea why it was happening. I quickly ran to the store and got my Philadelphia cream cheese. The frosting turned out perfect and so did the cupcakes. That was my first and last time having that problem.
- Lesson #1: Buy good quality cream cheese that you know and trust. For me, it’s Philadelphia Original cream cheese, not fat-free stuff!
- Lesson #2: Buy the brick cream cheese, NOT the one in a tub, which is whipped cream cheese spread.
Ganache Tip. For the smooth coverage, pour the ganache as soon as you make it and while it’s still nice and runny. Because as it cools, ganache gets thicker and harder to achieve that smooth and shiny coverage.
If smooth ganache frosting isn’t important to you, you can spread it as if you’d do with buttercream frosting. Either way, it’s still delicious!
By the way, it’s a challenge to cut a heart-shaped cake! After that first cut, I didn’t know which direction to cut. The struggle was real! ?
Sorry if you’ve gained a few pounds by reading this post. Now get in the kitchen and bake the monster! Let’s be fat kids together. ☺️

Super Tall Red Velvet Layer Cake
Ingredients
For cake:
- 3 cups 375gr all-purpose flour
- 2 cups 400gr sugar
- 2 tablespoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 cup 240ml vegetable oil
- 1 ½ cup 360ml buttermilk, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon gel red food coloring
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
For cream cheese filling:
- 12 oz 340gr cream cheese, at room temperature
- ½ cup 115gr unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups 375gr powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
For ganache:
- 1 cup 240ml heavy cream
- 1 ¼ cup 215gr semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- To make the cake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray two 9-inch round cake pans, or two 9-inch heart-shaped cake pans with cooking spray.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, red food coloring, and vanilla extract until well combined. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth, about a minute.
- In a small dish, mix together baking soda and vinegar. While the soda/vinegar mixture is bubbling, add it to the batter and mix well.
- Divide the batter equally between the 2 cake pans. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool the cakes in the pan for 5 minutes, and then invert them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the filling, beat butter and cream cheese on medium high speed until fluffy, about a minute. Add powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for a minute. Then increase the speed to medium high and continue to beat until smooth and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- To assemble the cake, cut each cake layer horizontally. Spread about 1/5 of the filling between each layer and stack the layers on top of each other. Evenly spread the remaining 1/5 of the frosting on the sides of the cake. Refrigerate the cake to chill while prepare the ganache.
- To make the ganache, in a small saucepan, bring heavy cream to a simmer. Do not boil. Pour hot cream over chocolate chips, and let it sit for good 2 minutes. Then mix well until smooth for couple minutes.
- For the smooth coverage, pour the ganache over the cake while the ganache is still runny. The longer it cool, the thicker it gets.
- Store the cake covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Bring it to room temperature, before serving.
Oriya says
Hi..yummy cake..I would like to know whether I can use chocolate chips which we use for cookies( ghirardheli, nestle) or the high cocoa chocolate for the ganache..will it solidify if I use the regular chips for the ganache?pls waiting for your reply..TIA
Shinee says
Hi, Oriya! Yes, you can use regular chocolate chips that you use in cookies. That’s what I used here actually. But I’m sure what is high cocoa chocolate. Hope you enjoy baking and eating this cake. 😉
Celeste | The Whole Serving says
This cake looks too pretty to eat, but I’m sure I’ll love eating it.
Thanks for the share.
Shinee says
Thanks, Celeste!
Tianna says
such a pretty cake! I swear heart shaped makes everything look more impressive – bet this was so delicious!
Shinee says
It sure was delicious. Thanks for stopping by, Tianna!
Jess says
Coming over from the #FoodieFriDiy linkup and I am so glad I did! Totally pinning, have a great week! xo
Shinee says
Thanks, Jess!
Jamie @ Medium Sized Family says
This is not helping my serious chocolate craving I’m having right now! Looks amazing.
Shinee says
Thank you, Jamie!
Theresa @DearCreatives says
Looks so yummy! Perfect for Valentine’s Day. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Pinned & shared. Hope to see you again soon.
Shinee says
Thanks, Theresa! I appreciate the shares!!
Nicole B says
Red Velvet Cake is one of my favorites! This is a beautiful cake and perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Shinee says
Thank you, Nicole!
Janet Vinyard says
Hi Shinee, What an absolutely gorgeous cake! Well done! Blessings, Janet
Shinee says
Thanks so much, Janet!
Ashley @ The Party Girl says
This looks amazing! I’m so obsessed with tall cakes – they look so much fun. I’ll have to try this one for Valentine’s Day!
Shinee says
Yes, tall cakes are just so elegant and beautiful, aren’t they? Thanks for stopping by, Ashley!
Renée ♥ The Good Hearted Woman says
Wow, Shinee! I kind of wish *I* was your Valentine right now! This looks luscious.
Shinee says
Thank you, Renée!! 🙂