Our Mini Red Velvet Cakes recipe is an easy from-scratch cake recipe for your Valentine's Day dessert. Mini cake layers have a deep intense red color and are flavored with cocoa powder for a delicious chocolate flavor and topped with a homemade buttercream frosting.
Mini Cake Recipe
What could be more romantic than sharing a Red Velvet Mini Cake with the one you love? Did you know that the flavor of a red velvet cake actually comes from cocoa powder giving it a delightful chocolate flavor.
Many red velvet cakes contain buttermilk and vinegar but our mini cake recipe is a basic cocoa powder cake with red gel food coloring making it easy to make with the milk you have in your fridge. A delicious red velvet cake recipe without buttermilk!
Frost your valentine mini cakes with a homemade buttercream frosting and decorate with Valentine sprinkles and you'll have adorable red velvet mini cakes that are perfect for sharing on Valentine's Day.
Red Velvet is the perfect color for a Valentine's Day treat with it's deep rich color and delicious chocolate flavor. Feel free to eat one red velvet mini cake all by yourself if you're sweet tooth is really calling you!
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How to make a mini cake
Small cake recipes are trending now and baking a mini cake is easy with the right baking pan.
Baking cake layers in a jumbo muffin pan that you only fill partway makes the perfect size layers for your mini layer cakes.
I was so happy when I discovered that baking cake layers in a jumbo muffin pan that you only fill partway makes the perfect size layers for your mini layer cakes. Wilton's jumbo muffin pan is a favorite of mine for several reasons. The Wilton Recipe Right Non-Stick 6-Cup Jumbo Muffin Pan:
- Has a non-stick coating for quick release of cakes and muffins
- Provides easy cleanup with it's non-stick coating
- Is made of heavy gauge construction that spreads heat evenly
- Is made of heavy gauge construction that also prevents warping
- Has generous size handles making them easy to grip and hold on to
- has a limited 5- year warranty too!
Trust me when I say that cakes bake evenly and release beautifully from this pan.
I was so happy when I discovered that partially filling the jumbo muffin cups on the Wilton pan would give me the perfect size for a mini cake layer!
And decorating those perfectly sized mini cake layers is so much fun!
Our buttercream frosting recipe makes enough frosting so you can completely frost your mini cakes or just use some of the frosting and give your mini cakes that "naked cake" frosting look that's so trendy these days.
Then top them with your favorite sprinkles, hearts and/or cake sparkles for a festive Valentine's Day dessert.
You could also trim off a bit of the cake layers, crumble the trimmings and sprinkle the red velvet crumbs on the cake top for a classic red velvet cake look.
Ingredients for red velvet mini cake recipe
- all purpose flour
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- baking powder
- baking soda
- salt
- butter
- granulated sugar
- eggs
- milk
- red gel food coloring
- confectioners’ sugar
- vanilla extract
- Wilton Valentine's Day Sprinkles Decorating Set
- Wilton Jumbo Heart Sprinkles
- cake sparkles
Easy Valentine's Day Recipes
We have lots of ways to show your love this Valentine's Day. From Chocolate Mug Cakes For Two to Homemade Red Velvet Donuts to Espresso Brownies With Kahlua Ganache and more!
Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies is an easy recipe that combines two favorite desserts, brownies and cheesecake. A homemade red velvet brownie cake is topped with a creamy cheesecake batter and baked to perfection. Just in time for Valentine’s Day!
In just two minutes you can "bake” up some love for your sweetie this Valentine’s Day with a Fudgy Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe! Our chocolate mug cake recipe is a warm and fudgy chocolate cake with bits of mini chocolate chips. Drizzled with hot fudge sauce and topped with whipped topping, cake sparkles and jumbo hearts sprinkles, Fudgy Chocolate Mug Cake is the perfect sweet treat for your valentine!
Baked in a donut pan, Red Velvet Donuts are so easy to make and take only minutes to bake! An intense red color , cake-like texture and fabulous chocolate flavor guarantee these Red Velvet Donuts will let those special people know just how much they are loved. Top them with a vanilla glaze and valentine sprinkles and love is in the air!
Espresso Brownies with Kahlua Ganache is a homemade brownie recipe of rich, fudgy, decadent, intense brownies topped with a silky Kahlua chocolate buttercream frosting. Top with conversation heart candy for an amazing Valentine's Day dessert.
Show someone how much you love them on Valentine's Day with Personalized Conversation Heart Cupcakes. Fondant hearts, decorated with colorful sugars and personalized with names on top of cupcakes will make everyone feel special. Easy to make as an edible craft project both kids and adults will have fun making Valentine cupcakes!
Bake up some love this Valentine’s Day for those special people in your life and make Valentine Heart Brownies. Our brownie recipe mixes up in one bowl then bake, cool and cut into delectable little hearts for a treat that says "I love you".
Mini Red Velvet Cakes
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Ingredients
Mini Layer Cakes:
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp. baking powder
- ¼ tsp. baking soda
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ cup butter ,at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
- Red gel food coloring
Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup butter, at room temperature
- 1 lb. confectioners’ sugar
- 2 Tbs. milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- Wilton Valentine's Day Sprinkles Decorating Set
- Wilton Jumbo Heart Sprinkles
- cake sparkles
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Instructions
Mini Layer Cakes:
- Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 10 jumbo muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.
- Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk until blended and reserve.
- With mixer at medium-high, beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add eggs one at a time until blended.
- Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add reserved flour mixture. Beat until combined then slowly add milk and red gel food coloring and beat until a thick cake batter forms.
- Divide batter evenly between prepared muffin cups, about 1/3 cup batter per muffin cup.
- Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers come out clean. Cool 5 minutes in pans. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
Buttercream Frosting:
- With mixer on medium-high speed beat butter until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add confectioners’ sugar beating until blended.
- Add milk and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, occasionally scraping sides of bowl.
- Spread ¼ cup frosting over tops of 5 cake layers. Top with remaining cake layers and frost tops and sides with an additional ¼ cup frosting for the “naked cake” look. Our buttercream frosting makes about 4 cups of frosting if you want to use more frosting and completely cover your mini cakes. Save any remaining frosting in refrigerator, covered, for another use.
- Decorate as desired with assorted valentine sprinkles, jumbo heart sprinkles and/or cake sparkles.
Notes
Nutrition
Third Annual Good Cookies Food Bloggers' Valentine's Event
Valentine's Day means one thing here at Swirls. It's time to raise some money for a good cause. Swirls of Flavor is participating in the Third Annual Good Cookies Food Bloggers’ Valentine’s Event to benefit Cookies For Kids Cancer and raise awareness and the needed funds to combatpediatric cancer.
This is the third year for our Valentine’s event! We want to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer!
Did you know that cancer is the #1 cause of death of children by disease in the U.S.? There are 40,000 U.S. children actively battling cancer right now. With less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute's budget going to all childhood cancer combined, I knew it was important for me to get involved.
Help us make a difference by donating to Cookies for Kids' Cancer! Our goal is to raise at least $3000. Because these three companies: Dixie Crystals, Mediavine and OXO have each pledged to match our donations raised through this campaign up to $3000!
Thanks to many of you, we have reached our goal. You can still donate and help us make an even bigger difference! Donate here.
With over 50 bloggers participating in our 3rd Annual Good Cookie Food Bloggers' Valentine's Event, you definitely won't be at a loss for recipes for all your Valentines this year! Lots of deliciousness is just a recipe click away!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake from Julie of The Little Kitchen
Læsø Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies from Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Meyer Lemon Cookies from Linda of Simply Healthyish Recipes
Soft & Chewy Gluten Free Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from Allie of Miss Allie's Kitchen
Small Batch Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe from Faith of An Edible Mosaic
Chocolate Madeleines from Caroline of Caroline's Cooking
Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats from Bree of Baked Bree
Tiger Butter Candy from Melissa of MamaGourmand
Valentine's Day Gluten Free Sugar Cookies from Brianna of Flippin' Delicious
Chocolate Spritz Sandwich Cookies from Carlee of Cooking With Carlee
Pink Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies from Jenn of Ever After in the Woods
French Butter Cookies from Rebekah of Kitchen Gidget
Brown Sugar M&M Cookies from Sara of Imperfectly Balanced Sara
mini rose cookies from Meaghan of the decorated cookie
Raspberry Linzer Cookies from Stephie of Stephie Cooks
Red Velvet Brownies with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting from Coleen of The Redhead Baker
Lemon Poppyseed Cookies from Becca of Two Places at Once
Warn Dark Chocolate Melting Cups from Lisa of Snack Girl
Salted Dark Chocolate Cookies from Jessica of A Kitchen Addiction
Cherry Cordial Bundt Cake from Carolann of Apron Warrior
Nutella Stuffed Cookies from Allison of Celebrating Sweets
Strawberry Pudding Cookies from Holly of A Baker's House
Slice and Bake Whirligig Cookies from Laura of Untwisted Vintage
Raspberry Strawberry Cookies from Heather of Delicious Not Gorgeous
Chocolate Strawberry Hand Pie from Trang of Wild Wild Whisk
White Chocolate Cashew Cranberry Cookies from Brittany of Diary of a Southern Mrs.
The Best Potato Chip Cookies Recipe from Marybeth of Babysavers
Darth Vader Valentine's Day Hug Cookies to Support Cookies for Kid’s Cancer from Jenn of justJENN recipes
Hazelnut Shortbread Cookies with Jam from Lisa of Garlic & Zest
Sprinkled Chocolate Shortbread Heart Cookies from Lisa of Blogghetti
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies from Dee of Meatloaf and Melodrama
Homemade Salted Nut Rolls from Shaina of Food for My Family
Valentine Sugar Cookie Cups from Melissa of Persnickety Plates
Chocolate Dipped Cashew Butter Cookies from Ashley of Fit Mitten Kitchen
Chocolate Vanilla Striped Shortbread Cookies from Denise of Chez Us
Pineapple Coconut Bar Cookies from Barbara of Barbara Bakes
Chocolate Raspberry Roll-Ups from Sue of It's Okay to Eat the Cupcake
Raspberry and Rose Meringue Parfaits from Michelle of Cup of Zest
Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies from Jade of Jonesin' For Taste
Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies from Emilie of Finding Zest
Chocolate Mousse Cups from Miranda of Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
Grain-Free Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tart from Gretchen of kumquat
Chocolate Shortbread Cookies from Sara of My Imperfect Kitchen
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie from Angela of About A Mom
Honey Pistachio Shortbread from Megan of Stetted
Red Velvet Oreo Cheesecake Cookies from Nicole of For the Love of Food
Chewy Coconut Macaroon Hearts (Gluten Free) from Taryn of Hot Pan Kitchen
Chocolate Peanut Butter Valentine's Cookies from Becca of The Salted Cookie
Chocolate Caramel Pie from Stefanie of Mommy Musings
Gluten-Free Red Velvet Brownies {Dairy-Free} from Audrey of Mama Knows Gluten Free
Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes from Erica of The Crumby Kitchen
Dark Chocolate Bourbon Coconut Cream Mousse from Lisa of Taste Cook Sip
Maple Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Jamie of Southern Revivals
Red Velvet Mini Layer Cakes from Gwynn of Swirls of Flavor
The Best Potato Chip Cookies Recipe from Marybeth of babysavers
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Kara of Kara in the Kitchen
Brown Sugar Snickerdoodles from Kristin of On the Home Front
Valentine’s Gummy Hearts from April of April Golightly
Thank you so much for participating this year! You're amazing!