Red Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Cake (Printer-friendly)

Moist red velvet layers marbled with rich, creamy cheesecake for an elegant dessert that balances tangy and sweet flavors beautifully.

# What You'll Need:

→ Red Velvet Cake Base

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
03 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
04 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
05 - 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
06 - ½ teaspoon salt
07 - 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
08 - ½ cup vegetable oil
09 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
10 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
11 - 1 teaspoon white vinegar
12 - 2 tablespoons red food coloring

→ Cheesecake Swirl

13 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
14 - ⅓ cup granulated sugar
15 - 1 large egg
16 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt until well combined.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, vanilla extract, vinegar, and red food coloring until fully incorporated.
04 - Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir gently until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
05 - Transfer red velvet batter to prepared pan, spreading evenly across the bottom using a spatula.
06 - Beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, egg, and vanilla; mix until creamy and completely blended.
07 - Drop spoonfuls of cheesecake mixture randomly over red velvet batter. Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl through both batters, creating a marbled effect.
08 - Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean (traces of cheesecake are acceptable).
09 - Allow cake to cool completely in pan on wire rack before slicing into squares.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between tangy cheesecake and tender red velvet is absolutely addictive
  • It looks impressive but comes together faster than you would expect
  • Perfect for everything from birthdays to those nights when you need something sweet
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients blend together so much better, so plan ahead
  • Over swirling will muddy the marble pattern, so gentle movements only
  • The cake continues cooking slightly as it cools, so do not overbake
03 -
  • Use full fat cream cheese for the best texture and flavor in your swirl
  • Check your oven temperature with an thermometer for even baking

Go Back