Red Velvet Cake | Copycat Nothing Bundt Cake

Red velvet lovers, this one is for you! I’ve got a delicious and easy recipe for red velvet cake. This version is a copycat of one of the super-popular Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Nothing Bundt Cakes is a well-known and loved bakery chain, but their famous bundt cakes can be a bit on the expensive side.

If you’re wanting to make a delicious red velvet cake like they do, but don’t want to pay the price, never fear–I got you!

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This is a copycat red velvet bundt cake recipe with that famous cream cheese frosting for you that is just as tasty – if not more so – than the original. So get your baking supplies ready and let’s get started!

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Equipment Needed

• Bundt pan
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Electric hand mixer

Where to Buy a Bundt Pan

I’ve put together my favorite collection

YouTube Video for Bundt Cake Pan Ideas

Ingredients for Copycat Red Velvet Cake

• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup oil of your choice (I used vegetable oil)
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise (real mayo is the secret ingredient–I use Hellman’s)
• 3/4 cup sour cream (the sour cream makes this cake recipe extra moist)
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 packet Hershey’s hot cocoa powder (another secret tip–read below)

Quick Tip:

Make sure your wet ingredients are all at room temperature before using them for this recipe in the cake batter. This will ensure that your cake is smooth and your recipe turns out as expected.

How to Make Red Velvet Cake

This is such an easy cake to throw together last minute if you need to bring something pretty like a bundt cake to a party as I did on this occasion. It is such a simple copycat recipe and makes a splash with its famous bright red velvet cake color–not to mention, those rich chocolate chips that are in every bite!

Step 1. Mix Ingredients

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all wet ingredients and dry ingredients (except for chocolate chips) together using a Kitchenaid stand mixer or simple electric mixer like I did here for 30 seconds on low to blend and then on high for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.

Look at the amazing scarlet red velvet color of the cake batter! Isn’t it lovely?

If you did not use a ready-to-make red velvet cake mix you would need to add liquid red food coloring to achieve this kind of color.

Now, gently fold the 1 cup of chocolate chips into the wet ingredients. This is what makes this red velvet cake copycat recipe so rich and irresistible.

Step 2. Prepare the Bundt Pan

The bundt cake pan is what gives the cake that “copycat” look. Grease the entire pan. I used Pam Cooking Spray.

Quick Tip:

Sprinkle hot cocoa powder mix (instead of grease and flour) along the sides of the bundt pan to create a stick-free pan surface.

Next, pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and gently tamp down the pan on the counter to settle any bubbles that may be in the cake batter.

Step 3. Bake the Cake

For a typical non-stick bundt pan, bring the oven to 350 degrees and bake the cake for 44-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. This is the standard “toothpick inserted” method or test.

Then be sure to leave it in the pan for 10 minutes before attempting to pop it out of the bundt pan and move it onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Quick Tip:

To pop the cake out of the bundt pan without it falling apart or cracking, first allow it to cool, use a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen it, and then place the cake plate or cooling rack on top of the bundt pan and then flip it over. If you don’t feel it “release” then, flip it back and gently nudge it with a butter knife along the edges once more before trying again.

Step 4. Cool the Cake

You can put it in the freezer for about 30-45 minutes or wrap it in plastic wrap and foil before placing it in the refrigerator for several hours or even overnight in order to cool completely.

Don’t skip this important cooling step or your cream cheese frosting will surely melt right off the cake!

This is what my red velvet cake looks like right before I cover it in that famously dripped rich cream cheese frosting. You can see the thin layer of hot cocoa mix on the top along with the deep red velvet-colored layer underneath.

It’s already a pretty good copycat for the real deal, I think!

What flavors go with red velvet cake?

In my opinion, delicious butter and sugar cream cheese frosting pair best with this yummy, moist red velvet cake; however, you could go with traditional vanilla buttercream, chocolate, or even no frosting at all.

If you prefer to spice things up a notch, you could add one of the following flavors:

• cinnamon
• clove
• ginger
• nutmeg

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature (make sure it’s unsalted butter)
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, to taste
• 3-4 cups powdered sugar as needed (if it gets too dry add a drop of milk)

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

Step 1. Combine Ingredients

First up for the cream cheese frosting, combine the cream cheese and butter, and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until completely combined. Beat in the vanilla extract.

Step 2. Mix Ingredients

Next, start off by adding 2 cups of powdered sugar, beat well with an electric mixer, then add additional as needed.

Step 3. Spread Frosting

Finally, pipe the cream cheese frosting onto the cake using a one-gallon Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off as shown, or spoon the frosting into a pastry bag. If you don’t have a pastry bag on hand, the Ziploc bag method works just fine!

Take your time and drizzle this powdered sugar yumminess back and forth in a steady, consistent motion. Try not to stop and start, but if you do, stop on the inside of the bundt cake to hide any mess-ups.

The goal is long, thick lines of powdered sugar frosting up and down over the sides of the cake like ribbons. The frosting is what makes it look so fancy–just like a Nothing Bundt Cake!

You can also use an offset spatula to spread the cream cheese frosting on the cake.

If you have extra cream cheese frosting, you can pool it into the center of the cake.

Once the red velvet cake is frosted, you can add a thin layer of chocolate chips or even chopped pecans to the top. I chose to add the famous Nothing Bundt Cakes faux flowers to the center of mine. What do you think?

So if you’re in the mood for some bundt cake goodness, but don’t want to go out, stay in and make this recipe! Trust me, it’s worth it.

Just look at how mouthwatering this slice of red velvet cake is with bites of melted chocolate chips and creamy frosting-yum!!

I especially love this cake recipe served cold so those chocolate chips really crunch in your mouth with each bite!

What about you? Have you made this recipe? Is the cake or the frosting your favorite part?

So there you have it – a delicious and easy recipe for red velvet cake. This copycat Nothing Bundt Cake is the perfect way to enjoy the flavor without breaking the bank.

Go ahead and bake up this easy bundt cake recipe today! And don’t forget to share this recipe with your friends – they’ll thank you so much for it!

And if you don’t have a pretty cake pan yet, here are my favorite bundt cake pans again below!

Frequently Asked Questions About Red Velvet Bundt Cake

What is red velvet cake?

Red velvet cake is traditionally a vanilla cake with unsweetened cocoa powder and red food coloring mixed in. It is commonly made with white vinegar and buttermilk to add tanginess and topped with a cream cheese frosting. 

Is a red velvet cake just a chocolate cake?

Since red velvet cake has unsweetened cocoa powder is it really just like chocolate cake? The answer is no. The fact that they both contain cocoa powder is where the similarity ends. Red velvet cakes and chocolate cakes are both very different cakes from one another.

Which cake mix makes red velvet cake the best?

Though it is a matter of preference the most popular red velvet cake mixes are:

• Betty Crocker Super Moist Red Velvet Cake Mix
• Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix (this is the one I used)
• Pillsbury Supreme Collection Red Velvet Cake Mix

Be sure to let me know if you made this recipe. This is one of the best cake recipes that I like to rely on when I need something that looks fancier than it really is.

Another one of my go-to bundt cake recipes is my Copycat Nothing Bundt Lemon Bundt Cake. It has been quite popular!

Other delicious recipes you’ll want to try!

• Banana Cake
• Cherry Cheesecake Dump Cake
• Strawberry Shortcake