Red Velvet Loaf is a treat perfect for the holidays, Valentine’s Day, or whenever you crave a sweet, festive delight! This copycat Starbucks recipe captures all the rich, velvety goodness of the coffee shop favorite but with the added satisfaction of making it right in your own kitchen.
Many people think red velvet flavor is just about the food coloring. And yes, the vibrant red color is eye-catching, but true red velvet has a subtle chocolate flavor with just a little bit of tanginess.
In this recipe, Greek yogurt keeps the cake super moist and adds a little tangy flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the cake. With this easy recipe, you can skip the coffee shop lines and enjoy a slice (or two) of red velvet bliss whenever the craving strikes.
In this post, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process and share some tips and fun variations. You can enjoy it whenever you want, not just when Starbucks adds it to the menu—all without paying those sky-high coffee shop prices!
Are you looking for more delicious desserts? Try black tie mousse cake, cherry cheesecake, or Amish apple rollup!
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🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
This loaf cake uses the following baking staples: butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, milk, flour, baking powder, baking soda, powdered sugar, and salt. It also uses:
- Greek yogurt: The yogurt helps keep the loaf super moist and adds a little tangy flavor that is traditional for red velvet.
- Cocoa powder: Gives the loaf a subtle chocolate flavor.
- Red food coloring: This is optional, but it makes the loaf look amazing. Make sure you use red food coloring labeled “no taste red.”
- Heavy cream
🥣How to Make Red Velvet Loaf
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and line a loaf pan with parchment paper. This will make it easy to remove the loaf from the pan later.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. I like to use an electric mixer for this step to ensure everything is well combined. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, Greek yogurt, and milk. Mix until everything is well incorporated.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix.
- Now, divide the batter evenly into two bowls. In one bowl, add the cocoa powder and red food coloring. Mix until the batter is a vibrant red color.
- Alternate spooning the plain and red velvet batter into the prepared loaf pan. Once all the batter is in the pan, use a butter knife to swirl the two batters together, creating a marbled effect.
- Bake the loaf for 30-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the loaf cool completely before removing it from the pan.
- While the loaf is cooling, make the icing. Simply whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Once the loaf is cool, pour the icing over the top, letting it drip down the sides. Slice and serve!
🍴Serving Ideas
Now that you’ve baked this beautiful Starbucks Red Velvet Loaf, here are a few ideas for making it extra special.
- Breakfast treat: Slice up the loaf and serve it alongside a hot cup of coffee or tea for a sweet breakfast treat. It’s perfect for lazy weekend mornings or special occasions like Christmas morning.
- Dessert platter: Cut the loaf into thick slices and arrange them on a platter with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream. This stunning dessert presentation is sure to impress your guests.
- Gift idea: Wrap a whole loaf or a few slices in clear cellophane and tie it with a pretty ribbon. This makes a lovely homemade gift for friends, family, or neighbors.
This Starbucks Red Velvet Loaf is sure to be a hit. It’s just the right amount of sweetness, with a tender crumb and a gorgeous red hue that’s perfect for the holidays, Valentine’s Day, or any special occasion.
💭How to Store
Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, making sure it’s completely covered to prevent it from drying out. Then, place the wrapped loaf in an airtight container. This will give it an extra layer of protection and help keep it fresh for longer.
Store the container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you need to store it longer than that, you can place it in the fridge for up to a week. To serve, let the loaf come to room temperature before slicing and enjoying. If you prefer it warm, you can heat up individual slices in the microwave for a few seconds.
If you want to freeze the loaf, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil before placing it in a freezer-safe container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, let it thaw overnight in the fridge before bringing it to room temperature and serving.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Don’t overmix. Once you’ve added the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to a tough, dense loaf instead of the light and tender texture we’re going for.
- Some red coloring has a slight aftertaste. Make sure you use food coloring labeled “no taste red.”
- If you notice the top of your loaf is browning too quickly, create a tent out of aluminum foil and loosely cover it. This will prevent it from burning while still allowing the inside to cook through.
- It’s tempting to dive right in while the loaf is still warm, but it’s worth the wait! Letting the loaf cool completely before slicing will help it hold together better and create cleaner slices.
- Instead of swirling the batters with a knife, try using a skewer or a toothpick to create more intricate designs. If you want to be fancy, you can even do a checkerboard pattern by alternating spoonfulls of each batter in a grid pattern.
- You can also make a cream cheese frosting, like the one on this gingerbread loaf.
📝Reader Questions
Absolutely! Just divide the batter evenly into a lined cupcake tin and bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes clean.
Yes, you can use regular yogurt instead. Just make sure it’s plain yogurt (not flavored) and has a consistency similar to Greek yogurt.
Of course! The food coloring is just for aesthetic purposes and doesn’t affect the flavor of the loaf. If you prefer a more natural look, leave it out.
I never say no to chocolate chips! Fold a cup of chocolate chips into the batter before swirling for an extra chocolatey twist.
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Starbucks Red Velvet Loaf Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons red food coloring
Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar
- Whip in the eggs, vanilla extract, yogurt and milk.2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, ¼ cup milk, ½ cup Greek yogurt
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in another bowl.1 ½ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- Mix the dry ingredients into the wet.
- Separate the batter into two more or less equal portions. Add the cocoa powder and red food coloring to one portion of the batter.2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons red food coloring
- Add the two batters alternately to a parchment-lined loaf pan. Then, Using a butter knife, swirl the batters together.
- Bake for 30-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely.
- Whisk together the powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, and vanilla extract to make the icing.2 cups powdered sugar, ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pour the icing over the loaf.
- Remove from pan and slice to serve.
Notes
- Some red coloring has a slight aftertaste. Make sure you use food coloring labeled “no taste red.”
- If you notice the top of your loaf is browning too quickly, create a tent out of aluminum foil and loosely cover it. This will prevent it from burning while still allowing the inside to cook through.
- You can also make a cream cheese frosting if you prefer.
- You can make this as cupcakes. Just divide the batter evenly into a lined cupcake tin and bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes clean.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.