Red Velvet Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
Red Velvet Cream Cheese Bundt Cake is one of those desserts that instantly feels special without being hard to make. It’s rich, super moist, and has that creamy swirl in the middle that makes every slice feel like a treat.
This is the kind of cake I bake when I want something that looks impressive but doesn’t stress me out. It’s perfect for birthdays, holidays, potlucks, or just a regular day that could use a little cake.
If you love red velvet as much as I do, you’ll probably also enjoy these adorable Red Velvet Cake Minis. They’re perfect when you want something sweet without baking a full-sized cake.
Why You’ll Love This Red Velvet Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
Here’s why this one always disappears fast:
- It’s beginner-friendly
- Super moist without being heavy
- The cream cheese swirl is the best part
- Looks impressive with very little effort
- Easy to customize
This is the kind of cake people remember and then text you later asking for the recipe.
Ingredients for Red Velvet Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
Nothing complicated here. Just classic baking ingredients.
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cake Batter:
- 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- Red gel food coloring
For the Cream Cheese Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
How to Make It Without Stress
1. Preheat and Prep
Set your oven to 350°F. Grease a 10-inch bundt pan really well. Bundt pans are sneaky like that.
2. Make the Cream Cheese Filling
Beat the cream cheese, butter, and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg, flour, and vanilla and mix until smooth. Set it aside and try not to snack on it.
3. Mix the Dry Ingredients
Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl.
4. Mix the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, sour cream, milk, vanilla, and vinegar. The vinegar sounds strange, but it’s what gives red velvet its signature texture.
5. Combine and Color
Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix gently until combined. Then add red gel food coloring until you like the color.
6. Layer and Swirl
Pour half the batter into the pan. Spoon the cream cheese filling on top, keeping it away from the edges. Add the remaining batter and lightly swirl with a knife.
7. Bake
Bake for 55 to 65 minutes. Let it cool completely before flipping it out. Patience pays off here.
8. Make the Glaze
Beat together powdered sugar, cream cheese, heavy cream, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
9. Glaze and Enjoy
Drizzle the glaze generously over the cooled cake. Slice and enjoy.
Tips From My Kitchen
- Soft cream cheese and butter make everything easier
- Gel food coloring gives the best red color
- Don’t overmix once the flour is in
- This cake tastes even better the next day
Fun Variations to Try
If you like switching things up, here are a few ideas:
- Swap red food coloring for blue and make a blue velvet version
- Add chocolate chips to the batter
- Sprinkle chopped nuts over the glaze
- If you love cozy fall baking, this Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake uses a similar pan and is perfect for cooler weather
- Want another velvet-style dessert? This Orange Velvet Layer Cake is such a fun twist
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
You can make this cake a day ahead and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To freeze, wrap the unglazed cake tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then glaze before serving.
Why This Cake Always Works

I’ve made this cake for family get-togethers, holidays, birthdays, and random weekends when I felt like baking something pretty. Every single time, it’s a hit.
It’s comforting, a little fancy, and totally reliable.
FAQs
Can I make this cake ahead of time?
Absolutely. I actually love making this cake a day ahead because it tastes even better after it’s had time to chill and settle. Just keep it covered in the fridge and glaze it before serving, or glaze it and store it covered.
Do I have to use gel food coloring?
Nope, you don’t have to. Liquid food coloring works too, but gel gives you a much richer red without thinning the batter. If you only have liquid, just know you might need a bit more to get that classic red velvet color.
Why is there vinegar in red velvet cake?
I know it sounds odd, but vinegar is kind of the secret weapon here. You don’t taste it at all. It reacts with the baking soda and helps give the cake that soft, tender texture red velvet is known for.
How do I keep the cream cheese filling from sinking?
The key is thickness and placement. Make sure the cream cheese filling is nice and thick, and don’t let it touch the edges of the pan. Keeping that little border helps it stay right in the middle where it belongs.
Final Thoughts on Red Velvet Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
If you want a dessert that looks impressive without being stressful, this Red Velvet Cream Cheese Bundt Cake is it. Easy, delicious, and always crowd-approved.

If you try it, let me know how it turns out. And don’t forget to save or pin this recipe so you can come back to it later. You’ll definitely want to make it again.
Print
Red Velvet Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A rich and moist red velvet bundt cake with a luscious cream cheese swirl inside and a creamy glaze on top. Impressive, easy, and always a hit.
Ingredients
- For the Cream Cheese Filling:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Cake Batter:
- 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- Red gel food coloring
- For the Cream Cheese Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease a 10-inch bundt pan.
- For the cream cheese filling: beat cream cheese, butter, and sugar until fluffy. Add egg, flour, and vanilla; mix until smooth. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk oil, eggs, sour cream, milk, vanilla, and vinegar.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet and mix until combined. Add red gel food coloring until desired color is reached.
- Pour half the batter into the bundt pan. Spoon cream cheese filling on top, avoiding the edges. Add remaining batter and gently swirl with a knife.
- Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before inverting onto a plate.
- For the glaze: beat powdered sugar, cream cheese, heavy cream, and vanilla until smooth.
- Drizzle glaze over cooled cake. Slice and enjoy.
Notes
Softened cream cheese and butter help everything mix smoothly. Don’t overmix once the flour is in. This cake is even better the next day, and it freezes beautifully without the glaze.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
