My husband made red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

Four-Layer Classic Red Velvet Cake:

Yield:

.One 4-layer, 8-inch round cake

Cake Ingredients:

.Dry:

.2½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour

.1½ cups (300 g) granulated sugar

.1 tsp baking soda

.1 tsp fine salt

.1 tsp natural cocoa powder (non-Dutch)

.Wet:

.1½ cups (360 ml) vegetable oil

.1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk, room temperature

.2 large eggs, room temperature

.2 tbsp (30 ml) red food coloring (liquid)

.1 tsp vanilla extract

.1 tsp white vinegar

Cake Instructions:

1. Prep:

.Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

.Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment.

2. Mix dry ingredients:

.Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder until evenly combined.

3. Mix wet ingredients:

.In a separate bowl, whisk oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vanilla, and vinegar until smooth.

4. Combine:

.Add wet ingredients to dry.

.Mix just until smooth and fully combined—do not over mix.

5. Bake:

.Divide batter evenly between pans.

.Bake 25–30 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

6. Cool & layer:

.Cool completely.

.Level tops if needed, then slice each cake horizontally to create 4 thin layers.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients:

.24 oz (680 g) full-fat cream cheese, softened

.¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened

.5½–6 cups (660–720 g) powdered sugar, sifted

.1½ tsp vanilla extract

.Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.

2. Add powdered sugar gradually, beating on low.

3. Mix in vanilla and salt.

4. Beat briefly on medium until fluffy but stable.

Assembly:

1. Place first cake layer on plate.

2. Spread a thin, even layer of frosting.

3. Repeat with remaining layers (4 total).

4. Apply a crumb coat, chill 20 minutes.

5. Frost smoothly around sides and top.

6. Pipe a simple border on top.

7. Press or sprinkle red velvet crumbs around the top edge.

Chocolate Cupcakes (Makes 16)
Ingredients:

Dry:

.1½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour

.1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar

.½ cup (50 g) unsweetened cocoa powder (natural or Dutch-processed)

.1tsp baking soda

.½ tsp baking powder

.½ tsp salt

Wet:

.2 large eggs, room temperature

.½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil

.¾cup (180 ml) buttermilk, room temperature

.¾ cup (180 ml) hot coffee or hot water

.2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1.Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two cupcake pans with 16 liners.

2.In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

3.Add eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

4.Slowly pour in the hot coffee/water and mix until fully combined.
Batter will be thin—this is correct.

5.Fill liners about ⅔ full.

6.Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few moist crumbs.

7.Cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Frosting (Enough for 16 Cupcakes)

Ingredients:

.¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened

.2½ cups (300 g) powdered sugar

.½ cup (45 g) unsweetened cocoa powder

.2–3 tbsp heavy cream or milk

.1 tsp vanilla extract

.Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1.Beat butter on medium speed for 2–3 minutes until creamy.

2.Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder gradually, mixing on low.

3.Add vanilla, salt, and cream (1 tbsp at a time) until desired consistency.

4.Beat on medium-high for 1–2 minutes until light and fluffy.

5.Pipe or spread onto cooled cupcakes.

Crumb coat is a thin layer of frosting applied to a cake before the final, thicker layer of frosting.

Not sure what cake filling goes with the cake sponge?

Let our Cake Away Guide help you.
Link is in the comments.

#cake #cakecombinations #filling #frosting #manlybaker

The first chore you do together as a married couple-cutting your cake.
It’s such a simple act, yet so beautifully symbolic of sharing, love, and partnership.

This 3-tier Hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting and Swiss meringue buttercream was created for 85 guests.

A sweet start to a lifetime of beautiful memories.

Telling Stories with Cake.

#ManlyBakerBoutiquery #BridalCake #TellingStoriesWithCake #HummingbirdCake #CapeTownWeddings #LoveInEveryLayer

We’re excited to introduce our Cake Away Guide 2026!

This beautifully curated guide is packed with delicious inspiration, from cake flavours and fillings to frostings that perfectly pair together.

You’ll also find helpful details about flowers, delivery, and setup - making your cake journey smooth and sweet from start to finish.

But what we’re most proud of is our showcase of cakes we’ve created. A true feast for the eyes and a celebration of creativity.

Get ready to be inspired. Your perfect cake begins here!

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My best friend is having his having his birthday on Monday. He asked for a Turkish delight cake!

I made Turkish delight cream cheese frosting. Wow is divine!

We had the absolute pleasure of hosting a Cake Tasting Consultation with the most beautiful couple. Their love and affection for one another were truly heartwarming to witness. 💕

They indulged in our Premium Plus Tasting, featuring 12 exquisite cake flavours and 10 delightful fillings and frostings. A true celebration of taste and romance.

We cannot wait to tell their story through cake, creating something as special and memorable as their love.

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Sharing in a couple’s big day is always such an honour for us.

This elegant 3-tier bridal cake was more than enough to treat 85 guests — and oh, what a treat it was! Guests could indulge in:

❤️ Red Velvet with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
🤎 Milk Chocolate Velvet with Hazelnut Ganache
🍍 Hummingbird with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

Each flavour told its own love story. Together, they made the sweetest ending to a beautiful celebration.

Telling Stories with Cake!