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Home » Desserts That Deliver

Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Baileys Cream Cheese Icing

By Gary White
This post may contain affiliate links.
Read my full disclosure here.

Published November 29, 2017. Last modified August 1, 2025 By Gary White

Jump to Recipe
Kahlua Red Velvet Cake with Baileys Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats

This Kahlua red velvet cake is exactly what red velvet cake should be - rich and decadent. And with the added bonus of booze! In the cake and in the icing.

Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Baileys Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats

As a kid growing up, my Aunt Ula Mae's best red velvet cake was hands down my favorite dessert. And I'm pretty sure that her recipe is legendary in my home town. She would cook one for our family every year when I was a kid. But as I grew up, moved away, and spent less and less time in Apopka, I had fewer tastes of that magical cake. So it has become one of my missions in life to create another red velvet cake that has  that same richness and depth of flavor. And I actually believe this red velvet cake comes very close! And with a boozy kick!

How to Make the Best Red Velvet Cake

Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Then prepare two 9-inch cake pans by greasing with vegetable shortening and sprinkling with 1 tablespoon sifted cocoa powder, tapping pans to coat and discarding extra.
Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats
First, in a large mixing bowl - whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt.
Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats
Next, in a separate large bowl - using a hand mixer, combine the sugar and vegetable oil.
Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats
Then, one at a time, add remaining wet ingredients - eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and red food coloring, vinegar, and Kahlua.
Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats
Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, a little at a time. Mix just until fully combined, do not over-mix.
Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats
Then pour batter into pans. Should be about 3 cups per pan. Now bake for about 35-40 minutes. Or until a test toothpick comes out clean.
Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats
Remove pans and let cool for at least 10 minutes before removing cakes.
Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats
Then, once pans are warm to touch, transfer cakes to a cooling rack and let cool completely before icing.
Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats
Meanwhile - Place the butter, cream cheese, and 1 mini bottle of Baileys in a mixing bowl and mix together for a few minutes, until creamy.
Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Bailey's Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats
Slowly add the powdered sugar a little bit at a time. Then add the second bottle of Baileys and mix until fully incorporated. Lastly, increase to the highest speed until whipped texture is achieved.

★ Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating below!★

📖 Recipe

Kahlua Red Velvet Cake with Baileys Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats

Best Red Velvet Cake with Kahlua and Baileys Cream Cheese Icing

This Kahlua red velvet cake is exactly what red velvet cake should be - rich and decadent. And with the added bonus of booze! In the cake and in the icing.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Cooling: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 16
Calories: 290kcal
Author: Gary White

Ingredients 

  • 2 tsp. vegetable shortening
  • 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 oz. red food coloring
  • 3 mini bottles Kahlua about ⅔ cup
  • 1 tsp. white vinegar
  • 8 oz. cream cheese softened
  • 2 sticks butter softened
  • 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 mini bottles Baileys Irish Cream about ½ cup

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Then prepare two 9-inch cake pans by greasing with vegetable shortening and sprinkling with 1 tablespoon sifted cocoa powder, tapping pans to coat and discarding extra.
  • First, in a large mixing bowl - whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder, and salt.
  • Next, in a separate large bowl - using a hand mixer, combine the sugar and vegetable oil. Then, one at a time, add remaining wet ingredients - eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and red food coloring, vinegar, and Kahlua.
  • Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, a little at a time. Mix just until fully combined, do not over-mix.
  • Then pour batter into pans. Should be about 3 cups per pan.
  • Now bake for about 35-40 minutes. Or until a test toothpick comes out clean.
  • Remove pans and let cool for at least 10 minutes before removing cakes. Then, once pans are warm to touch, transfer cakes to a cooling rack and let cool completely before icing.
  • Meanwhile - Place the butter, cream cheese, and 1 mini bottle of Baileys in a mixing bowl and mix together for a few minutes, until creamy. Slowly add the powdered sugar a little bit at a time. Then add the second bottle of Baileys and mix until fully incorporated. Lastly, increase to the highest speed until whipped texture is achieved.
  • Frost the cakes in the style of your choice. And enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 275mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1.4mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Honnye Athanasiou

    December 09, 2019 at 9:22 pm

    How many ounces are in the mini bottles? Thank you

    Reply
    • Gary White

      December 10, 2019 at 8:50 am

      50 mL

      Reply
  2. Cheryl

    October 05, 2020 at 7:30 am

    This sounds really yummy can’t wait to try

    Reply
  3. L.C

    December 27, 2021 at 3:11 pm

    How can you convert this to cupcakes?

    Reply
    • Gary White

      February 14, 2022 at 9:16 am

      I am by no means a baker, but I don't think you would need to change the batter. Then I would bake them until a toothpick comes out clean, beginning to check them around 12 minutes - depending on your muffin pan size.

      Reply
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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Kahlua Red Velvet Cake with Baileys Cream Cheese Icing | The Foodie Eats

Meet Gary

I'm Gary... dad, recipe developer, and comfort food nerd. I believe in real food for real life. This blog? It’s where I share the recipes my family actually eats. Simple, soulful, and full of flavor. More about me...

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