Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake

1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a Bundt pan, ensuring that the batter won’t stick during baking. The Bundt pan adds a beautiful shape to the cake, perfect for presentation.
2. Cheesecake Filling: In a medium bowl, beat the softened 8 oz cream cheese with 1/3 cup of granulated sugar until smooth and creamy. Add 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and continue beating until fully combined. Set aside.
3. Red Velvet Cake: In a separate large bowl, sift together 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. Once sifted, add 1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil, 1 cup of buttermilk, 2 large eggs, 2 tablespoons of red food coloring, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar. Mix everything together until smooth and well combined.
4. Assembly: Pour half of the red velvet batter into the prepared Bundt pan, spreading it evenly. Then, spoon the cheesecake filling over the red velvet layer, spreading it gently to cover. Top with the remaining red velvet batter, smoothing it out over the cheesecake layer. The cheesecake filling will create a beautiful creamy center in the cake once baked.
5. Bake: Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. The cake should rise beautifully, and the cheesecake filling will remain soft and creamy in the center. Once baked, allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
6. Frosting: While the cake is cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting. Beat 4 oz of softened cream cheese in a bowl until smooth and creamy. Gradually add 2 cups of powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 2-4 tablespoons of milk. Continue mixing until the frosting reaches your desired consistency. The frosting should be thick and spreadable, perfect for drizzling over the cooled cake.
7. Finish and Serve: Once the cake is completely cool, drizzle the cream cheese frosting over the top. If you like, you can add a decorative touch by swirling the frosting or adding additional garnishes like sprinkles or fresh berries. Slice and serve, and enjoy every bite of this decadent cake!

Storage and Serving