Urgent cake help needed

Make-it-3

A red velvet cake I'm making for Valentines Day requires white distilled vinegar to mix with bicarbonate of soda to cause a froth.

I can't find it anywhere in my local shops (even tried the chemist) I have distilled malt vinegar but I'm scared to use that in case it makes my cake taste like chips!

Can I use lime juice? Will it create the same kind of reaction? If not, what???

Diflower

If it's white, then that's what it is, it'll be fine:)

Vinegar goes into all sorts of sweet recipes (like meringue), don't worry there won't be any taste.

katieowl_2

Just make sure it's not the distilled white for pickling, as that has added spices usually.

I'd use white wine or cider vinegar, as it's red velvet I guess even red wine vinegar would be fine.

The cake is partially raised by the reaction of vinegar with bicarbonate of soda (or baking powder) I'm not sure lime juice would be acid enough to have the same reaction.

Kate

SDG31000

Is the vinegar you have clear? If so, it is distilled white vinegar. If not you just need a clear vinegar. Most supermarkets seem to sell it or white wine vinegar.
I personally don't see why brown vinegar wouldn't work, but can't say use it with 100% certainty. Don't use lime juice as that flavour will come through too strongly.
Hope that helps.

Make-it-3

What I have is distilled malt vinegar - its white in colour but smells like the regular stuff you but on chips.

Is that fine to use then?

Make-it-3

Sorry for being dumb - I'm not a regular baker!

Swan_2

you've got the right kind of vinegar there so go ahead & use it, your cake will be fine

& it won't smell of chips

katieowl_2

long as it's not this: http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=255677954

the white should be fine....

this is ok: http://www.tesco.com/groceries/Product/Details/?id=261781314 it doesn't have spices in.

HTH

Kate

Make-it-3

All done and in the oven. Thanks for your help folks.

Swan_2

let us know know it turns out

Alison_Funnell

And yes lime juice would have worked just as well. Acid creates the reaction that aids baking. No the flavour will not be any stronger or much different. Orange and lemon juices work as well.