Red Velvet Cake...

lucylema

What is it please? I keep hearing it on cupcake wars etc but is it just coloured red with food colouring or does it have a flavour also?

Any ideas?

*zippy*

I made red velvet cupcakes once without success, think the problem was the recipe was in American cups. I used beetroot juice instead of the red colouring, I think the difference to normal chocolate sponge is by adding the bicarb you change the texture? I had saved this recipe to try again, but see it now has mixed reviews so probably won't bother.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1912636/red-velvet-cake

Callie22

It's basically a very mildly flavoured chocolate cake that's coloured with red food colouring. There's usually vanilla in it too. I think the novelty is more the colour than the flavour.

CCP

Tonight's useless fact (because I can't resist them ) - red velvet cake was originally red because the type of cocoa available in America at the time (1930s, I think) turned red when heated up. Modern cocoa doesn't change colour, but red chocolate cake had become an institution so red food colouring is added to create the same effect.

</end useless fact outbreak>

lucy_lemon

It's delicious :j

freezspirit

I thought the difference was that is had vinegar in.

missmucksmum

it also has cream cheese icing x

lucylema

Thanks guys for all the replies

Has anyone got a good easy idiot proof recipe please?

Thanks x

jeanniebeanie_2

This mix
http://www.duncanhines.com/products/cakes/signature-red-velvet-cake-mix
is very popular in the USA and I know a lot of people bring it back to the UK. I am not a fan of cake generally, and in the US everything seems to be doubly sweet and sickly, so haven't tried it myself. The list of ingredients seem to suggest it's mostly sugar and the red is from colouring. Not sure how authentic this mix is though.

Beetlemama

jeanniebeanie wrote: »

in the US everything seems to be doubly sweet and sickly....seem to suggest it's mostly sugar

That's so true, if I buy iced buns my husband wont even look at them, but if I buy some elaborately frosted cupcake with an inch deep of barely disguised pure sugar on the top he's all over them.

I liked the red cocoa factoid back there too btw who ever that was.

lucylema

I have just watched the barefoot contessa make some red velvet cupcakes. she put vinegar in the mix along with a teaspoon of red food colouring. The only vinegar in the house is malt which i think may make the cakes taste a bit weird lol. I see a shopping trip coming!

She also make cream cheese frosting. I recorded some of it so can have a go.

Will update a photo if I attemt to bake any.

Thank you guys x