Best Red Velvet Recipes

Best Red Velvet Recipes

Red Velvet tends to be one of those things that people either love or hate. It's so strange that something can be so delicious for some yet polarizing for others. I was in my 20s when I figured out that red velvet is mostly chocolate with food coloring and what's not to love about that? All three of my kids love red velvet so I tend to eat it a lot more than other cakes. I like it. We hope that you love these Best Red Velvet Recipes.

• Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
• Red Velvet Cake Mix Donuts
• Dark Chocolate & Mint Chip Red Velvet Cookies
• Red Velvet Waffles
• Red Velvet Sugar Cookies
• Red Velvet Cinnamon Cupcakes
• Red Velvet Buttermilk Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Red Velvet Crepes
• Triple Chip Red Velvet Cookies
• Best Homemade Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe
• Red Velvet Cheesecake Bundt Cake
• Red Velvet Cookies
• Red Velvet Pancakes
• Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies
• Red Velvet in a Jar
• Red Velvet Redux
• Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies
• Red Velvet Puppy Chow
• Red Velvet Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling
• Strawberry Red Velvet Cupcakes
• Red Velvet Poke Cake

History of Red Velvet

The term “velvet” first appeared in recipes during the Victorian Era. Cakes labeled as “velvet” were meant to have a smooth, soft texture. Some early recipes relied on ingredients like cornstarch to achieve this.

• Mahogany Cake: A chocolate cake using cocoa powder. The natural acidity in cocoa reacted with baking soda, giving the cake a reddish tint.
• Devil's Food Cake: A rich, deeply chocolatey cake. Despite the name, its color was dark brown.

The Birth of True Red Velvet

• Chemical Reactions: Sometime in the early 1900s, likely as a combination of mahogany and devil's food cake recipes, the chemistry of cocoa, acidic ingredients like vinegar or buttermilk, and baking soda led to a more vibrant red color.
   

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The Great Depression and World War II

• Adams Extract: This company capitalized on the trend with a clever marketing tactic – selling extra-strength red food coloring for the cake.
• Rationing-Era Ingredient: During World War II, food shortages prompted bakers to use boiled beetroot juice instead of food coloring, enhancing the redness and adding earthy sweetness.

Commercial Popularity

• The Waldorf Astoria: This New York City hotel claims to have invented the original red velvet cake in the 1930s, further boosting its popularity.
   

Modern Times and Beyond

• Steel Magnolias (1989): Featured a red velvet armadillo groom's cake, making it a pop culture phenomenon.

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Red Velvet Cake and Juneteenth

• Red velvet cake holds special significance in some African American communities for Juneteenth celebrations. The red color symbolizes resilience and the bloodshed during slavery.

Red velvet isn't just cake anymore. You'll find red velvet cupcakes, cookies, pancakes, and even lattes! We hope that you are inspired by these Best Red Velvet Recipes. Happy baking!

Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes