# Red Velvet Cake - need answer fast **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698 "2015-08-12T22:43:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/1 "2015-08-12T22:43:10Z")
I need a recipe for the stuff. As horrifying as it is to think of dumping a bottleful of red food coloring into a cake, it’s Dweezil’s favorite, and tomorrow is his birthday. I don’t see what the food coloring does, beyond ensuring you die of chemical-induced cancer before the diabetes kills you - I mean, surely a good cocoa + buttermilk cake + cream cheese frosting would taste every bit as good without the day-glo coloring, right? Interestingly, I found one recipe at Epicurious that skimps on the dye - only a tablespoon (half an ounce) versus a full ounce bottle. If my fellow Dopers don’t come up with anything soon enough I’ll go with that one. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/2 "2015-08-12T22:49:12Z")
I’ve heard of red velvet cake being made with beet juice, but I’m not much of a baker so I don’t have any personal experience in this area. The first hit I got on Google was this NY Times recipe, which contains no food coloring: [Beet Red Velvet Cake](http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016333-beet-red-velvet-cake) ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/3 "2015-08-12T22:57:57Z")
Here’s the recipe I use.[http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/red-velvet-layer-cake](http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/red-velvet-layer-cake). You don’t have to put in all the food coloring if you don’t want to. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/4 "2015-08-13T01:12:21Z")
You’ll owe $275 for the recipe! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/5 "2015-08-13T02:20:32Z")
I believe that the cancer-causing kind of red dye was banned years ago, wasn’t it? (God, I love red velvet cake) ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/6 "2015-08-13T02:52:58Z")
The one I make (my grandma’s recipe) is just a standard devil’s food with a lot of red food color. My sons always loved helping me make it because there’s a point where you put vinegar into baking soda. But I think any devil’s food cake mix, plus food color, would work. Although it will not be as good as my grandma’s, and neither are mine. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/7 "2015-08-13T02:59:45Z")
Ok Ok Ok. Time out here. Red Velvet was originally a brown with a hint of red from the interaction of the cocoa and the vinegar. It was not that garish red we associate with the recipe today. [This](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/14/dining/red-velvet-cake-from-gimmick-to-american-classic.html?_r=0) shows the classic recipe (left) vs. today’s. Since then cocoa manufacturers have changed how they process the cocoa so no red tinge if you make the authentic recipe. Instead, you would make the recipe and add a little beet juice to give the cake that red undertone. If you want Red Velvet v. 2 (the original garish food colored one), the recipe is [here](http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016329-red-velvet-cake). ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/8 "2015-08-13T03:05:34Z")
Starbucks uses some insect-based dye for their red drinks. Maybe you could use that, without mentioning it to the B-day boy. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/9 "2015-08-13T03:15:26Z")
> [@Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](#): > > Starbucks uses some insect-based dye for their red drinks. Maybe you could use that, without mentioning it to the B-day boy. They havent used it since 2012…at least it was organic. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/10 "2015-08-13T14:11:17Z")
> [@Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](#): > > Starbucks uses some insect-based dye for their red drinks. Maybe you could use that, without mentioning it to the B-day boy. Or depending on Dweezil’s age, it might be a selling point! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/11 "2015-08-13T14:40:08Z")
> [@Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](#): > > Starbucks uses some insect-based dye for their red drinks. Wasn’t that what Elizabeth I used for rouge? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/12 "2015-08-13T14:44:06Z")
No love for [blue velvet cake](http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/royal-blue-velvet-cake/bce7c4e4-8c6a-49cd-ac3f-9fe629722d9c)? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/13 "2015-08-13T15:24:28Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > No love for [blue velvet cake](http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/royal-blue-velvet-cake/bce7c4e4-8c6a-49cd-ac3f-9fe629722d9c)? I’m not really a David Lynch fan. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/14 "2015-08-13T15:41:37Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > They havent used it since 2012…at least it was organic. Yes, I would much rather eat that than some corporate chemical. So in 2012 they stopped, eh. Must’ve been the controversy that caused me to read about it back then. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/15 "2015-08-13T15:45:01Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > Or depending on Dweezil’s age, it might be a selling point! Excellent point…lol! ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/16 "2015-08-13T16:03:09Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Wasn’t that what Elizabeth I used for rouge? :dubious: Good catch, terentii. You may be right. Looks like SB, for sure, was using something from a beetle FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/17 "2015-08-13T16:07:34Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > No love for [blue velvet cake](http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/royal-blue-velvet-cake/bce7c4e4-8c6a-49cd-ac3f-9fe629722d9c)? I prefer blue waffles. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/18 "2015-08-13T16:20:29Z")
> [@Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](#): > > Good catch, terentii. You may be right. > > Looks like SB, for sure, was using something from a beetle FWIW. Its been used by Native Americans for centuries. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/19 "2015-08-13T16:21:04Z")
> [@Anonymous\_6de399d1a341c23c3c84f98e7f743e0e](#): > > Good catch, terentii. You may be right. > > Looks like SB, for sure, was using something from a beetle FWIW. A cochineal scale insect. Like an aphid, but makes and secretes [carminic acid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carminic_acid) as a predator repellent. That’s the basis of the red dye in question. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/20 "2015-08-13T16:43:40Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > You don’t have to put in all the food coloring if you don’t want to. And you’ll end up with something closer to the original in the link provided by **Saint Cad**. I made RVC for Valentine’s Day one year and ended up with a nice brick red. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698.md?page=2)