# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/21 "2015-08-13T19:11:37Z")
So, how did the cake turn out? ---
**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 14, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/22 "2015-08-14T18:09:19Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Its been used by Native Americans for centuries. Makes me wonder why the corporations insist on poisoning us. ---
**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 14, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/23 "2015-08-14T18:12:22Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > 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. You are living up to your handle! I like it. 🙂 ---
**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 14, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/24 "2015-08-14T18:14:33Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > So, how did the cake turn out? Don’t leave us hanging, MZ. ---
**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 14, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/25 "2015-08-14T19:06:22Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > 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. Isn’t it also the basis of Spanish Fly aphrodesiac? IIRC, the acid irritates the linings of the urinary/reproductive system, supposedly leading to sexual arousal. ---
**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 16, 2015, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/26 "2015-08-16T15:02:21Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Isn’t it also the basis of Spanish Fly aphrodesiac? IIRC, the acid irritates the linings of the urinary/reproductive system, supposedly leading to sexual arousal. _Now_ you’re talkin’! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/27 "2015-08-16T17:37:16Z")
The of red food coloring only made the cake look read and for the life of me I don’t understand why anyone would want to add food coloring to anything . Some red food colorings is made from bugs too. :eek: Some fast food place was selling fruits drinks and vegetarians were buying the drinks until the news reported the drinks had red dye made from bugs in it ! I hate red velvet cake is also gross looking. ---
**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 17, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/28 "2015-08-17T18:25:29Z")
Finally checking back in. We wound up using one from [Epicurious](http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/red-velvet-cake-with-raspberries-and-blueberries-108256), partly as it called for less food coloring than others. We omitted the berries in the middle - seemed like a recipe for soggy cake. We put a thin layer of blackberry preserves in the middle instead (and topped it with blackberries, Dweezil’s favorite). I don’t think I’ll bother with that part again. It was OK. The cake texture wasn’t especially velvety - a tad coarse, actually - but it tasted fine. The frosting was good - not cloyingly sweet, which was nice. ---
**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 17, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698/29 "2015-08-17T18:29:32Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > The of red food coloring only made the cake look read and for the life of me I don’t understand why anyone would want to add food coloring to anything . > Some red food colorings is made from bugs too. :eek: Some fast food place was selling fruits drinks and vegetarians were buying the drinks until the news reported the drinks had red dye made from bugs in it ! I hate red velvet cake is also gross looking. You’d be surprised what some of our food is made of. If it doesn’t hurt us, and it tastes good, what’s the big deal? Red dye isn’t going to kill you – the stuff that was bad for you was banned here in the US a long time ago. And I LOVE red velvet cake, as stated before. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/red-velvet-cake-need-answer-fast/727698.md?page=1)