Red velvet cake facts for kids
Four-layer slice of red velvet cake from the Waldorf-Astoria
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| Type | Layer cake |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | United States |
| Main ingredients | Flour, buttermilk, butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and/or cream cheese icing, beetroot, or red food coloring, natural coloring |
Red velvet cake is a famous layer cake known for its beautiful red color. It's often a deep red, reddish-brown, or even scarlet. This cake is usually made with a chocolate flavor and topped with a special white icing called ermine icing.
Many traditional recipes get their red color naturally. This comes from a type of cocoa powder that hasn't been processed in a way that changes its color. This cocoa has natural red pigments called anthocyanins. Other common ingredients include buttermilk, butter, vinegar, and flour. Sometimes, beetroot or red food coloring is added to make the color even brighter.
Contents
The Story of Red Velvet Cake
Where Did Red Velvet Cake Come From?
People believe that velvet cake first appeared in Maryland in the early 1900s. In the 1800s, "velvet" cakes were special desserts. They were known for being super soft and smooth, unlike the rougher cakes people usually ate.
Around the start of the 20th century, another cake called devil's food cake became popular. Some people think red velvet cake came from this. The main difference is that devil's food cake uses chocolate, while red velvet cake uses cocoa powder.
How Did Red Color Become Popular?
During World War II, many foods were hard to find in the United States. Bakers started using boiled beetroot juice to make their cakes look more colorful. Beetroot is still used in some red velvet cake recipes today. It can also help keep the cake moist.
A company from Texas called Adams Extract helped make red velvet cake famous across America. This happened during the Great Depression. They were one of the first companies to sell red food coloring and other flavorings. They used posters and recipe cards to show people how to make the cake.
The cake became very well-known in the United States thanks to the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. They even called it "Waldorf-Astoria cake." However, many people think of it as a special Southern recipe.
What Kind of Icing Does it Have?
Traditionally, red velvet cake is topped with a French-style butter icing called ermine icing. This icing is very light and fluffy, but it takes a lot of time to make. Nowadays, cream cheese frosting and buttercream frosting are also very popular choices.
Red Velvet Cake in Canada
In Canada, red velvet cake was a popular dessert in the restaurants and bakeries of the Eaton's department store chain during the 1940s and 1950s. Eaton's promoted it as their own special recipe. Employees who knew the recipe had to keep it a secret! Because of this, many people mistakenly thought that Lady Eaton, who was part of the department store family, invented the cake.
Why is Red Velvet Cake Popular Today?
In recent years, red velvet cake and red velvet cupcakes have become super popular again. You can find them in the US and many European countries, especially around Christmas and Valentine's Day.
Some people say the cake's popularity grew after the 1989 movie Steel Magnolias. In the movie, there was a red velvet groom's cake shaped like an armadillo.
Famous bakeries like Magnolia Bakery in Manhattan have served it since 1996. Restaurants known for Southern cooking also helped, like Amy Ruth's in Harlem, which opened in 1998. In 2000, Cake Man Raven opened one of the first bakeries just for red velvet cake in Brooklyn.
What is Red Velvet Cake Made Of?
The ingredients for red velvet cake can change depending on when and where it's made. In 1972, a famous cookbook called American Cookery by James Beard described three different red velvet cakes. They all used red food coloring.
The mix of acidic vinegar and buttermilk helps bring out the red color in cocoa. It also makes the cake moist, light, and fluffy. This natural coloring might be why it was called "red velvet." Today, much of the chocolate we use is processed in a way that stops this color change. To make a truly old-fashioned red velvet cake, you might use less or no vinegar and a special kind of cocoa that hasn't been processed this way. This helps bring back the natural red color.
Different Kinds of Red Velvet Treats
Besides the classic red velvet cake, there are many other products with red velvet flavor! You can find red velvet protein powder, tea, lattes, Pop-Tarts, waffles, and even alcoholic drinks. The scent is also used for candles and air fresheners.
For people with allergies or special diets, there are also vegan, gluten free, and dairy free versions of red velvet treats.
Images for kids
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Four-layer slice of red velvet cake from the Waldorf-Astoria
See also
In Spanish: Pastel de terciopelo rojo para niños
