Sharing a sweet treat is a great way to cheer someone up, celebrate a special occasion, or just show them how much you care. As a baker, you get a rare chance to show off your artistic side in the kitchen. Starting with the tale of the beloved red velvet cake will give you a head start.
Nowadays, Valentine's Day is practically synonymous with the irresistible red velvet cake, a delectable dessert that has captivated people all over the world.
In order to bring out the chocolate powder's natural red colour and make sure the cake is a vivid shade of scarlet, red food colouring is added to the recipe. This gives the cake its distinctive flavour and colour. For food colouring, FD&C Red No. 3 and Red No. 40 are the most popular options. Though it was formerly produced from coal tar, Red No. 3 is now manufactured synthetically. The synthetic version of Red No. 40 is similarly derived from petroleum.
Origin
Red Velvet Cake is a popular delicacy with an intriguing history that has long been surrounded by legend, mystery, and a hint of culinary intrigue due to its vibrant red colour. There is some disagreement about where exactly it originated, although one popular hypothesis has it happening in the USA somewhere in the middle of the twentieth century.
The concept of red velvet-like cakes can be traced back to recipes that emerged during the Great Depression era. The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City is often credited with popularizing the Red Velvet Cake, claiming it as their creation in the 1920s. According to this narrative, the cake was originally a signature dessert at the hotel, and its vibrant colour was achieved through a chemical reaction between acidic ingredients like buttermilk and cocoa and natural cocoa powder, resulting in the characteristic red hue.
Another theory suggests that the cake's red coloring was initially a result of the addition of beet juices or even the use of food colouring. The Adams Extract Company, a prominent flavoring extract and food colouring manufacturer, contributed to the cake's popularity by promoting its red food colouring as a key ingredient for achieving the vivid colour.
The 1989 film "Steel Magnolias" featured the Red Velvet Cake, which became incredibly popular. The groom's cake, which was shaped like an armadillo and made by the figure portrayed by Dolly Parton, became famous after the film and continues to this day.
Despite its surge in fame, the Red Velvet Cake's history is not without controversy. Some culinary historians argue that the cake's association with food coloring is a modern addition, and its earlier iterations relied on the chemical reaction between acidic ingredients and natural cocoa for the red tint.
The Red Velvet Cake's rise from a mysterious recipe to a culture icon has been told in many different ways over many years. The Red Velvet Cake has made its mark on the history of cooking, whether it came from the Waldorf-Astoria or the southern kitchens of the United States. It is loved by dessert lovers all over the world for its bright colour and smooth texture.