re: I love Red Velvet (Posted on 3/19/13 at 11:35 am to snoggerT)
quote: Someone else was right in that Red Velvet cake used to not have red dye and it was a reaction between the cocoa powder, vinegar and buttermilk that gave it a reddish hue.
correct - i have also heard, though cant confirm, that the old processes with the cocoa had a similar effect on devils food cake and the name results from a red hue in the original recipes for that. not just a light vs dark play off the angels food, but actual red devils coloring as well.
though we wouldnt have the rage against that as it still makes sense even without the red color so no dye was needed to update it.
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