But what kind of cocoa, Annie? I prefer the kind you can get in Amsterdam, which is used in French restaurants and much of Canada - much richer than the carp we get here ...
The recipe says, emphatically, not to use Dutch process cocoa. Something to do with acids muting redness?
Two-fifty.
You can tell that cocoa is required, without even asking anyone, because Craig Claiborne left it out, and Craig Claiborne is ALWAYS WRONG.
I, too, read that article from the NYT; however, red velvet cake should not contain cocoa. If it did contain cocoa, it would no longer be red velvety in color. Then you would end up with a brownish red cake as the article's photos depict. True red velvet cake is shockingly red.
God how I love the red velvet cake at Kingfish. That confection, and their swoon-worthy staff, make up for their mediocre fried chicken.
You need to start a food Blog. It could be called Flog (short for food blog) or Clog (Chow Blog).
Has anyone successfully used a red coloring source aside from dye?
Angela--
Don't forget the collards. Dear god. I have a bunch of collard greens in my fridge at home, and I swear I can hear them yearning to scramble down 19th and slosh around in that sweet, tangy pan.
The only red velvet cake I've seen (outside of grocery stores, read: anything of quality) has been dark red in color, thanks to the cocoa. So, I don't know what The South is talking about.
Good quality cocoa powder is completely separate from the issue of Dutch Process or not - Dutch Process cocoa powder refers to something regarding the alkalinity of the powder. Dutching the cocoa powder makes it more mild and smoother tasting, which is used in things like hot chocolate. Whether or not it's good cocoa powder is different.
I think King Fish is overrated. The food should be a bit better, the prices a bit lower and the staff a little foxier ( well I guess they are pretty foxxy now)
cupcake royale is waaaaaaaay overrated...unless you like dry cupcakes and greezy frosting...
cupcake royale has great looking merch, nice looking shops, and some of the shittiest tasting cupcakes in seattle. you'd think that, with one basic product, they could produce something that didn't taste stale and so sickeningly sweet.
For real southern-style red velvet, you do use cocoa, but very, very little. The recipe my family makes has 2 teaspoons of cocoa and 1.5 tablespoons of red food coloring, and makes a very rich, blood red cake. And if your recipe doesn't involve buttermilk and vinegar, you're making red-colored cake, not red velvet.
Well, they use a different red dye in the chocolate in Europe, so maybe that's why. Darn. I'm partially allergic to the dye in US chocolate.
kerri...
Next time you're in PDX, I recommend looking up Saint Cupcake... now THERE'S a moist, tasty cupcake.
Wm Stephen Humphrey...now THAT'S a tasty, PDX based cupcake!!!
Let's not get into a fight about this, but the coconut cake is your best bet at Kingfish. It's AMAZEEEENG.
I totally agree on the cupcake royale angle. I had one for the first time last week - was all excited b/c I had heard so much about them. Talk about disappointment. It was cute but taste horrible.
So this recipe is via my incredibly Southern Grandmother. Born and raised in Winston Salem NC and lived the rest of her life in Huntsville, AL. Please take notice of the amount of food coloring in this cake. PS. and yes my nickname for my grandmother is Tootie, which I have always spelled 2T.
RED VELVET CAKE
2 1/2 cups sifted flour (or cake flour)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cocoa
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cup oil
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 eggs
1 bottle red food coloring (my mom uses 2 - 1oz bottles)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Sift together dry ingredients, add other ingredients in order and mix thoroughly.
Bake in larger cake pans which have been greased and floured. Bake at 350 degrees for
25 minutes.
FROSTING
1 stick butter
1 - 8oz. pkg cream cheese
1 box confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
Let butter and cream cheese soften at room temperature.
Cream together, add sugar and continue beating until creamy.
Add vanilla and nuts. Spread on cake
NOTE: 2T DOES NOT PUT THE VANILLA IN THE FROSTING. You can or not, your choice.
She says that the vanilla hides the taste of the cream cheese for her.
ENJOY!
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